PYJAMA GIRL

Grey River Argus, 29 April 1944, Page 4

PYJAMA GIRL

COUNSEL EXPLAINS Mrs Routledge s Position I Aus. & N.Z. Pres; Assn.l (Rec. 11.17.) MELBOURNE, April 28. Counsels’ addresses in the Pyjama Girl inquest concluded to-day. The Coroner then adjourned the proceedings. He said he would give his decision as to identification on Tuesday. Mr. Barry, K.C., senior counsel for Mrs.. Routledge and Doctor Benbow, replied to-day to the statement by Mr. A. L. Read, counsel assisting the Coroner, that Mrs. Routledge was a “self-confessed perjurer.” Mr. Barry said that when Mrs. Routledge did not believe that the Pyjama Girl was her daughter, why should she reveal her shame of having an illegitimate daughter ? There was no question of inheritance. She did not stand to gain one penny bv establishing that it was the body of her daughter Mrs. Routledge had lied when she had been afraid that the death might be ascribed to her. When, later, Doctor Benbow told her that he cpuld establish that she was not responsible for the girl’s death, she then was prepared to sav that the Pyjama Girl was her daughter.

Mr. Barry submitted that all of the ' evidence led irresistablv to the conclusion- that the Coroner could not be satisfied that the body was that of Linda Agostini. it had indicated most cogently and compellingly that the body was that of Philomena Morgan.