THE MISSING BABIES

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 149, 12 March 1923, Page 5

THE MISSING BABIES

MURDER TRIAL CONTINUED SOME SENSATIONAL EVIDENCE MORE “ADOPTIONS”

The inquiry into the Newlands case, which involves a charge of murder, was continued at the Magistrate’s Court on Saturday morning, when sensational evidence was given by a young woman to the effect that the male accused was the father of two of the infants who are alleged to have been “adopted,” and whose whereabouts cannot be traced.

The completion of the preliminary hearing of the charge of murder against Daniel Itichard Cooper and his wife, Martha Elizabeth Cooper, will, according to statements made by the Crown Prosecutor in the Magistrate’s Court on Saturday, be reached to-day, when the remaining evidence —that of the police officers—will be taken. The charges of unlawful detention will then bo proceeded with. Mr. E. Page, S.M., was on the bench; Mr. P. S. K. Macassey (Crown Prosecutor) conducted the case for the Crown; Mr. C. A. L. Treadwell iepresented Cooper; and Mr. P. AV. Jackson Mrs. Cooper. < No Record of Adoption. The first witness called was John Kennedy, auflerk in the Magistrate’ll Court, Palmerston North, who stated that a search of the records for the years 1920, 1921, and 1922 disclosed no record of a child belonging to Lily Lester and Hugo Lupi having been adopted. Similar evidence was given by Frederick William Hart, clerk of the Magistrate’s Court, Wellington, and a clerk attached to the office of the Registrar-General’s office. An Extraordinary Story. At this stage, Mr. Macassey intimated that he probosed calling evidence in respect to Beatrice IreneBeadle’s child. . The mother, a slightly-built, welldressed young woman, told the Court that she had first met the Coopers in Dunedin four years ago. In October, 1919, witness came to live with them at Island Bay. Mr. Macassev; When you were at Island Bay did you have intercourse with Cooper? —“Yes.” Did Mrs. Cooner know of it?— “Yes.” „ ' , ... , What did she say? — 'She did not object, as she said slit. was not well herself.” , How often did it happen—more than once ?—“Yes.” With what result?—“l became pregn Where were vou actually confined?— “At Mrs. Olsen’s, at Lyttelton. ’ Did you know for wh'at purpose you w«re going to Lyttelton? —“Cooper told me lie was taking me there so no one would know anything .about it Who paid the expenses?—“Mr. Cooper.” . What name did you go under?— 1 don’t remember. It was not my own. Cooper told me to take it.” A fortnight after her arrival, continued witness, a healthy baby boy was born, and about a fortnight later she returned to A) ellington in company with Cooper, who had paid all the expenses. The child was left at some lady’s house at Christchurch by witness and Cooper, the latter making all the arrangements. Later, however, Cooper received advice from tho south that the child was not well, and in company ltd th witness he visited Lyttelton and brought it to Wellington. Adoption Suggosted. Cooper, said witness, next told her that lady intended to adopt the child, and on witness inquiring as to the identity of this person Cooper said: “She does not wish you to know her name, as she does not want to know you.” About three days -after their return to the Adelaide Road house. Cooper told witness that the people had called for the cliild. Witness was greatly upset, but accused enjoined her not to worry, as everything was right, and tho best tiling had been d(”ne under the circumstances. Mr. Macassey: Had you not believed that the child was to be adopted, would you have allowed these peop.e to take it? —“No.” Have you seen it since or heard or ,its whereabouts ?—“No.” . Witness said that for a period she had worked for the male.accused as a canvasser in connection with Cooper s business in Lambton Quay, but the engagement terminated in May, IJ2U. The cliild had been handed over for the represented purpose of adoption early in July, 1920, but witness had signed no adoption papers. A written demand for the production of the child had proved of no avail. Hi? Worship: Did Cooper tell you how it was taken away, or where it had gone?—“Only that it had gone to the country.” . , Evidence concerning the confinement of tho previous witness was given by Lily Olsen, a registered midwife practising at Christchurch. Tho fees, she said, had been paid by Cooper, who had represented himself at the time as being Miss Beadle’s husband. "Nothing to Say.” When interviewed, stated Detective McLennan, neither accused had any thing to say, and made the . same answer when tho charge concerning the unlawful detention of tho child vas preferred. , .The foregoing evidence was corroborated bv Detective Jarrold, who added that all the demands were preferred at the same time, and Cooper had replied that it was impossible for hnn to produce the children while ho was there (in gaol). Advised that if ho would advance nny information the police would endeavour to find the children, accused had held his peace. Cooper interviewed. Senior-Detective Lewis said that Cooper, in a statement, had declared that the girl Beadle had approached him in Dunedin for assistance .with reference to the state of her health. He said he had told her thaib he had noth-, ing to do with that sort of thing, and had advised her to go home. Later he had assisted her to a home in Timartl, where she had a child, which he believed was in the care of the State. Cooper, added witness, had made no reference to the other two children which Beadle had had. Formal evidence was again called to show that there was no record of the adoption of Beadle’s other child. A Second Child. Beatrice Beadle, recalled, described the circumstances attendant upon the biith of her second child, which was born on November 27, 1921. Cooper said witness, was tho father. A month before the birth witness arranged to meet a lady at Cooper’s office. Mr. Macassey: What did she say to you. . For some minutes witness, who appeared to be in a nervous condition, was unable to find her voice, and com-

menced to sob. Given a. glass of water; she soon recovered, and continued her evidence in a quiet tone. The lady she met at the office, she said, was introduced as a Airs. Rigby, to whose house she went to be confined, and where she met Mrs. King. Referring to the attendance of the latter, witness mentioned tho matter to Cooper, who toid Mrs. King that he would procure a house if she would look after witness. The house was duly obtained, and Cooper made the arrangements in connection with the confinement. The child was a girl, and Cooper had said that ho “had some person in Palmerston who would adopt it.” The people were said to be well cif, and it was mentioned that the child would be taken away by motor-car. Cooper and Miss Adams called for witness and the baby, and the train was taken jo Johnsonville. During the journey Cooper had said ho would like one- of them to come over the hill with him, as the people would ba waiting at the “crib.” Miss Adams was carrying the baby when they left the station, and was walking a few paces ahead with Cooper. Witness waited at the bottom of the hill, and, rejoined by Miss Adams, returned to Wellington with her. “That was the last I saw, of my child,” added witness. “I would not have parted with it had I known that it was not going to a good home. I was unable to look after it myself.” She had never signed adoption panels, and on January 27 last she had served a written demand on both, accused for tho production of the child. Minnie King testified to looking after Miss Beadle for some six weeks during tho period of her confinement. Cooper had paid for the doctor. Dr. Smyth, who attended the confinement, stated that Airs. Khig had paid the foes. He had not seen Cooper in connection with tho matter. "Someone Waiting for It.” Describing the visit to Johnsonville with Aliss Beadle’s child, Effie Muriel Adams told the Court that after leaving the station she proceeded up thb hill with Cooper and tho baby, while Beadlo remained at the bottom. Witness handed the child to Cooper when a fence was reached, Cooper remarking that he would like it now, as he •didn’t have far to go. Witness joined Aliss Beadle, and caught the 10.20 p.m. train back t-o Wellington. His Worship: What was he going to do with tho child that night?—"He said someone was waiting at Johnsonville to adopt it.” Nearing ths End. Air. Macassey stated that the remaining evidence would be that of the jxilicc officers, and would occupy only a short time. “I am satisfied,” he. added “that I have brought out the evidence, and that it will be sufficient to reswenr to the depositions in the other cases.” The case will be continued tins morning.