INFANT'S BONES FOUND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20306, 13 July 1929, Page 14

INFANT'S BONES FOUND.

DISCOVERY IN GARDEN.

SEQUEL IN POLICE COURT. [BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WAIMATE, Friday. The adjourned inquest on tho bones of an infant child, found in a garden, was continued to-day before the coroner, Mr. Georgo Dash. l'ho police evidence was that on digging they found tho bones, wrapped in cloth.

Lomond Kennedy, described us a plumber, ot Timaru, said that on July 4, he visited the detective ollico in Timaru and made a statement. The statement was not a true one. 110 had known a woman named Juanita Wilce lor about seveu years, the acquaintanceship commencing m Timaru ' About February 24, 1927, Miss Wilce gave birth to a child. Witness Here claimed privilege, and retuseo to givo further evidence. To Mr Boland, representing Miss Wilce, Kennedy said some of his statement was true and some untrue.

Detective btudhonno said Kennedy met him in Timaru and stated that he had a seuous matter to communicate. Witness look hun to the oflice, where Kennedy made a voluntary statement, lo tho eltect that ho had known JuaniLt Wilce for seven years, and had lived with hei off and on at times when botli of them were away from U annate. About February 24. 1927, Miss' Wilco gave birth lo a child, lie saw Miss Wilce at ten o'clock that night prior to the birth, and asked her to man v him, and ' let the kiddy live." Sho refused both requests. The detective continued that Kennedy said he visited Miss Wilce next morning and was informed of the birth. Miss U lice told him that during the birth she stopped tho child's breathing with her hand. Kennedy said: "There's only one show of getting rid of it, and that's to bury it." Miss Wilce replied: "That is the omy way." Kennedy examined the body, which was that of a female, and wrapped it up. Afterwards ho went to tho residence of Miss Wilce's parents, where they talked in tho kitchen for a while, after which Kennedy buried tho parcel under a tree. " Nliss Wilce's rnothei doesn't know her daughter gave birth to this child, and 1 do not know that tho child had lived," Kennedy stated

Juanita Wilco, aged 26, unmarried, said she had known Kennedy for seven years.. Sho met him in Timaru when sho was employed there. Toward the end of 1926 Kennedy took her to a doctor, giving the names of " Mr. and Mis. Kennedy." About three months later sho gave birth to a child, which was premature. Tho child did not cry. She wrapped the. body in a piece of cloth and placed it in a portmanteau. That was on a' Thursday. On Sunday Kennedy visited her at the shop where she slept, and later they went out together.

When she noticed Kennedy was carrying a parcel, sho asked if it was the baby and be said it was, and added that he was going to bury it in her mother's garden. Sho did not see Kennedy bury the child; but ho told her where he had buried it. Sho was not attended then and had not been attended since by a doctor. When sho found out her condition she told Kennedy she would not marry liini, but she mado no threats to do away with tho child. Tho date of the birth was the end of January or early in February, 1927.

Dr. Wylio said that on Juno 14, 1926, the couplo called on him, giving him the impression they were married. Ho had made a careful examination of tho bonos found They were undoubtedly those of a full-timo .child, but he was unable to state the sox, or whethor tho child had breathed.

The coroner's verdict was: "That the illegitimate child of Juanita Wilce was found buried in tho garden of 44, Rhode Street, but there is no evidence to prove that the child was born alive."

Lomond Kennedy then appeared on remand charged that about February 4, 1927, he disposed of the dead bodv of a female child by burying it, with intent to conceal birth.

Juanita Wilce was charged that about the same date she disposed of the dead body of a femalo child with intent to conceal that she was its mother.

Both were remanded to appear on Tueslav July 16. Wilce was released on condition that sho reported daily to tho polico Kennedy did not ask for bail.