CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 4414, 6 November 1934, Page 3

CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER.

ELDERLY WOMEN SENTENCED,

NOT AN ISOLATED CASE

A sentence of five years’ hard labour was imposed on Clara Ni-. cholson by the Chief Justice (Sir Michael Myers) in the Supreme Court at Wellington last week. Prisoner was found guilty of manslaughter in respect of the death of an 18-year-old girl following a certain event produced by prisoner on June 13.

In answer to the Judge the Crown Prosecutor (Mr Macasscv) said that although no actual proceedings had been taken against prisoner pi’cvionsly, the police had had occasion to inquire about certain activities by the woman six or seven times in the last 10 years. They had endeavoured to trace other eases, hut no evidence had been obtained agajnst her because of the difficulty in getting her accomplices to give evidence. He did not intend to 'make any comment as to the action of the authorities in such cases, and he did not think he should mafire any comment as to what should or should not he done as to proceedngs against the accomplices. He appreciated the difficulties of the authorities and in view of that did not wish to add to those difficulties.

Certain features of the evidence his Honour added, all led to the irresistible conclusion that the present ease was not an isolated one, but merely part of the nefarious trade she was carrying on. In regard to prisoner’s age, the Judge said that, giving all due weight to that, it was obvious the penalty must he a severe one. As to the question of senility, he could not take that into consideration. Tt was a matter which would, no doubt, be taken into proper consideration by the authorities if they thought it necessary.