THE WAIPAWA TRAGEDY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12600, 2 March 1903, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE WAIPAWA TRAGEDY.

MOOUE FOUND GTTIITY OP MANSLAUGHTER.

NAPIER, February 17. At the Supreme Court to-day the ro-hear : inj "f the case against T. F. Mooro and Mrs M. A. Hills for the alleged murder of J.uttic Ancell was commenced. The Crown Prosecutor, prior to the jury being eallcd, statpti that he had been directed by the Solicitor-general to enter r, withdrawal of proceedings as against tlio accused Mary Ann Hills, and this, by the consent of the court, was done. The evidence tendered was the same as at the former trial, except iliat of Mrs OrilTin ( of Waipawa, who stated that on the day of the alleged murder a young woman answering to the description nf (lie deceased n'sked witness the way to Moore's chemist shop, and also to the nearest draper's. Witness did not notice anything strange about the girl's appearance, or any signs of serious ill-health. February 19. At the Supremo Court to-day the' case against T. l'\ Mooro for the murder of iiottic Ancell was concluded. Evidence was adduced that the young woman Martin in conversation, within a day or two of the (loath of Mi?a Ancell, had stated that the latter had been in communication with Mooro prior to going to Waipawa. His Honor, in Summing up, said it was common ground, both to the prosecution and defence, that, the girl did not .die from the use of instruments by herself. Whatever was the cause of death, it occurred at Waipawa. It could not be suggested the girl had died from anything else but what had taken place at Waipawa. From that point of view the case was relieved entirely of difficulty. The evidence of Dr Fyfo showed most clearly that the cause of death was either an embolism, as alleged by the Crown, or convulsions,, which occurred at Moore's shop at Waipawa. The jury retired at 3.25 p.m., nind at 5.15 asked for instructions from his Honor. They asked if Lottie Ancell did anything to herself that would not have killed her and if the prisoner did something further which, coupled with what she Lwself had done, did kill her, should, they bring in the tame verdict as if she had done nothing to herself? His Honor said the jury's verdict in Ui.it ease must Ims the same. The jury returned a verdict of manslaughter, with a recommendation to mercy, the jury l>ei'ng of opinion the deceased might have tampered with herself prior to leaving Xapior. A sentence of seven years, with hard labour, was passed. The Crown Prosecutor said the Crown had not yet decided as to what would bo done with regard to the other charge against Moove, but probably they would not bo proceeded with further. He a.-l;ed that tlio charges against Mary Ann Mills be allowed to stand over until nrxt session. This was agreed to, substantial sureties be'ing demanded.