CHARGE OF MURDER.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXI, Issue 8444, 11 August 1911, Page 5

CHARGE OF MURDER.

THE KINGSLAND CASE.

Per Press Association.

AUCKLAND, August 10. The second stage in the l^once <Jourt proceedings arising out of what is Known as the ivingsland mystery occupied the attention' of Mr V. V. Fraser, 5.M.,,t0-day. James Edward O'Shaughnessy, Jane Burns Hartley, Charlotte Campbell, and Mary Hasseli are charged that, on or about June 13, knowing that one Martha O'Shaughnessy had murdered one Elsie Alexandra Holland, they were accessories after the fact. Mr Singer appeared for the . three first-mentioned accused, and Mr Hackett for Mrs Hassell, while Mr Selwyn Mays conducted the prosecution.

Elizabeth Sindlen said that she saw the accused Campbell and Hassell in tihe afternoon of the Saturday following the death. . There was also a Miss Duggan present. Mrs Campbell said they had got into,a dirty mess. She also said Mrs Hassell put the tabloid in the girFs mouth, and that Mr 3 O'Shaugbnessy did the operation. She said she went into the room and the girl was dying. She'went out into the kitchen to Mrs Hassell, and said : "Mary, that girl is dying, and no one to say a kind word for her. You're a Catholic; come in and say a prayor." Mrs Hassell wont into the room where the girl was dying. In the course of another conversation. Mrs Hassell said: "She let tho girl in; she didn't know the ——, and didn't care if she was burnt in hell." Mrs Campbell said the poison was put in the girl's mouth to make people think she had poisoned herself; they also put some in the hamper. When Mrs Hassoll said she let the girl in, Mrs Campbell said: "Mary, liar, liar, liar,!" On Monday, July 31, she met Miss Duggan and Mrs Campbell in Queen Street, and Mrs Campbell - said witness had J-turned King's evidence, and 1 she (Mrs Campbell) was going to deny everything she had said." She advised witness to do the same. /

Mr Singer here applied for an adjournment in order that his crossexamination of the witnesses Sindlen and Duggan might be carried straight through Avithout any chance of anyone being able to convey what happened in the cross-examination to the other. In explaining the reason for his application, Mr Singer commenced: "Your Worship, we have here two women of low character- "

"Did he say I was a low character ?" came from the witness-box in a low but ominous voice.

His Worship assured Mrs Sindlen that she did hot need to take notice of what Mr Singer had said. He granted the adjournment.

After the luncheon adjournment Mr Singer continued his cross-examination of the witness Sindlen. She stated that it was the day after the detectives first saw her that she made a statement to them in her own house. So far as their attitude was concerned, they were all right to her and Miss Duggan. The Bench considered there was no case against Mrs Hartley, who was accordingly discharged. The other accused were committed for trial, bail being granted, which was forthcoming in regard to O'Shaughnessy and Mrs Hassell only.