THE COOPERS.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 2647, 16 May 1923, Page 5

THE COOPERS.

Of! TRIAL FOR THEIR LIVES. EVIDENCE OP PRINCIPAL WITNESSES. CONCERNING FIRST CHILD. When the Cooper case -was resumed in the Wellington Supreme Court yesterday both the accused were accommodated with scats In the dock, and all witnesses were ordered out of Court, which was again crowded by interested spectators. Mr. Macassey opened the case for the Crown, and the evidence and cross-examination of the chief witnesses followed. [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, Last Night. In opening the case for the Crown, Mr. Macassey outlined the circumstances which led up to the introduction of Miss McT.,eod to the male accused, who was then carrying on business as a health specialist. He then reviewed the case as it concerned Miss McLeod's child, and said that if Cooper had it in his power to produce the child it was his duty to do so, and if he had failed the responsibility was his. He then proceded .to call evidence.

The first witness called was Dr. Hector, who gave formal evidence as to certain photographs taken by him. Mi*. Treadwell objected to the admission of these photographs, claiming they had no positive, value and only ministered to melodramatic effect.

His Honor, however, ruled they were admissible, and should be produced. He did not believe the jury would be susceptible to melodramatic effect.

Senior-Sergeant Dinnie, of the Criminal Registration branch, also gave detailed evidence regarding photographs taken by him of the grounds and houses at Newlands.

MISS McEEOD'S EVIDENCE. Margaret Mary McLeod deposed that she first met Cooper at his office in February, 1922. She visited him for the purposes of medical examination believing she was pregnant. Cooper examined her with an instrument and declared her to be prpgnant. He further commented on her state of health, saying she was in a bad way. and that he did not expect the child would be born alive. Later, when she saw Cooper again, he asked what she proposed doing with the child, and she said she had made no arrangements. He then mentioned he could get someone to adopt it, but it would cbst her £SO, which would cover the cost of confinement and adoption. She told Cooper who was responsible for her condition, and he advised her to get the money from him. She said would get Welsh to call on Cooper but he did not do so. Cooper said she could go out to his place just the same and that he had a married woman in Palmerston North who had no family, and who would be glad to take the child without a premium. In July,, she told Cooper she had not been able to get the £SO, and he said he would take his chance of that, but he would like the rent of the cottage to be kept up.

PEOPLE PROM PALMERSTON NORTH.

On August 19, she went out to Cooper's, and when there Cooper brought to her for signature an agreement under which she promised to release Welsh from all further liability on the payment to Cooper of £35. On October 12, 1922. her baby was born. It was a girl with long, dark-brown hair, and deep blue eyes. . It was a healthy child, so far as she knew. She was not aware it had had any injury to its knee. On October 20, Cooper told her that the people were coming from Palmcrston North that day for the baby to adopt it. and at about 7 o'clock in the evening, Mrs. Cooper came over to her and said the people had arrived to take the child away. She had a dark rug with her and took the child away. Witness was told by Mrs. Cooper that the woman's husband and a nurse had come for the child. None of the clothing made by witness was taken by Mrs. Cooper, as she said the people who were adopting the child did not want any of her clothing. A few days after the child was taken away, she asked Cooper it he heard anything of it. He said the people had rung him up and said it was doing well. She did not register the birth, because Cooper told her thepeople who adopted it would do that. He also told her the child would have a good home and would be brought lip as their own. and no one would know anything different. He said he would keep in touch with the people, and mentioned that he had placed other children in a similar way. He also mentioned that the people who had taken the child of a Miss Lister were neighbours of those at Palmerston North, who had taken hers. Witness never signed any adoption papers of any kind. Her child's birth was not registered until January of this year, when it was done by the police. She consented to the adoption of her child, because she had not the money to keep her, and she thought she was doing the best, thing for her to get her into a good home. She had made a demand upon Cooper for the return of the child, but it had not been returned to her. Cooper had never treated her for any skin disease and she did not take any of her baby's clothes with her when she left Newlands. To Mr. Treadwell: The dhild was perfectly healthy. She fed it herself. Cooper appeared to be a religious man, who took an interest in children, and he was always very kind. To Mr. Wilford: Witness stated that she thought from two to five minutes elapsed between the time when Mrs. Cooper took the child away and came back to witness, while Cooper arrived about 15 minutes later. To test witness's capacity to judge time, counsel asked her to judge the duration of a minute and when witness said, a mia-

ute had expired, counsel dedlared that only 14 seconds had passed. I ; OTHER WITNESSES.

