MATTHEWS AGAIN AT LARGE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16496, 5 August 1921, Page 7

MATTHEWS AGAIN AT LARGE.

Escape from Seacliff Mental Hospital. Early Morning; Break for Liberty. Career of Timaru Murderer. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright., DUNEDIN, August 5. Reginald Matthews, Timaru murderer, who was committed to Seacliff Mental Hospital, escaped early this morning. Matthews was charged with the murder of Clarence Wagstaff, at Timaru, on October 27th, and sentenced to death. The sentence was commuted, and Matthews was committed to the Mental Hospital.

TEARS UP DELL BOARDING.

THRUUGH A CELLAR TO THE GROUNDS. FORCE OF POLICE OUT. [Pep. Press Association.! I>UN KDI.N, August 5. Matthews escaped at 1.30 a.m.. by tearing up the boarding on the floor of his cell, escaping into a cellar and thence to the grounds. A large body of police and detectives wore despatched at daylight. Matthews was attired only in a singlet and underpants.

MATTHEWS’ CAREER.

A SEXUAL HOMICIDE. Reginald Matthews first came into the public eye by his sensational escape i rom .Lyttelton Gaol on September 12, 1919, while serving a sentence of nine months’ imprisonment for indecent exposure. At that time he had only served three weeks of his sentence. '1 lie manner in which he escaped, by knotting blankets and scaling the wall of the gaol, stamped him as a desperate character. He had previously stated that he did not intend to serve the sentence, and it was submitted in his do fence at the Supreme Court murder trial that this was a phase of his insanity—inasmuch as he regarded himself as a persecuted person, and had decided that when he chose to do so he would leave the gaol. A DANGEROUS GAOL-BREAJCER. The public view of this escape, in tlie light of later crimes, was that Matthews was a dangerous gaol-breaker, whom the authorities would find it hard to keep under lock and key. His escape from the special cell provided at SeaclifF Asylum bears out the almost general prediction that he could not long be kept in custody.

SECOND OFFENCE IN GARDENS. After Matthews’s escape from Lyttelton gaol it appears that he served for a long time on the Union Com.pany’s s.s. Waipori as bo’sun. and also made a trip to America; but ho came back to Christchurch, and almost exactly a year after his escape from gaol he was seen in the Domain Gardens at Christchurch exposing himself just as he had done a year previously in the same place. The gardeners gave chase, but Matthews levelled an automatic pistol at them and escaped. It was not long before the Dominion was startled by the murder of Clarence Wagstaff at his father’s house at Timaru, and it was for this crime that Matthews was sentenced to death. THE TIMARU MURDER. Clarence Wagstaff, the murdered 3'outh, was going to bed on the night of October 28, 1920, w'hen lie saw* a man lurking at the side of the house under his sister’s window. He and a mate named Knapp gai’e chase, and they were closing so rapidly on Matthews that the last-named turned and fired three shots, the third shot being fatal. Wagstaff sank rapidly, and died a little after midnight. The alarm was raised, as Matthew's had been seen in Timaru on the night of the murder, and the whole of the circumstances pointed to the fact that the murder was his work. Apparently Matthews coolly joined the express to Christchurch the next day, and lived in Christchurch for a few weeks with a Sydenham family whose acquaintance ho had made some time earlier.

A SENSATIONAL ARREST. The arre>t of Matthews at Lyttelton on the ferry wharf on November 1, i 1920, was one of the most sensational events ever recorded. The murderer had been traced aboard the ferry boat, although the manner in which he got to Lyttelton through the police cordon is still a mystery. When detectives I rushed him on the s.s. Wahine he presented an automatic pistol and rushing along the deck leaped from one point to another with the agility of a monkey, reaching the crowded wharf followed by a fusillade of revolver shots. Even then he might have made his escape, but in rushing round the end of a truck he collided with the corner, and as lie slipped Constable Templeton and others fell on him. Tho constable’s reward was a pistol shot through the leg, but fortunately Matthew b’s pistol then jammed. [fe was overpowered, handcuffed and brought to Christchurch. TRIAL AND SENTE WOE. “GUILTY AND SANE.” Matthews’s trial at the Supreme Court in Christchurch was one or cne ; biggest events on record in the crimi inal history of New Zealand, and there . was a sigh of relief when he was j found guilty and sentenced to death. JUDGE'S SUMMING UP. I Mr Justice Her dm an, in summing up l in the case, as reported in the “Star” of February 13, 1921. the final day of the trial, impressed upon the jury the gravity of their task, and the necessity for strict impartiality in accord-,-; ance with the Jest. traditions of British justice. His Honor then outlined the circumstances of the case. There was abundant evidence to prove that on the evening of October 27 accused was in Timaru in the vicinity of Wagstaff’s house It was true that Knapp did not identify accused as the murderer, but it was not surprising, having regard to the circumstances, that was so. The finding of the cuun-

