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Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 21 May 1923, Page 7

cumstanees under which she is living with Cooper, it was impossible that she did not know what was going on. Her statements concerning the children had been proved to be false, and the Crown had the right to suggest that this ha<f been done for the purpose of covering up her co-operation with her husband. Subsequently she adopted a policy of silence, when a simple word from her might -have cleared up the whole mys- i tery. So far as Cooper was concerned ' the case was particularly clear. The i children were traced to him. He says they were adopted. The Crown had ex- j hausted every means available to trace j those children without success. Formal demands had been served on him for j the production of the children, but they j had not been produced. Was this re- j fusal to produce the children or ex- I plain their whereabouts consistent with ; innocent conduct? They simply said ■ nothing, leaving the police to do the best they can to clear up the mystery. '• The Crown's evidence was uncontra-' dieted, and the only reply to the Crown's ease was silence. He asked the jury to judge of the accuseds' guilt or innocence on the evidence before them. If these little babies had been ruthlessly murdered, then there could be no sympathy for the accused, but the Crown did not seek vengeance or a victim; it only required justice. ! The' Court then adjourned till 2 p.m.