CHILD MURDER.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4081, 20 August 1884, Page 3

CHILD MURDER.

Auckland, This day.

The body of Rosina Smith's baby Avas found by the pofico buried in Mason's Gardens, Parncll road, yesterday. The Avoman was taken up to Parncll in a cab by the detectives, and Avhen passing the gardens she said, "Don't take mo iv there: it's there." She now states that it was ill, and she gave it a doso of medicine to make it epiiet, when it died. She also states that she Avas deceived by a married man. A charge of wilful murder Avas laid against her, and sfic was brought before the magistrate yesterday, anel remanded till the 2Gth instant. It has transpired that the accused proceeded to the office of tho Registrar of Births, Marriages, and Deaths on Monday, and there registered the birth of her child in the name of Emily Wilson. She gave her own name as Rosina Emily Smith, and the name of the father as William Wilson. Very little has yet been discovered regarding prisoner's antecedents, although she states she came out iv tho Wellington. It is surmised that she Avas an immigrant by the Rangitikei. Three months ago she opened a baby linen shop in Karangahapo road, under the name of Miss Wilson. The shop Avas fitted out for her by a man named Wilson, a carpenter, to Avbom it Avas understood she Avas engaged to bo married. An inquest on the child will be heldto-morroAV, and in the meantime an autopsy Avill bo made, which will probably lead to the discovery of the truth or falsity of the laudanum story. Accused has refused to take any food since she has been in custody, and it is stated she has neither eaten nor drunk since Sunday last.

Later. Rosina Smith still maintains the strictest silence regarding her antecedents, anel refuses to give any information regarding the father of the child. The police havo discovered that some months ago she was employed in an hotel at Cambridge, Waikaro. Amongst her effects a small bottle of laudinum has been found. A gentleman, Avhen talking to the prisoner on Saturday night, heard the child cry, and saw it move in her arms. This Avas at 7 o'clock. At

7.20 the prisoner Avas back at Wakchain's, a gooel ten minutes Avalk from Mason's Gardens. The police theory, consequently, is that she buried tho chilel alive.