MAKARAKA MURDER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 18967, 19 March 1924, Page 5

MAKARAKA MURDER

SCOTT FOUND GUILTY SENTENCED TO DEAT.’! (Per Press GISBORNE, March I*. The evidence of identification wat continued in the Supreme Court this morning in the Makaraka murder case. No riw facts beyond what was rc- ■ lated in the lower Court have been brought out. “GOD FORGIVE ME!” At the murder trial Detective V* Lend produceci a letter written by accused to his father admitting his guilt, in which he stated:— ‘‘God forgive mo for bringing this shame and sorrow to you. May God have mercy; I expect none in this world. Whatever over me to do that God only know* and understands. He knows that I could not master myself, and seldom could. All 1 can do is to tell the truth and take tho law’s punishment, whatever it may be. That is in His hands.” STATEMENT BY PRISONER’S FATHER. Following is a statement made accused’s father to the police: ”1 am a woollen operative, at the present time working at Palmerston North. I 'have to-day been shown a photograph (Of Robert Herbert Scott, ly Detective | Russell. 1 can identify this as being that of my son. My son was born at Kaiapoi on May 11, 1896. Be was educated at Kaiapoi School, passing tho (sixth standard. He has been following a labouring employment in different, parts of the Dominion. The last time 1 saw him was two or three months ago. As a boy he was subject to violent tils of temper, and also had a very peculiar manner, and 1 could never really understand or trust him. Whilst my son was in Waikeria prison camp, I. was informed by Mr. Jordan that he was subject to violent fits of temper. Mr. Jordan sent a report to this effect to me. The maternal grandfather of my son was an inmate of Sunnyside Mental Hospital for over 30 years to my knowledge, and died there. He was admitted to hospital from Kaiapoi Island. One of his uncles had also a peculiar manner, and 1 think has been in trouble on two or three occasions. My own father committed suicide at Kaiapoi about 25 yea’s ago. My father was also regarded as an eccentric man in his latter years. 1 omitted to say that since the war my son has been drinking to excess, and when under the influence of drink would do anything for money, and did not appear responsible for his actions. I have been surprised that my son has kept out of the hands of tho police for so long. My wife, prior to her death, always put the peculiar manner ami actions of this son down as traceable to her own father.” PRISONER GIVES EVIDENCE. For the defence, counsel placed the prisoner, Robert Herbert Scott, in the witness box. Accused, speaking in a firm voice, said he was 34 years of ug<;. His mother’s father had been in ao asylum since before prisoner could m member. His father’s father commit ted suicide. A sister had been subjec' to nervous disorder. Prisoner had beei informed that at times she was quite insane. One of his lather’s relative! had been convicted in Wanganui for, he believed, a sexual offence. Wituesj suffered from a nasal complaint from birth, and as a child had had an obnoxious discharge from his nose. He had never had the sense of smell. His school life was a hell, because be was shunned by his playmates, who onlymade a butt of him. After leaving school he practised self-abuse. He was convicted in 1911 for stealing bicycles, and got five months’ gaol and three years’ reformative treatment. He was sent to Lyttelton gaol and put in the tailors’ shop with sexual offenders and habitual criminals. Later he was sent to a tree-planting camp, then to Auckland for medical treatment for the nasal trouble. After discharge from gaol, he was in Wellington, and, being thirsty, went to a house for u drink. He found no one at home, so changed, suits of clothes. That night he realised what he had done and gave himself up to the police, receiving one year’s gaol and three years’ reformative treatment. He was later medically examined, sent to Auckland and discharged. In 1917 he enlisted, but, owing to illness, saw no fighting. He die not remember about the murder except what he stated in his confession. MEDICAL EVIDENCE. Medical evidence was also called for the defence to support counsel’s contention that prisoner did not know what he was doing at the time. HIS HONOUR’S ADDRESS. In summing up, his Honour said prisoner was charged with murder. The evidence of the Crown was of a twofold character: that he committed rape, and that he murdered the girl. They had the evidence of a large number of witnesses to establish the fact that Scott committed rape and murder. To acquit prisoner on the ground of insanity, the jury must satisfy themselves that he killed the girl while labouring under disease of the mind to such an extent as to prove he was incapable of knowing what he did, but what evidence had been given towards that end? The only evidence was that of Scott himself. His history was a very sad history, but it was very far apart from showing he was insane at the time of the murder. The evidence seemed to his Honour to be far froffi establishing the defence of insanity as required by the law of New Zealand. The evidence went the other way. There was first of all Scott’s confession, which was perfectly voluntary. He told them the whole story calmly, except when ho broke down. Was not that clear that he knew what he wa£ doing. Then there was the letter to his father. During the trial he had shown no symptom of insanity. Was it not dear that he gave way to his passion as in a case of rape. Unfortunately his victim screamed, and he strangled her. The jury retired at 6.40 and returned at 7.50 with a verdict of guilty. Scott w’as sentenced to death.

His Honour said ho thought it only fair to add that the conduct of the police and detective force was worthy of high praise. They appeared to have acted promptly and fairly with pris- • oner. j