THE SEADOWN TRAGEDY

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XXVII, Issue 7961, 6 February 1930, Page 3

THE SEADOWN TRAGEDY

OLDFIELD FOUND NOT GUILTY OF MURDER INSANITY CAUSE OF CRIME , By Telegraph—Press Association. TIMARU. this day. Giving evidence foi the defence in the trial in which Jack Oldfield was charged with the murder of his wife, Christina Oldfield, at Seadowa on January 13th, Doctor Beale said that from the events following the tragedy he was of the opinion that accused was actually suicidal, and that that was accused’s condition before the tragedy. There was evidence of the clouding of the consciousness after the tragedy. In, answer to Mr W. D. Campbell, Crown Prosecutor, witness said that a possible cause of the tragedy would be Oldfield’s indefinite mental condition immediately before killing his wife. Accused would also be insane at the time he struck deceased. Dr. A. F. Utrich said that in his opinion acucsed was suffering from simple meloncholia and that meloncholia was the cause of the act. Ur. A. C. McKillip, superintendent at the Sunnysde Mental Hospital, stated that he examined accused who was under acute depression. This evidence was also borne out by Dr. T. W. J- Charles, superintendent of the Seacliffe Mental Hospital. After twenty minutes’ retirement the jury returned a verdict of not guilty on the ground of insanity. Accused was committed to the Sunnvside Mental Hospital until the pleasure of the Minister of Justice is known. . . . His Honour (Mr Justice Adams) ijaid he strongly agreed with the verdict.