SEVEN YEARS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7974, 4 December 1911, Page 1

SEVEN YEARS

THE KINGSLAND CASE MRS O’SHAUGHNESSY SENTENCED. OTHER TWO WOMEN GET TWELVE MONTHS EACH. , PRESS ASSOCIATION. AUCKLAND, December 8. The charges, including alternativft counts of being accessories after the fact of murder, and of conspiring to defeat the ■ ends of justice, preferred against ■ Edward .-Tames (DShangliuessy, Mary Hassell, and Charlotte Campbell, were concluded at the Auckland Supreme' Court yesterday afternoon. The jury retired at 11.20 a.m., and returned .at 3.45 p.m. with a verdict of ■ "not guilty” against O’Shaughnessy andverdicts of "guilty” against tho two females, accused on only i the count charging them with“’conspiring to prevent, ' pervert, obstruct, and defeat the ends of. justice.” ; ‘ ; O’Shaughnessy was discharged, and the other two accused received twelve . months’ imprisonment each. MRS O’SHAUGHNESSY’S CASE. Martha Jane O’Shaughnessy was next! called on, and she took her place in the dock perceptibly anxious and careworn. Mr Singer referred to tho application for leave to appeal, but his Honor replied that he would not deal with tins matter then. "I will deal with it at tho proper" time,” he said. Mr Singer drew attention to the recommendation to mercy brought in byi the jury. He said the recommendation ‘ was made on account of tho suspensa and anguish that prisoner must havo undergone during the last five months. , During that period she "had been in gaol awaiting trial on a charge of murder, and the suspense, anguish, and suffering must-have been as severe punishment as any woman could undergo. She was 48 years of age, and in a "delicate state of i ‘health, and her condition was now serious. He asked his. Honor to extend what leniency the law would allow. . ; His Honor remarked that it was his ; very , painful duty to impose a very heavy sentence, upon jthe. prisoner, but ho could say with confidence that, had. it not been! for' 1 the -recommendation of ’ thbvjury, , the sentence'would havo been. Very much heavier. . "The case was one in. which there was no occasion to minco matters. The evidence that had been adduced :as to .the a character of the house, and the evidence derivable from, the letters found in the shop, satisfied him the" prisoner had been —for he did not know how long—a professional ah or* j ticnist; an habitual abortionist. THE JUDGE'S REMARKS. "Now, in this case,” he continued, "* human life " has perished through your w-i criminal act. Tim jury have taken ai i lenient view of the circumstances. They .■, would have been justified in finding a , verdict against youon tho charge of murder, but I have no doubt they have i; token a safer course in finding you guilty ; of manslaughter. . Tho death has not re- , suited from negligence in the grossest , form, but it is an. act of manslaughter, done when you were committing a crxmi for" gain. I have in this court shown; leniency to a member of a family who committed a-crime of this sort for charity's sake, but I can only regard, you as a sordid creature capable of per* forming a criminal act for gain.’ His Honor added that ho was willing! , ; to give what ho considered tho utmost •weight to tho recommendation to mercy, A sentence of seven years’ imprisonment was inflicted. y . ■- ■ * The prisoner walked steadily to thei stairway and disappeared, down the steps without showing that she was much affected. ■ si-jj.N : i , - APPEAL MENTIONED.

Mr Singer again mentioned the matte* , of points raised for appeal, and bia Honor intimated that if he found there was any doubt or, 'point .arguable, he would adopt the usual course of stating ' a case for tho Appeal'Court, and coun- 7 scl would receive notice in due course.