The Evans' Bay Infanticide Case.

Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 31, 8 February 1888, Page 3

The Evans' Bay Infanticide Case.

The Magistrate's Court was crowded this morning when the charge against the Chinaman Wa Chong and hia wife, Clara Fong Ohong, of having, on or about the 9th of January, wilfully and maliciously killed a certain infant female child, waß called on. Mr. H. S. Wardell, R.M., was on the benoh. Mr. Skerrett appeared for the female accused, Mr. Jolliooe having been retained to defend tho huaband. Inspector Browne oondaoted the proseoution. Dr. Collins deposod to making a pout mortem examination of the body at the Morgue, and gave evidence similar to that taken at the inquest as to the rosnlt of his c lamination. Mr Skerrett objected to this witnecs U'vin? evidence as to the results of his exu nination, on the ground that a comniunjcat on made by a patient to a medical adviser was privileged. Argnment ensned # as to whether the female acoused could in any « iiise, a* ehe had consented to the examination, bo regarded as a patient. His Worship agreed to pormit the evidence to bo token, but said he would take a txo L .o of the objection. Mr. Jollicoe submitted that Inspector Browne should lay somo foundation for the dootor's evidence before it was accepted by tho Court. This course was agreed to, and Dr. Collins' further examination was deferred. Charles Brown Taylor, accountant, was called, and deposed to discovering the body of an infant ohild in a sugar bag on the boaoh at Evans Bay on Sunday, the 15th of January. He identified the olothes produoed as those in which tho body was wrapped. By Mr. Jelliooe— There were no rocks within three-quarters of a mile of the spot where the body was discovered. It was lying on the soft sand. In his opinion the body had only been in the water for a few hours. Constable Stewart deposed to receiving information of the discovery from the last witness, and also to bringing tho body to the Morgue. In answer to Mr. Jelliooe, the witness said the tide was coming in when he first saw the body on the beach. The marks on ■tiio body of the infant had the appearanco of Jhaving been caused by the presaure of a finger. Tbe*« was a mark on eithor side of the neck, tone ®f them being about the size of half-a-.crown,*nd the skin had been torn for about half an inch. He did not think the injury lad been owised by tho body being washed against a rook, because there were no marks .on any other part of the body. It was the imoat unlikely place to find them, on tho neck. Acting-Deteotive Walker was oalled, and .deposed to arresting the female acoused at &er own house in Donald MoLean-street, Uewtowu. The accused admitted that her husband was a Chinaman. Witness asked, whether she had not given birth to a child about three weeks previous, and this accused denied. Mr. Holmes, who was in the house at the time also said that she was sure the accused had not had a ohild recently. Witness said he was not satisfied with the reply, and would have the aooused examined by a medical man. Mrs. Holmes concurred in this, and said she would go with them. They accordingly Went to Dr. Collins' surgery, when an examination was made by Drs. Collins and Fell. From what the doctor told witness, he said to the aooused, "You are now oharged with the wilful murder of your infant child." Acoused replied, '' I know nothing about it. I -never had a ohild." Witness ako deposed -to arresting the male acoused at the Hutt on the 26th January, and when charged with the offence he also gave a denial. The (house of the aooused was visited by witness and Inspeotor Browne on the :27th January, and a quantity of soiled linen was discovered, and taken charge of 'by the police. The linen was examined by JDr. Collins on the 28th. By Mr. Jellicoe— The windows of the house of the acoused in Nowtown were not ■ecurely fastened. Tho soiled linen was found in a pillow oase in the scullery. ■By Mr. Skerrett— First saw the female acouied on the 25th of January, ten days after the discovery of the body of the ohild. Witness told the woman when he first questioned her who and what he was. He did •not compel her to submit to a medical examination. He had heard that the Chinaman and aooused had only been married three months, and therefore had made enquiries and discovered that suoh was the /OAse, the aconaed having been married on •the 19th of Ootober, 1887. Witness was of opinion that the female accused submitted to medical examination on the advice of .Mrs. Holmes, Dr. Collins, reoalled, deposed that in his ■opinion the child died from suffocation before being. put into the water. The unarka on the body might have been caused iby oontaot with rocks, but it was extremely mnlikely. The dpotor also stated from his (examination of the female acoused, he -was of opinion that she had given lirth to a ohild within three weeks or a month. He also made an examination of the soiled linen found in the aooused's house by the detective. It had the appearance of having been used at the time of confinement. To Mr. Jelliooe— Would not swear that the artioles had been used at tho time of confinement, but he drew that inference. Regarding tho body of the ohild, witness wiw of opinion that it had not been in the -water for more than 24 hours. Could not ♦bsolutely swear whether the child was alive when it wasputintothe water, neither oould ie swear thkt it had not died from natural .causes. There were other internal affections which would exhibit similar symptoms to those whioh followed confinement. At this stage the oase was adjourned until :3 o'olook.