WOMAN’S MANY SORROWS

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 May 1936, Page 10

WOMAN’S MANY SORROWS

OLD BAILEY RECITAL

LONDON, March 21

“The facts constitute one of the bitterest and most terrible tragedies that the Old Bailey—a court o tragedy—has ever heard.” This was the statement of Mr. St. John Hutchinson, K.C., at the Old •Bailey yesterday, when Carmen Martha Alice Swan, 32. looking frail and pale, was sentenced to death for the murder of her daughter Valerie, S, whom she feared would develop either tuberculosis or insanity..

Mrs. Swan is the widow of a bank clerk, and lives at Clarendon-court Maida Vale. She pleaded guilty. “No one could fail to be moved by lhe recital of your misfortunes,” said Mr. Justice Hawke to Mrs. Swan “Your plea leaves me no alternative but to pass sentence of death upon you. It will be for others to consider what your future may be. I do not wish to detain you in that place where you stand a moment longer than is necessary." Mrs. Swan stood composed as lhe Judge pronounced sentence. She was still standing facing him when a wardress touched her on the shoulder. Then she turned and walked slowly and unaided across the dock to the cells below. When Mrs. Swan pleaded, Mr. Justice Hawke asked if she understood, and Mr. Hutchison, her counsel, said that she did. “I know there is- only one sentence your lordship can pass,” he added, “but. of course, there are other circumstances beyond this court.” \ Mr. Justice Hawke: Certainly. Mr. Hutchinson observed that it was Mrs. Swan’s own wish that that course should be adopted. There was no question about her mental condition. Mr. Justice Hawke said that from the depositions the facts of the case were of the saddest character. Mr Hutchinson said that Mrs. Swan had had to fight fate from the very beginning of her married life. Her father was a Rumanian, who had lived in this country, and her mother was French. In 1927 she married Leonard Swan, 11 vears older than herself. He held a good position in a bank and was a man for whom Mrs. Swan had the highest affection. . The first shock of her maiued life came when she found her brother-in-law in an epileptic fit. And then she had a’second shock in rinding that her husband’s mother was in a mental home.

FOUND HUSBAND DEAD

After four months, her husband’s health began to fail. He broke down and developed an illness which eventuated in insanity. That was the position when her child was born. Things had seemed better in 192 J when the bank, who had acted with the greatest kindness throughout, sent Iler husband to Southsea. but after only four days, he broke down again. The bank gave him a year’s salary arid continued to look after him. They sent him to a hospital, where be began to show improvement under psychological treatment. He. however, received a complete set-back when he found an inmate of the hospital hanging. In October, .1931. he had a violent breakdown, and ’ once lie tried to Htiangle his wife, and another time turned the gas on saying it would ho better if they all died together. They arranged to celebrate lhe child’s fourth birthday by having lunch together, but Mr. Swan did not turn up. When bis' wife got home she found him hanging against the bathroom door. The shock of the discovery led to her complete collapse. "He was a perfect husband while ho was sane,” said Mr. Hutchison. “I think no woman in the world has ever stood so loyally by her husband as this unhappy woman did by this man. To quote from a witness: ‘She was devoted to her husband and was the most wonderful mother I have ever known.’ ”

Mr. Hutchinson added that Mrs. Swan had to go out to work, but her illness developed and she had to go to Middlesex Hospital. ‘ It was then found that she was in an advanced stage of tuberculosis. She had to stay in the’ hospital for six months. She came out find treated herself, but in April, 1935. had to go into a home for tuberculosis.

She was then told that she had one chance of getting better, and that was by one lung being put out of action altogether. She was a woman of very great pride, and unwilling to accept a penny or-help from Anyone. She went, to Bognor and stayed with her child. “As ill-luck, 'would have it,” remarked Mr. Hutchinson, “her daughter g'ol a violent attack of bronchitis. Mrs. Swan then got into her head the fear —perhaps not unfounded—that, the child might develop tuberculosis on the one side from herself, or insanity ' on the otlfer from her husband. The landlady 'said she absolutely worshipped the child, and she was terrified lest the child should develop tuberculosis or mental trouble.

“Mrs. Swan herself became worse, and had t.o go into hospital for six months. All the money she had left was £l2. She was a cultured woman and a woman of good upbringing, and she was faced with this terrible position. “DON’T LEAVE ME BEHIND, MUMMY.’.’ “The child was afraid that her mother was going to leave her again, and, asked her: ‘Mummy, are you going to die? If yon do take me with you, don’t leave me behind, and then we can both . be yvitli daddy.’ “In that frame of mind Mrs. Swan took up the posT'on that she and her daughter should die together.

“She came t< London and took a flat. It .took her nearly 24 hours to carry out her plan. She gave the child a sleeping draught and saw her sleeping calmly. She then tried gas. Finally the child died and Mrs. Swan took what she thought was jioison. Next day she awoke in hospital. “In a statement Mrs. Swan said: T think I was absolutely right, in what I did. My ccnscJciice is perfectly clear. It' is ridiculous for nie to go 1 on. I am n<k necessary to any one. I cannot see-how any man-made law can condemii me for what I have done.’ ’’ ’ Mr. Hutchinson said that it was at Mt'S. Swan’s own request that no defence was put forward in the case. She did not. wish to plead insanity because she know that she was not insane. "I think.” he added, “she knew fate had dealt ’ with her in such a way

that nothing further could hurt her. more than she had already been hurt.” Mrs, Swan also pleaded guilty toa charge of attempted suicide. Mr. Justice Hawke said that he would formally pass a-sentence of eight days’ imprisonment, the sentence to start from the beginning of the sessions. The Home Secretary immediately recommended a reprieve for the woman.