SEDUCED BY DRUGS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 70, 24 March 1926, Page 11

SEDUCED BY DRUGS.

WOMAN'S STRANGE CHARGE.

W.A. MURDER TRIAL.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, March 5. Extraordinary evidence was given at Perth this week by the mother of Alice Victoria Clarke, who is on trial for the murder of her father near Pinjarra, on January 11. In effect, the mother stated that Clarence McMahon, a young resident of Coolup, was attempting to seduce her daughter by means of drugs. Her statement alleged that at social functions McMahon gave the girl cakes and lemonade which had the effect of making her feel lively. Mrs. Clarke declared that MeMahon's mother and "h;s mother's old flame" were assisting him to lure girls away at dances. She further alleged that he had tried to drug her deceased husband with a doped bottle of beer. Crown Prosecutor Parker disclosed the statement after he had declared that the accused girl was either guilty of murder or was insane at the time of the shooting. One witness stated that Mrs. Clarke wore a child's money box strapped round her ankle as a charm against evil. Mrs. Clarke had considerable influence over her daughter, and they were much attached to each other." Dr. Bentley said that he had formed the opinion that the accused, on the day she shot her father,, was suffering from insanity communicated from her mother. The mother, he found, was suffering from delusional insanity. The case, which is exciting considerable interest in West Australia, is not completed.