Effie Muriel Adams deposed that she knew the male accused. In consequence of what Miss McLeod told her of her condition, she took her to Cooper's offide and there Cooper examined her. She had previously spoken to Cooper about Miss McLeod. When there, Miss McLeod and Cooper made some arrangement, but witness did not know what it was. She did not see Miss McLeod for a considerable time after, and when next she saw Cooper, he told her Miss McLeod was doing 1 very well. Mrs. Cooper was not present when Miss McLeod and witness met Cooper at his office.

William James Welsh, storeman, deposed that he knew Miss McLeod. He had intercourse with her, and the result was that Miss MqLeod become pregnant. Later, Cooper came to see him with regard to the adoption of the child. Cooper wanted £3O and witness agreed to pay it at the rate of £1 per week. On the following Friday night, witness went to Cooper's office and there signed an agreement. Witness did not sign his proper name to the agreemet, as he did not want people to know all about it. Cooper also signed one copy of the. agreement. He paid Cooper £6 and gave him an 1.0. U. for £29. Cooper, in the meantime having increased his price to £35, because it was necessary to procure clothing for the child. He had since paid Cooper £ll. Witness first heard that the child had been born when Cooper told him. He mentioned it was going to be adopted, and would be in good hands. Witness asked Cooper about the adoption papers and he replied that Miss McLeod had them. Beyond the agreement and the 1.0. U., he never signed any papers connected with the case. To Mr. Treadwell: Cooper mentioned to him the name of the adopting parent, but he had forgotten what the name was.

Duncan McLoOd, salesman, deposed that in consequence of what his sister told him, he saw Cooper, who said lie If.elt it his duty to help his sister through her trouble, but he could not do it for nothing, and asked for £SO to cover expenses. Witness suggested that Welsh should pay it, but if not he (witness) would pay. Cooper proposed certain financial arrangements by which he could be paid and said when the child was born, it would be adopted. Subsequently, Cooper told him the child was born and later told him that people had motored down from Palmerston North to adopt the ■child. Altogether, he paid Cooper £23 14/-. The final £l9 was compromised for by the payment of £l2. To Mr. Treadwell: Cooper gave him the impression that he was easy in the matter of payments, and that he was acting somewhat in a philanthropic spirit—that his mission in life was to help fallen girls. Ethel Tucfker, typiste and office attendant at Cooper's, deposed to collecting money from Duncan McLeod under instructions from Cooper. COOPER'S INFLUENCE.

Florence Brown, who formerly lived at Cooper's, deposed to writing out two agreements to Cooper's dictation. They were both signed by Cooper, but Mrs. Cooper did not hear Cooper dictating them. She saw Miss McLeod's baby when it was six days old. It was a healthy child. Cooper told her that a lady in Palmerston North had adopted it. He also said Miss Lister's baby was adopted at Palmerston North. Witness remarked it was strange that the same, person should adopt both babies, and Cooper said it was not the same person, but they were relatives. To Mr. Wilford: Witness did not know Cooper was a mesmerist. She had never been under his influence. He seemed to have a lot of control over his wife, but she did not know of any particular influence he had over her. She did not know Mrs. Cooper was just putty in his hands. She did not know that Cooper had an "extraordinary " influence over her. To Mr. Macassey: So far as she knew. Cooper and his wife lived happily together. Lily Lister deposed to the birth of Miss McLeod's chi'ld at Newlands. She was told it was a girl. The clothing (produced) was like the clothing which witness afterwards used for her baby. To Mr. Treadwell: She paid Cooper nothing while she lived at Newlands. because she did not have it to pay; but notwithstanding that, Cooper and his wife could not have treated her more kindly if they had been her own parents. A DOCTOR'S WARNING. Dr. "Wright, practising at Johnsonville, deposed that early in October, 1922, Cooper came to him and asked him to attend a single girl, who was about to be confined. Witness agreed to do so. Cooper further stated there were a great many women in that condition, and ho thought there was money in it for anyone who dared to look after them. When witness arrived at Cooper's house, he first saw Mrs. Cooper, who told him where the patient was. When witness entered the room, he saw the mother and child there. The mother he now knew to be Miss McLeod. The baby was a female and was a healthy child. There was another young women, Miss Lister there, who was pregnant, and when he next saw Mrs. Cooper, he explained to her that the regulations prohibited more than one patient being kept in maternity homes unless they were registered, but she replied that Cooper took these, girls in out of kindness of heart'. Witness subsequently told Cooper there were rumours that he was engaged in procuring abortions. This Cooper denied, but said he had been able to cure many women of their troubles. Witness advised him |to have nothing do with pregnant women, or sooner or later he would strike trouble. Witness then detailed the finding of the body of the child on Cooper's property. The child was a female, and had several injuries on the body.

The Court at this adjourned until 10 o'clock to-morrow.