TRAGIC STORY REVEALED
MOTHER KILLS INFANT SON FOODLESS CHRISTMAS FEARED DEATH SENTENCE STAYED. (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph Copyright, j LONDON, aJn. 17. The Old Hailey, which lias been the scene of many dramas, provided yet another when Mr. Justice Charles sentenced to deatii Mrs. Olive Wise, aged 37, who in a tit oi desperation placed the head of her nine-moiith-olci son in a gas oven on Christmas Eve because she was unable to bear the thought of a foodless Christmas. The story was very similar to many others. The woman was separated from her husband and was, living with her two children and another man who deserted her. She wept throughout the trial and repeatedly cried out, “1 didn't mean to kill him.” Immediately after passing sentence the judge ordered the doors to be closed and none was allowed to leave. He then empanelled a jury of matrons, whereupon a doctor gave evidence that the v\oman was about to become a mother. The jury returned a verdict accordingly. The judge ordered a stay oi execution of the the capital sentence and the woman was carried in a collapsed state from the dock.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/HAWST19310119.2.32
Bibliographic details
Hawera Star, Volume L, 19 January 1931, Page 5
Word Count
194TRAGIC STORY REVEALED Hawera Star, Volume L, 19 January 1931, Page 5
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Hawera Star. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.