UNKNOWN

Bush Advocate, Volume XXI, Issue 297, 19 June 1909, Page 3

UNKNOWN

ACCUSED BEFORE TRE COURT. »At the y:n:: : -;tvn lie's Court, at "Woo'.h'i.Hc ye>t<<:J»\\ before Mr AY. P. James. S.. A i.. Jr^u Clinc ;u:cl Alice Maud Shc'ijhercl were charged- with ■\vilf«3 murder -of a newly-horn male oliil'd on or al.r.iit the 31st ult. lu«jw-.--i<ir !)\---(i-. of Naj)ier. apj)i>!iv' -3 {'or the prc-i'fiition, and llr 11. (Ji-i\k)!i Lloyd for the d<\iVnci>. K\ i'li'iicc as to tho fiiuliri",- of tlio c.;uiviis i.;i.n conlajniiiy the body of the vsiiid was <j;iven by a schoolboy uamot'i Karl Qothard. G'©org<.'. Got hard, brother of .the firstwitness, deposed to informing the "police after having seen the remains Constable W ' ■ Maljfeney :. ■deposed'-' that "«i^lie^^ George (rothard to . the railway line close ]>y ill© outfall of the main sewer. Eound the body, bag, etc., lying on the -grats. Found a cord tied tiglltly twicG round its neck, but ho other mark* of violence on the body, Some stones like ballast from the railway line were on the grass by the bag. On i examining the bag he found it contained some oil cloth, and also a piece of scrim pap<jr (identified same). Put body -in canvas bag and brought them to police station. Communicated with- Dv Mules, who came and examined the body. Next day Drs Mules and Dawson. held a post mortem examination at the vjolice station, but witness was not present. P. 11. Mules, practitioner, AVood- ■ ville, deposed that on tho 31st May he. went- to the police station, and was shown the body 'of a newly-born child. Next day he and Dr Dawson made a post . mortem examination., of the body,- which showed that the body was that of a fully developed male child, apareiitly dead for some time, probably about a week as far as he could judge .then, but he. would not be rjosiiive, 'as it woidd depend on whero it had beep, lying and the condition of the weather. It was slightly decomposed, and some of the skin was beaming- to peel, off.- .The afterbirth and cord were intact, and .there were no marks of extreme violence, except a string tied tightly around the neck twice and knotted .under the right «ar. Above this constriction the shin was puffy. Upon examination of the lungs, they were found fully expanded, and fully occupying the thorax. Upon cutting a piece it floated in water; and continued to do so on being squeezed with the fingers, which, in the doctor's opinion, gave evidence of full respiration, and,' consequently, of life. Cut the knee joint across and sliced gradually upwards, and found evidence of ossifica- . tion, this being an evidence of mature birth. Was of opinion that the child was born alive, and also that it lvas strangled by the cord tied round its neck. His opinion was clear and strong on both these points, arid that it had; a complete _ existence apart from its;, mother,. Had seen the woman prisoner at the police station on Saturday, 12th inst. Examined her and found every indication of motherhood. Dr -Dawson, of Pahiatua, gave evidence in confirmation of Dr Mules' statements. . > ' John Doggeit, cab -proprietor, Woodville, saw prisoners at tho Woodville railway station three weeks or a month ago, during the month of May, betw.een 1 and 3 o'clock. They were together, and the man engaged the~ 'cab. Drove the woman to the Post Office Hotel, the man remaining behind at the station. " Tho man brought the luggage to the cab, and went back to the platform. They said nothing about their relationship.

after being paid by the woman. Just as tie diove away tho man appeared round the corner. Had no doubt about tho identity of the accused. Took it for icranted that they -were married. KurthiT evi.i<Micf v, ;is give-i by Piis-s .Robinscn. wile of the licenser 1 of the Post Offi:-.- .Hotel. Smnerville (n cabman), suul ' Cnn-y (a saddler) who identified th(> bag in which the body •<•••? the child was found as the bag lie had sold the male accused on ]\l;ty 12th. Detective Butler said the female accused had made a statement to him j admitting that the baby was born at the Post Office Hotel on May 12th. The. accused reserved -their defence and were committed for trial to the Supreme Court at Napier, which comI merices on Tuesday next. *