MURDER CHARGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 27, 1 February 1934, Page 8

MURDER CHARGE.

AVONDALE TRAGEDY. BABY'S BODY IN CREEK. MOTHER SENT FOR TRIAL. Tn tlie Policc Court to-day Jane Evelyn C'raig, aged 33, a married woman, was charged with the murder of her son, John Alexander Craig, aged three months, at Avondalc, on January 22. Mr. V. N. Hubble conducted the and Mr. Allan Moody appeared for accused. William Xeville Craig, aged nine, son of accused, said he left his home in Avondalc at 9 a.m. on January 2 to go to a boy friend's place. His mother tokl him he could go if he liked. An hour later he returned, but found that his mother was not at home. Dr. Walter Gilmour, pathologist to the Auckland Hospital, gave evidence concerning a post-mortem made on flic body of the deceased child. He said it was a well-developed baby. There was an incised wound in the neck. Death had been cue to drowning. Woman Lying in Water. Mary Strang said she went to the Whan Creek about noon on January 22, when she noticed accused lying flat on her stomach in several inches of water. Her face was out of the water and she appeared to be holding her nose. Witness spoke to her, but she only mumbled. "I could see that something was wrong, so 1 dragged her several yards to get her out of the water," said witness. "Accused said, 'Leave me alone. I want my baby,' several times. I got her on to the bank. I noticed a fresh cut in her neck. It was bleeding a little. She gave her name as 'Craig,' but did not say anything about what had happened. She remained on the verandah of the house nearby, until the doctor called. She kept on saying that she wanted to get back. A young man named Perrett had to hold her to prevent her from leaving." Baby Found. A market gardener, Robert McClymont, said he assisted others to get accused to her feet. She was taken to Mr. Strang's house, and was able to walk with assistance. On the way to the house she said, "Where is my baby?" and "Let us go back to the creek." Witness later went to the edge of the creek and noticed a pair of woman's shoes on the edge of the water. He then found a woman's coat and a baby's shawl. A few yards away he noticed the body of the child floating in the water. The child was quite dead. Dr. R. J. McGill, house surgeon at the Auckland Hospital, said lie examined accused on her admission. There was a wound ljin in length and half an inch deep in her throat. Accused's eyes were staring. The pupils were dilated and reacted to light. She wore an anxious expression and became restless as the examination proceeded. Constables Maisey and McKenzie also gave evidence and stated that near the child's pram, found on the bank of the creek there was a bread knife. A steel was found in the pram. Daughter's 111-health. Mrs. Lily Watkin, mother of accused, said her daughter had been happily married for 10 years. The deceased child was born on' November 12 last. Accused had not been in good health since then. She stayed with her daughter for two weeks at Christmas. During the first week accused appeared somewhat melancholy, but in the second week she was normal again. On January 17 witness went With her daughter to Birkenhead. She ap£eared quiet that day, and was somewhat depressed. Witness next saw her on Friday, January 19. On that day her manner was quite strange. As a result of her daughter's condition, witness made arrangements for Dr. Short to examine her at 2.30 p.m. on January 22, the day of the tragedy. "My daughter was not aware of this, arrangement, although I told her that I would visit her that day," said Mrs. Watkin. "I arrived at her house at 11.15 a.m. on January 22, but she was absent and left no indication where she was." Mr. Hubble informed the magistrate that expert evidence regarding accused's mental condition would be called in the Supreme Court. Mr. Moody said he was prepared to take the charge as a formal one. Accused would plead not guilty, and reserve her defence. The magistrate then committed accused for trial in the Supreme Court.