KAIKORAI TRAGEDY

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 2307, 27 November 1925, Page 2

KAIKORAI TRAGEDY

MRS. HART BEFORE THE COURT. PRELIMINARY HEARING OP MURDER CHARGE. [Per Press Association.} DUNEDIN, November' 26. At the Police Court the hearing of the charges of the murder of her three children against Ellen Hart in connection with the Kaikorai tragedy was commenced before Mr. Bartholomew. The children’s ages were- as follow: Lindsay Plart, 5 years; Andrew William, 3 years and 5 mouths; Nola, 14 months. Mr. Callnn appeared for the accused. The Inquest was taken concurrently. Margaret Upton, a next door neighbour, stated that at 8.20 on Monday morning, November 9, she heard something fall oh the roof of the house. She went out and heard accused calling her, arying: “Come quickly,” Accused had a handkerchief in her hand and stated that she had kiled her children. Witness asked accused to come to her house, but the latter replied that she "didn’t want to leave the children,’’ adding; “I couldn't come like this.” Witness noticed cuts on accused’s throat. She called a cousin to assist her and they brought accused into witness's house. Accused said: "We had .an argument last night,” adding; “I suppose I’ll be hanged for this.” “Suffer for Her Sins.” Witness sent for a doctor and asked her husband to go to Hart’s place to see if any of the children were alive. They found the baby,- Nola, in a perambulator in the front bedroom with her throat cut. Andrew and Lindsay were on the kitchen floor in the same condition. Prior to this accused bad stated that she had left a note for her husband, that he had told her In the morning that he wanted her, but she said she could not stay on his terms. After Dr. Evans arrived ac cused said: “We confessed our sins last night.” She stated that her husband had said the children would have to suffer for their sins, and she had replied that she didn’t want them to do that.

To Mr. Callan, witness stated that accused appeared to very fond of the children. Ozmond Bernard Upton, husband of the last witness corroborated her evidence and stated that he had noticed nothing peculiar about the Harts as neighbours.

Gladys Blanche Newell stated that she went to Mrs. Upton’s house on November 9. Accused was in the sittin groom and threw her arms around witness’s neck, stating:; "Whatever you think, it’s nothing but religion made me do it. I was getting the children ready for school and on the snur of the moment, I did it, hut they did not want to go. We had decided to live a Christian life and had confessed our past sins to one another. My huhgand said he would forgive me everything, but that there were things God would never forgive me for." Into the Past. Doctor Evans deposed as to the fatal wounds and also to the minor wounds in accused's neck. She had been crying, but was calm and collected. She told witness that she didn’t

know what had come over her to kill the children, but she now realised it was a wrong thing to do. Later, at the police station, accused told him that coming from church on the previous night her husband said that God would forgive all her sins, but there was one which • -He; tsould not"; > and therefore her husband could not. She also said that before leaving on Noher husband "kissed all the children, and asked wliether there was to be any more quarrels". ,She said "No," and also that a fortnight previously she and her husband agreed to confess their past sins. He "ame home one evening and told her -that after hearing the preacher he had;'attended another meeting which changod'his view of religion. Drl Evans said accused stated that up to 22 years of age she had been a Roman Catholic but since her marriage had gone to the Baptist Church with her husband's people. Latter,' at the hospital accused went over practically the same ground with addition that her. husband had said that the first child was not his. Sne thought from the' fact that her husband kissed her before leaving that everything was all right, and. she did not want to blame him. Accused admitted that she had had intercourse with her husband before marriage arid had told him that "another' man had tried to take advantage of : heiv

To Mr. Call an: A.ny questions, ho askod accused were to flnfl- hor mental condition. He had .been told, that at one period accused was temporarily blind. He would not connect that with the mental state. To the Chief-Detective: During the interview he discerned no mental weakness.

“Don’t Tell mo They’re Gone.” Sergeant Dunlop stated that ivhon leaving for the police station accused cried: “I shouldn’t have done it.” Detective Farquharson stated that when he read the charge to accused she said; ‘‘Oh, don’t tell me they're all gone.” Accused was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Chief-Detective Lewis, referring to the Inquest, said the evidence of the husband might bo cal’ed, he being the last to see the children alive. The Magistrate said that no useful purpose would be served. The husband could not be called In connection with the alleged murder, and it would be improper to call him for the inquest.

He found that the children died from injuries inflicted by the accused with a razor, there not being: sufficient evidence to show her mental condition at the time.

On the suggestion of Mr. Callan tno Magistrate agreed to recommend to the Minister that the accused be detained in the mental hospital pending the trial.