CHILD MURDER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8500, 26 February 1891, Page 5

CHILD MURDER.

MOTHER AND DAUGHTER SENTENCED TO DEATH. ' PAINFUL SCENE IN COURT. [BY tklkgraph. —press association.] Christohuroh, Wednesday. At the Supreme Court, Sarah Jane (mother), and Anna Flanagan (daughter), were charged with the wilful murder of a, male ohild. Sir R. Stout and Mr. Stringer appeared for the accused. Intense interest was manifested in the case, the Court approaches being crowded. J ; Mr. Martin, who appealed for the Crown in opening the case, detailed the circumstances briefly as follows :—The daughter was delivered of a child, which She pub out to nurse. . Mrs. Flanagan, in wrath, said she felt inclined to murder it. On the sbh of January prisoners went to the nurse's house, and the baby was taken away next day. The head of the child was found terribly mutilated near an unoccupied house, and the body was not found. A quantity of clothing found proved to have been taken away with the baby. A day or two later Mrs.' Flanagan called on the nurse and told her some men assaulted her daughter and had taken away the .child and cufe off its head. The police were making inquiries. She also said the face was battered out of recognition, and the body never would be found. After this the daughter loft for Wellington, where she was arrested. No new facts were adduced in evidence for the prosecution, which closed about three p.m. The defence of Mrs. Flanagan was that she had left her daughter on the night the child was killed, ana knew nothing of the occurrence till afterwards. Two witnesses deposed to meeting a woman resembling her on the South Bolt alone, who asked her way to Addington, , where. Flanagan lived, about half-past ten that night. Sir R. Stout made an excellent speech in defence of Sarah Flanagan, contending that she had quitted her mother and killed the child in a sudden impulso due to an attack of mania. He asserted that all the circumstances showed there could not have been premeditation. Mr. Martin, for the prosecution, made a capital speech, during which Sarah Flanagan burst into hysterical shrieking. She sobbed hysterically during Judge Denniston's summing up. After an hour's retirement, the jury found both prisoners guilty, recommending Mrs. Flanagan to mercy on account of her advanced age. When they were sentenced to death there was a terrible scene. Mrs. Flanagan appaared not to realise her position, and asked the female warder standing by if it was true. Her daughter uttered piercing shrieks, protesting her innocence.