THE DEATH OF ELSIE HOLLAND.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1298, 29 November 1911, Page 7

THE DEATH OF ELSIE HOLLAND.

CHARGE OF MURDER, HEARD FOR THE THinD TIME. ONE WITND3B PKLSSED. (By Telerranb.—Press Association.! Auckland, November 28. The circumstances in connection with tho death of Elsie Aleja.ndrii. Holland, at a lioiiiM; in First Avenue, Kingsland, on June HI last, again ungaged tho nitration if his Honour, Mr. Justice Chapman and a jury. in the Supremo Court yesterday. Martha Jane 0 Shaugluiossy, formerly known as Maxwell, was charged with murder. Under this charge prisoner has been tried 011 two previous occasions and, on both occasions, the jury had disagreed,-. a retrial being ordered. The accused, who pleaded not guilty, has been in gaol sinco her first appearance some raontiis ago in tho Lower Court, bail having boon refusal. Mr. R. A. Singer opponred for prisoner, and tho Hon. J, A. Tolo for tbo Crown. Case for the Crown. Mr. Tole, in outlining the. caso for tlio Crown, stated that prisoner was charged with murder as tho result of an illegal operation. The young woman, Elsie Mexandra Holland, went to prisoner's bouse on Monday, June 12, being then in good health and spirits and, at midnight 111 tho next night, sho was found dead in a room in that house. Tho post-mor-tem disclosed that death had been caused by rapid septicaemia, following on an illegal operation. Tho prisoner said that she had not seen tho girl till that night, and that she had been surprised to see tier in the house. The Crown submitted that that was an improbable story, and that prisoner had committed the illegal operation which had resulted in Elsio Holland s death. Evidence for tho Crown. Evidence was then taken and, among tho witnesses, James Warner, a law"'riter, who had accompanied deceased to the lungsland tram terminus from Symonds Street on Monday evening, June ??' t w , as ," illniuc <l at length. He staled I [hat be knew of decoased's condition, and knew from what sho told him where she was going that night. In reply to Mr. Tolo his Honour remarked that ho would not allow witness ■ to be questioned directly as to tho placo where deceased said sho was going. "Witness Appeared Very Shaky." Witness then went on to say that be did not .go with deceased to any house, nor did lie see her go to any house. Ho did not know if she knew Mrs. O'Shauphnessy. " Albert Williams, a young man who was employed as barman in the Waverley Hotel in June last, and who has been in gaol for attempting to leavo the Dominion, next gave evidence. He held to his statement, made at previous trials Xill ■ J 1 "" bccn asl;C(1 Mr. or Mrs. U ahaughnessy on Monday morning, June }"• w change from tho bedroom nest tho bathroom where Miss Holland died, to a bedroom at the back of tho house. He ttttimttfxl that, when first questioned on tho point by the detectives, 110 had said Inat he had slept in tho room nest to the bathroom on the Monday night. He had made that statement because he thought that he was doing Mrs. U ohaugiinessy a service. Closely examined on the point by Mr. hinger, witness appeared very shaky on this question, and, after contradicting himself, said, in answer to further questions, Ido not romembor." ™°wi n 1 r f, aMn "!>>' should not sipeak the truth now 1 ," said his Honour, sternly, to Williams. "In fact, it is your duty to speak tho truth. In night ? r, '° m JOU Slc ° P ° n tho Mon<lo >" ot back of the ft I , rc P.' more clearly tlian he bad done before. idc a- was it that you should .ay that >ou slept .in tho room rest to the bathroom ? asked Mr. Tole, and vit- , Mpbed, "Mr. O'Shauglin^j."." kdith MDowell, a fctylishly-dressed young woman, who bad been with Wiliiams at Mrs, O'Sbaughnossy's house on luesday evening June 13, said that, tthllo 111 tho back room, sho had heard house moam !> m at >othcr part of the Evidence was given by Dr. Brockwav ?w^ stablo J^ 1 , n iousfl ' aud tho Court tlua adjourned till to-morrow,