DEATH OF AN INFANT.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 281, 27 November 1925, Page 9

DEATH OF AN INFANT.

ALLEGED MANSLAUGHTER, YOUNG WOMAN CHARGED. (From Our Own Correspondent.) TAIHAPE, Thursday. At the Police Court to-day, before Messrs. A. J. Joblin* J. P. Aldridge, and Ij. Daws, J.P.'s. a young single woman, aged 30, appeared on a charge of manslaughter of her infant son, and was also charged With concealment of birth. Mr. R. C. Oiigley appeared for accused, and Sergeant O'Neill conducted the case for the police. The offences were alleged to have been committed at Mangaweka on November 11, 1925. and evidence was given to the effect that accused arrived in New Zealand in April last in company with the married couple by whom she was employed at Mangaweka. She had been employed by them in Ireland for two years prior to their departure for New Zealand. The body of the infant was found in a cabin trunk in the room occupied by accused, together with bloodstained clothing, a pair of scissors, and other articles. According to the evidence the child Was born about 2.30 a.m., and two hours later the accused's employers heard her moving about. She said, when questioned, that she had had severe pains, but would be all right within an hour or two. Accused made some tea, took two cups of tea to the room of her employers, and afterwards milked the cows. She went to bed later in the day. but got up and wanted to milk the cows again in the evening. In the meantime her employers had ascertained the cause of her illness, and notified the police and a doctor. The evidence of two medical liien showed that the child had breathed, and both expressed tlic opinion that death was due to the hemorrhage, due to the severance of the umbilical cord and lack of attention afterwards. . In a statement made to the police, accused admitted being the mother of the child, and said she had attended to herself. She had lapsed ihto a fainting condition, and later when she went to attend to the child it was dead. She admitted intimacy with a man on the boat on which she came to New Zealand The coroner returned a verdict that death was due to hemorrhage caused by the severance of the umbilical cord, and lack of attention to the child thereafter. Accused, who pleaded not guilty, was committed for trial, and was admitted to bail, on condition that she- reports twice daily to the on her own recognisance and one surety for £100, which Was forthcoming.