TERRIBLE TRAGEDY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17944, 23 November 1932, Page 11

TERRIBLE TRAGEDY

Y#UNG MAN’S DEATH

arrest of aged father

ACCUSED ATTENDS. FUNERAL

SYDNEY, Nov. 17.

The lot of Nathaniel Govett, 81, whitehaired and deaf, was on Saturday last the most terrible that could fall to a father. In the morning in the dock at Central Police Court—a father charged with the murder of his son. In the afternoon at South . Head cemetery —a father at .his son’s funeral. The court ceremony was short and ordinary; the funeral was the strangest Sydney has known. “The police would like a remand until November 21. We wish to have the defendant medically examined and kept under observation,” Sergeant Toole said. He alleged that the dead youth, Philip Govett, 18, was seen coming from his bedroom at his home at Wool la lira, with blood streaming from his face and head, at 4.15 a.m. on Friday. Behind him was his father. The boy later died in hospital. Govett’s counsel asked that the father should be allowed to attend the funeral. There was no disputing the fact that between him and' his dead son had been much affection, lie declared. The police later gave permission, and Govett arrived in a car lit the funeral parlors, accompanied by three detectives. Women predominated in the crowd outside, but only immediate relatives and friends of the dead youth followed the hearse. Red and white blooms were piled high on the coffin. Behind came the police car, in which the white-haired, white-moustached old man sat beside a detective, looking neither to right nor left.

Bent with ago Govett tottered feebly through the cemetery to the graveside leaning on the arm of his somin-law, Mr. F, Massong. He shook hands with the other mourners, and, as the red coffin was lowered into the ground, Nathaniel Govett was, looking tranquilly at friends. “They just brought me from— ’’ Govett began, and his son-in-law drew his attention to the grave. Govett looked at it, and then leaned over and stared at the red coffin, while the clergyman continued reading the service, Afterward, the old man turned and walked slowly toward his car. Two weeping daughters went up to him. He, embraced them and kissed (hem. “There, there. Don’t cry, dear,” lie said.

Then he stepped into the car and was taken to the-Long -Bay-prison.