CHARGE OF MURDER.

Otago Witness, Issue 3214, 20 October 1915, Page 61

CHARGE OF MURDER.

TWIN BABIES STRANGLED. MOTHER ARRESTED. CHRISTCHURCH, October 18. Mrs Mary Ann Reid, of Islington, was placed under arrest yesterday on a warrant charging her with the murder of newly-born twins—a male and a female. Mrs Reid, who has been living apart from her husband for over two years, left the house of her parents (Mr and Mrs Weeks) at Islington on Saturday night. She was absent for some time, and on returning she confessed to her mother that twins had been born in the bush. She indicated where they would be found, and when her parents went out they found that each child had a strip of linen tied round its neck. At the inquest to-day Mrs Weeks stated that Mrs Reid was 29 or 50 years of age. She had been married for about eight years, and had four children living with her. Mrs Reid had been living with witness for the past 11 months. Mrs Reid’s husband was living. He had left her about two years and a-half ago. Mr Bishop (coroner) : He deserted her? ■ —Witness : Yes. Continuing, she said that Reid had deserted his wife once before when she had two children, but she forgave him, and they lived together and had two more children. He again deserted her the last time when she had a child only a few months old. Mr Bishop : Do you know where he is now?—Witness : No. The Coroner recorded a verdict that the infants were killed by their mother.