CHARGE OF MURDER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19717, 17 August 1927, Page 14

CHARGE OF MURDER.

INFANT DFtOWNED IN CREEK.

MOTHER FOUND NOT GUILTY.

SUFFERED FROM INSANITY.

[DY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. 1 CHRISTCHURCH. Tuesday

A plea of cot guilty was entered by Mrs. Ellen Robinson in the Supreme Court to-day, when charged with having, at Hook, South Canterbury, on August 1, 1926, murdered her infant child, Elinor Wade Robinson. Accused was defended by Mr. Thomas, who asked that in consideration for his client the Court should be cleared.

Mr. Justice Adams said he had no power to clear the Court in a case of that nature. He was acquainted with the painful circumstances and with the probable result of greater excitement on the accused, and would appeal to all who had no business in the Court to leave voluntarily. It was merely a suggestion.

His Honor's appeal was responded to by the Court being rapidly cleared. Mr. Donnelly, Crown prosecutor, said that accused took her four children to a creek and drowned the infant. Sinco then she had been in a mental hospital, and it was clear that at the time of the offence she was suffering from insanity.

Dr. A. C. McKillop, superintendent of the Sunnyside Mental Hospital, said that when accused was admitted to the institution she suffered from melancholia. She was not responsible for what she had done. Her condition had improved during the past six months. Mr. Donnelly said the facts were not disputed by counsel for the accused and that question did not arise. His Honor, to the jury, said that in-' sanity at the time an offence was committed was a sufficient defence. In view of the position taken up by the Crown the jury must find that the accused was not guilty, and under the Mental Defectives Act it should return a verdict that at the time of the offence she was insane and was acquitted on that account. The jury, without retiring, returned a verdict of not guilty on the grounds directed.

His Honor ordered that the accused should be kept in strict custody in the Sunnysido Mental Hospital until the pleasure of the Minister of Justice was known.