TO STAND TRIAL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 187, 21 May 1938, Page 3

TO STAND TRIAL

ALLEGATION OF MURDER.

INFANT THROWN INTO RIVER.

(Per Press Association.) DARGAVILLE, May 20

Alter the hearing of further evidence Hazel Frances Evans, a single woman, aged 21, of Aratapu, was committed to the Supreme Court for trial, charged with the murder of her infant.

Elizabeth Emma Evans, mother of the accused, said that, in her opinion, the accused was a normal girl, although she appeared a little backward.

Marion Isabelle Alves said that accused called at her home in April 3 and was crying, stating that her father had kicked her out. She told witness that there was a woman coming from Auckland that night to pick up the child, and when* seen by the witness in the morning said she had got the baby away all right. Statement by Accused. In a signed statement read in Court by Detective J. B. Finlay, the accused said that her father made it hard for her at home. She had a row with her father because she would not drink a cup of tea he had made for her, and he swore at her, and told her to get out of tho house and take the baby with her. She decided to get rid of the baby. She told Mrs Alves that someone was coming from Auckland to adopt the baby, but she had made up her mind to put it in the Northern Wairoa River. With Verner Alves she went to To Kopuru to meet a woman from Auckland. It was only make-up. Verner later left, and the accused said she walked to the river, into which she threw tlie baby. She then went to the Old People’s Home, whore she told Verner Alves and another girl that the woman had called and taken the baby to Auckland. When she put the baby in the river, said accused, she knew what she was doing. She could not got a job because of it.

Mr Singer made a formal objection to the production of the accused’s statement.