terfoil on the Wagstaff’s lawn, having on it accused’s rubber stamping ana Mrs Hall’s address, and its complete identification with accused, entitled tko jury to infer that the man who dropped the counterfoil killed Wagstaff. The similarity of the shells found on the lawn and those of the bullets found in accused’s possession was another important factor. The fact that the marking on the bullet recovered from Wagstaff’s body* and the marking on the bullets fired into soap were not exactly similar could bo accounted for the different objects into which the bullets were fired. LAW REGARDING INSANITY. Dealing with the realh' substantial defence that has been raised—that of insanity, his Honor said that -ie people held the view that any m; i who Committed murder or suicide was insane. That was not the view the law took. The law regarding insanity and crime waa founded on the law of England, and was as follows, —“ No person shall be convicted of an offence by reason of an act done or omitted bv him when labouring under natural disability or disease of the mind to such an extent as to render him incapable of understanding the nature or quality of the act or omission or knowing that the act or omission was wrong.” Further, the law presumed a man to be sane at the time of doing or committing an act until insanity was proved. Did the evidence satisfy the jury that accused was suffering in such a manner? In determining this point, the jury were entitled to take into consideration the whole of the life of the accused. His Honor outlined what had been disclosed regarding the man’s history. Concerning the letters written by accused, his Honor said that in modern times it was quite common to meet neople holding grotesqtie and uncanny views regarding the social and other codes. The witnesses as to accused’s mental state had come into direct conflict, but they must remember that the onus of proving insanity rested on the defence. What did the evidence as to insanity come to? Dr Crosbio said he was sure accused was a paranoiac, and thought he was an epileptic. Ho and Dr M’Killop admitted that epilepsy would not account for insanity at the murder. Therefore the contention that

I accused was a paranoiac was the one thing they had to decide on in the , plea of insanity. It had been admitted by all the expert witnesses that a paranoiac was totally insane. Had I>rs Crosbio and AT’Killop satisfied the jury that they had substantial grounds for declaring accused a paranoic? Drs Gribben and Gray positively contradicted it. It was for the jury to decide. They must be satisfied, in coining to the conclusion that accused was a paranoiac, that accused suffered from the delusions which were the symptoms of Concerning the alleged delusion of persecution, did the evidence show that accused’s fear of the police was caused merely by the fact that he was a criminal and a fugitive from justice, or did *lt show that the fear was delusive? Was accused’s eagerness in his propaganda that of an eccentric man or an insane man? All the medical witnesses were honest, though they might have been mistaken, and the jury must give the most respectful attention to their evidence. All the doctors agreed that whilst as a rule paranoia occurred in cases in which the forebears were insntuv A- did not necessarily mean that i the descendant was insane. They merely asserted that hereditary insanity was a predisposing element. On tlie occasions that accused was chased lie apparently displayed reason. If he was sane in these actions it would enable the jury to decide as to whether 3>rs Crosbie and M’Killop were right or wrong. QUESTIONS FOR DECISION. You are the final arbiters in a case ->of this kind,” said his Honor, j-“ It is for you to decide: ‘ ‘ (1) Is there sufficient evidence called by the Crown iu show that on : October 27 accused was on the Wagstaff’s place and killed young Wagstaff ? ? (2) Has accused, by his evidence, | satisfied the onus cast upon him of esj tablishing to you that, if he; did kill j Wagstafi, he was suffering from iu- | sanity within the meaning of our code? i

