TRIAL OPENS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20862, 19 October 1937, Page 9

TRIAL OPENS

OTOKAI MURDER CASE By Telegraph—Press Association DUNEDIN, October 18. The trial commenced to-day of Arthur Richardson, charged with the murder of his wife, Jessie Richardson, at Otokla on July 17. The accused, defended by Mr O. G. Stevens, pleaded not guilty. The Crown Prosecutor, Mr Adams, stated that the facts as they related to the killing and accused’s complicity were not likely to be disputed. The real point was the question of. accused's mental condition. He under, stood the defence would be simply insanity and witnesses would testify that he was about the house, where his wife was nursing a dying daughter, pretty drunk, cursing and swearing. On the day of the tragedy he called to his wife to come out of her daughter’s bedroom. He then opened the door and shot her at a range of seven feet. He then rushed out and shot himself in the chest. Dr. Stewart, house surgeon at the Dunedin hospital, stated he attended the accused for two months, and saw nothing abnormal about him. Witness said he would not dispute the medical opinion that accused was suffering from enfeeblement of mind due to alcoholism. Thomas William Lobb, son-in-law of the accused, described the events leading up to the alleged crime. Before this the accused’s behaviour was not such as to make witness think he should have been returned to the mental home. Edward Richardson and William Arthur Richardson, sons of the accused, described incidents in past years which, about two years ago, led to their father being placed in a mental home where he remained for nine months before being released on probation. For some time after discharge he did not drink much, but began to drink heavily again some months before the tragedy. Before his committal to ah institution he had several times threatened mmbers of his family. Early this year he began to take queer turns, developing a vacant look. He did not seem mentally sound by any means. The Court adjourned until to-mor-row.