CHARGE OF CONCEALMENT OF BIRTH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 9718, 14 January 1895, Page 5

CHARGE OF CONCEALMENT OF BIRTH.

ALLEGED BURNING OF A BABE.

Thk investigation in connection with the Woolloomooloo concealment of birth case was openeH before Mr. Delohery, S.M., at the Water Police Court on January 3, when the four women, Margaret Ryan, Alice

Greggson, Mary Lee, and Way Vaughan 1 were arraigned on a charge for that May Vaughan, having been delivered of a child, they did, after the death of the said child, wilfully endeavour to conceal its birth by placing its body in a fire." The accused pleaded not guilty. Sergeant Sawtell said thab on the night of December 27 he went to the residence of Mary Lee, at 84, Forbes street, Wool loomooloo, to inquire about « confinement case she had at Strathearn House, in Woolloo-mooloo-street, on November 30 last. The accused Leo told him she had done nothing wrong, and would tell him the truth. She said she was called out about eight o'clock at night by a lady who lived at) the back of Strathearn House to attend to a girl there. When she arrived she found May Vaughan in a back room upstairs in labour. She gave her a dose of oil, fixed her up for the night, bub on being called in again at eleven o'clock she remained with her until midnight, when she gave birth to a dead child. Three days later Vaughan became ill, and a flooding sotting in, she was again called in. Witness asked accused what period of gestation the woman was in. She replied about the sixth month. Placing her fingers about eight inches apart, she said the child was about that size. Asked what she did with the child she said she made a fire and burnt ib as she did in all such cases. She did not think ib necessary to call in a medical man a3 the child was born dead. It was much shrivelled up through drink. Her fee was 30s, but she had not been paid, Witness then went to Strathearn House and saw Mrs. Ryan, who said she knew nothing aboub any burning of a child, bub thab one of her girls had had a miscarriage. The accused Vaughan, who was in the house, was then called into the room, and sne said she did not know what had become of the child as she was unconscious at the time, Vaughan said the miscarriage was brought on by a fall off a bed u week or ton days before. Greggson, who was also called in, said she knew nothing aboub the matter. Witness reminded her that she had told Mary Ann Murray a long story about it. Greggson admitted having told something to Murray, but said she was drunk, and did not remember it. Witness subsequently laid the information, and arrested the accused. In reply to the charge Ryan said, "This is what I eeb for doing a good burn ; I should have sent her to the hospital to hare her child." Greggson made no reply. Lee repeated that she had done nothing wrong, that the child was born dead; and Vaughan, on being arrested at the Sydney Hospital this morning, remarked, "I suppose I will get a few years for this." . Senior-constable Whelan deposed that aboub the middle of September last he had occasion to go to Strathearn House, Ryan's residence, and saw a man there who made accusations against Vaughan. Ryan then told him that Vaughan was in the family way, and on taking her to the police station he noticed her condition himsolf. Mary Ann Murray, a single woman, of Bourke-street, gave evidence to the effect thab Greggson told her that she had "taken a dislike to Mag Ryan for burning a baby at her place." Greggson. she said, described how she saw the child burning, and how Ryan told her she had made the other women in the house drunk, but would trust her (Greggson). She also said that the child was fully matured, and about the size of one of witness's monkeys. Greggson further said that while the child was in the fire the blood flowed over the hearth, which Ryan subsequently whitewashed. _ , . Dr. Rennie, Government Pathologist, said he had heard the evidence ; and, assuming it were true, the foetus was one of a six months'child. The fact of a mother drinking heavily would not cause a stillborn child to be shrivelled up. A woman might carry a dead child for three or four wookSi Ab this stage the court adjourned.