“ In the latter case you will hare to declare you have acquitted him on the ground of insanity. If insanity ha 3 not been proved, and you find that ho killed the man and knew what he was doing, you will convict him—that wilt be your plain duty. If you have any doubt, you will acquit him. Gentlemen, I do not think I can assist you any further, and I invite you to retire and consider your verdict.” The jury retired at 11.40 a.m.) JURY RETURNS. “They are coming in.” The whisper went round the Court at 12.35 p.m., and immediately the Court became tense with expectancy. Counsel for the defence (Mr C. S. Thomas) seated himself, and toyed nervously with two sprigs of white heather. The jury took their places at 12.37 p.m. Counsel for the defence scanned their faces closely, and then, bending over toward the Crown Prosecutor (Mr A. T. Donnelly), whispered ‘ ‘ Guilty !” The prisoner was brought in. the Judge took his seat. Meanwhile the Court was quickly filled. GUILTY—AND SANE. ‘' Gentlemen of the jury*** said tho registrar, “ have you unanimously agreed upon a verdict of guilty or not guilty. ?” tl The jury finds that the accused is guilty of murder, and is sane,*’ .said Mr Ernest* James Jamieson, foreman of the jury. Doubt arose as to whether the foreman had said “is sane ’’ or “ insane, ” and therefore the verdict was repeated : “The jury finds accused guilty of murder, and sane.” “ Silence J” ordered a police officer, ns an excited murmuring arose. “ Reginald Matthews, you have been indicted for the wilful murder of Clarence Edward Wagstaff, to the indictment you have pleaded not guilty, and put yourself on a jury of your country,'’ said the Registrar. “ That jurv has found you guilty. What have you to say why judgment should not pass on you according to laAV?” Prisoner remained silent. SENTENCE OF DEATH. His Honor Mr Justice Herdman put on the black cap. “ Prisoner at the bar,” said his Hour, “the jury has found you guilty. ,Thc sentence of the Court is that you shall be taken to the place of execution and there hanged by.the nock until you die.” Prisoner tightened his lip 3 and stared straight before him. “ Gentlemen, I thank you for the services you have rendered,’'* said his Honor to the jury. “ Your task has becTi one of grc-it. difficultv and anxiety. "Von are now discharged:” A warder tapped prisoner on the shoulder, and he .passed out on his way to bis cell. Subsequently the jury reappeared. Tho foreman said:—■ “The jurv wish me to thank his I Honor, the Court and the police officials 1 for the courtesy extended- to them durI ing the oeriod of this case.” j His Honor said he was pleased that they had been comfortable. He eonI gratulated the police on the- manner in j whic-h the evidence for the case had j been secured. REPRIEVE CAUSES SENSATION. DEMONSTRATION AT LYTTELTON. Matthews was reprieved by the Grown after a private examination bjtwo doctors who visited him in Paparua prison. It was then decided to send the prisoner to tho Mount Eden gaol, Auckland, but at Lyttelton, on his arrival, there was such a largo crowd awaiting his appearance at the ferry wharf that the warders feared a hostile demonstration, and kept the prisoner in the cells at Lyttelton. Subsequently the Crown, decided, in accordance with its decision that he was insane, to incarcerate him in a mental asylum, and special accommodation was provided at Seacliff, whither he was removed a little later. Ministerial assurances that there would be no danger or his escape were taken with a grain ot salt, especially in view of Matthews’s bragging that he would not long remain in custody. PROBABLE MOVEMENTS. MAY MAKE FOR GRAND NATIONAL MEETING. Matthews appeared to have a fascination for getting among crowds on bolida3 r occasions. It was show week at Timaru when he committed the murder, and it is regarded as by no means a remote possibility that he may have timed his escape with a view to attending the first test match at Dunedin on August 13, or of attending the Grand National meeting at Christchurch next week. DESCRIPTION OF ESCAPEE. The police are on the look-out for ! the escapee, and all country stations have been warned. A special watch will also be set on all trains. Matthews has two problems to face before he can get far from Dunedin. They are clothes and money. With these he will probably travel, and if he follows his past course he will travel quite openly. He is a email though i muscularly built man, and although a | study of his face reveals criminal lines i he appears at first sight to be rather j pleasant than otherwise. Tho out- j standing feature is a thick nose, which ; it is easy to see has been broken, and i a rather big head. He is twenty-six years of age, sft 3in in height, small build, with fair hair and complexion, blue eyes, the front upper teeth missing, nose broken, a scar on the left j side of the upper lip and on the left ! upper arm. and a mole on the right j cheek. He has followed the occupations of labourer and seaman.