"NOT GUILTY"

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 35, 10 February 1926, Page 10

"NOT GUILTY"

ON GROUNDS OF INSANITY

TRIAL OF MRS. ELLEN HART.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

DUNEDIN, This Day. The trial of Ellen Hart for the murder of her three children was continued this morning.

Dr. K. Boss, a specialist, stated that in his interviews with accused «he showed no emotion when asked what prompted her to do such an act. She became petulant and said she did not know. She acted like a small, stubborn' child. Witness read a letter she wrote £t Seacliff, which was. such as one would, expect from a small child. Witness concluded by saying that accused was well under the average in intelligence, and did not seem to realise her .position, everything pointing to a mental disease of some kind or degree. Mr. Callan, addressing the Court on behalf of accused^ urged that all, the evidence, compelled the conclusion that the woman was insane at the commission of the act. Mr. Justice Sim, in summing up," said that accused's statement to a neighbour, "I've killed my kids and I suppose I'll hangfor this," seemed to indicate that she knew the consequences of her act. Her statement to another neighbour, when she asked what they would do with her, also seemed to suggest that she knew what she had done.