INFANT'S DEATH

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 17, 21 January 1936, Page 11

INFANT'S DEATH

OAMARU TEAGEDY

CHARGE. AGAINST MOTHER

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) OAMARU, This Day.

In the Magistrate's Court,> Mr. H. W. Bundle, S.M., heard, a charge against Cecily Fitzmaurice of murdering her eight-months-old son at.Oamaru on September 10 lastyear. .. - "■ Nothing had been seen of Mrs. Fitz-' maurice and her three children ' for some days. A neighbour forced an entrance on September 12 and found the mother and the children lying ■in bed. All were in a. weak state and the baby in the mother's arms was dead. The husband was absent in' a workers' camp. There was ample-faod.in the house, and some m0ney......;.,.,. Mr. Adams, Dunedin Crown Prosecutor, opening the case for tRe Crown, said it • was alleged that the accused on September 10 crushed twenty-three veronal tablets, and after having given, them to the children with, milk, took a dose herself. ThS baby died that night. 'On October 17 thesaccused made, a statement;.: The, bajjyjf body was ekhumed.and barbitpne"was found in its'stomach. ■■■■ i '■■-••-: . Evidence was given by LiorieT James, Government, Analyst, r t,hat, he received the contents of the babes'.stomach and found'3 j" grains of baVbitone1. •

Doris Moffat, a neighbour, stated that the. accused was about the state of her own healtli and that of the dead child. She was a good mother and was fond of her children. The case is proceeding, ■.;