THE DEATH OF ELSIE HOLLAND.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1299, 30 November 1911, Page 7

THE DEATH OF ELSIE HOLLAND.

MANSLAUGHTER FOUND. RECOMMENDATION TO MERCY, (By Tclceraph-Prees Association.) Auckland, November 29. Tho third trial o£ Martha Jano O'Shaughnessy, on tho chargA of murdering Elsie Alexandra Holland at First Avenue, Kingeland, on Juno 13 lost', was continued in tlio Supftmo Court to-day. His Honour Mr. Justice Chapman presided. Tko Hon. J. A. Tolo appeared for tho Crown, and Mr. It. A. Singer for tho defence. .Dr. Wilson, who, in conjunction with JJr. Stanley Bull, had made a, post-uior-tem exa.mina.lioa of tho Ixxly, gave evidence to the effect that death had been cnuserl by septicaemia—the result ot an illegal operation. To Mr. Singer-The post-mortem disclosed that deceased had becu a strong, healthy woman. ■ . To Mr. Tole—He was of opinion that tho operation which resulted in death took place on the Monday, and that death supervened about 12 o'clock on. Tuesday uight. ~;} fluictly-dressed woman, named Minnie Whittington. said that, in July, fha vi£itod prisoner, who operated upon her once at tho houio at First Aveuuo, Kingsand, auc) a 6ecoud timo in witness's own «">«• , Wjtneis had heard of Miss MolUfid s death, and had spoken of it to Mr*. 0 Shimglinessr, who remarked that it was not hor case. Dr. Stanley Bull, in the course of hin evidence, said that certain poison found in deceaseds mouth, had nothing to do with tho cause of death. Thorn was no Itoco of poison in tho stomach. The poison ha/1 been pla«d in llio cirl's mouth either after death or immediately beforo death. Mm cause ot doatn (rw> senticiicmid-tho result of an operation'. Detective who wcut With oilier Detectivo Jlanack, Detcctivo-Scr-geaiit Jl'Mohou and Constable Wainhous-n 10 tho prif.oncr's house on the morning ot June li, gave evidence. He oaid that no took ;. .statement from accusci] in wJiiiih she said that sue first saw deceased awKit midnight on tho previous evening 11 . 7i ay )' ;,llcr closi »S her shop, and thai tlio womau was a complete tlrangcr, having been admitted by Mrs. Hasscli: iliis closed tho caso for tho prosecution, and Mr. Singer intimated that ho would uot cr.il any witnesses. , . After both counsel hnd addressed tho ]»i'.v, his Honour commenced ( 0 sura m> nt 11,, p.m. Uo said that lho house in. iirst Avenue, according to prisoner's own ptakment. belonged to liendf, It was a nursing home, and three women had been confiwd there recently, and tho jurr could draw their own inference as to whot kind of a lmrsins' house it was. They knew that deceased on Mondav nightwent within a certain- distaneo" of thiit house at any rate, a(lnr she .not the man Earner. It was onoii to (he jury to infer that deceased walked straight from Worncre nrcMnco to that house, and thai s h« iias then in » good henllhv condition, and capablo at that stage of carrviug htr dress basket up the clccen steps. Tlimb was the evidence of M'Dowellaud Williams inat romeone was moaning in tho room next to.(ho bathroom at 9 o'clock on Tuesday night, audit was open to clsin K at the time. Tho jurv had the circnnjs anees before them. Did thev Aorr that the operation was committed in that : » j D fh lf SJ' dld th «J' Point to who committed it? The medical evidence had been criticised, said his Houour, but summed un it meant that it was possible the Mo d PCra bMn conlmittc<l "I turned at 9.15 p.m. with a. verdict of guilty of manslaughter, with a strong recommendation to mercy on account of the suspense .which the prisoner had under, gone during tho last threo trials.' t>enwnco was deferred.