THE WARKWORTH TRAGEDY MRS. HALL ACQUITTED

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 45, 21 August 1913, Page 2

THE WARKWORTH TRAGEDY MRS. HALL ACQUITTED

ON THE GROUND OF INSANITY. AUCKLAND, 20th August. Matters in connection with the recent tragedy at Warkworth were investigated at the Supreme Court today, when Mary Winchester Hall, married woman, thirty-one years of age, was charged with the murder of her daughter Isabel May Hall, aged ten years, on 27th June. The case was heard before Mr. Justice Cooper. For tire defence evidence was given by accused's husband and mother to show that she had been suffering' from depression. Two doctors deposed that from subsequent examinations they had no hesitation in declaring accused to have been insane when the deed was committed. His Honour summed up and said that' the facts of the sad case were not disputed. What the jury had to consider was whether ib had . been proved by the defence that accused' at the time of the crime was insane. At this point accused, who had attentively been following the proceedings, had an outburst of hysterics, and it was some time before she could be quietened. . His Honour concluded %y saying that the July would be quite justified in bringing in a verdict of not guilty on the ground of insanity. This the jury did without leaving the box. t Accused was theri committed to the Auckland Mental Hospital, pending instructions from the Minister of Internal Affairs. The Crown Prosecutor said he would ask leave from the Attorney-General to withdraw the further charge of attempted murder. ' KILLED BY A TRAIN OAMARU, 20th August. A fatality, occurred at a level-cross-ing near the town this evening. Miss Annie Perks, employed at the Boys' High School, walked into the incoming express train, and was so badly injured that she died soon after. The lady was afflicted by deafness, and did not hear the whistle or the shouts of two boys who saw' her walking towards the approaching train. The driver had no time to pull up the train. Some time ago an old man was killed at the sam.e , crossing. MISCELLANEOUS DUNEDIN, 20th August. At the Police Court to-day Arthur James Bushel was fined £1, with costs £1 Bs, on a charge of over-driving two horses. It was stated' that defendant drove the hprses from Oamaru (78 miles) in J 10* hours. One horae died 20 minutes after arrival Tiere, and the owner has been unable to ii£e the o^ther one since. Defendant said that he merely obeyed h* employer's Instructions, and proceedings will probably be taken against the employer. DUNEDIN, 20th August. Arbor Day was celebrated in the majority of' the schools to-day, the lbssons having special reference to the occasion, and in many cases trees were planted. Assistance was rendered by the City Council. TIMARU, 20th August. The six charges remaining unheard against Walter Shaw, a bankrupt solicitor, which had been adjourned till to-day, were, by arrangement between, the police and defendant's solicitor, adjourned for another week. The total amount involved in the six charges is £5372 2s 6d. AUCKLAND, 19th August. In the Supreme Court, Patrick Campbell, charged with theft and escaping from Custody, was sentenced to six months' imprisonment, and declared an habitual criminal. On a charge of Tobbery, with violence, Charles Harle wa« nentenced to two years' imprisonment and declared an habitual criminal.