The Christchurch Infanticide

Southland Times, Issue 11670, 26 February 1891, Page 2

The Christchurch Infanticide

THE ACCUSED SENTENCED TO DEATH. (By Telegraph.) Chiustchurch, Feb. 20. Sarah Jane and Anna Flanagan (,her mother) were charged to-day with the wilful murder of a male child. Sir R. Stout and Mr Scringer appeared for the accused. Intense interest was manifested in the case, and the court and its approaches were crowded. Mr Martin, who appeared for the Crown, in opening the case, detailed the circumstances briefly as follows : — The daughter was delivered of a child, which was put out to nurse. Mrs Flanagan was wroth, and said she felt inclined to murder it. On the sth January the prisoners went to the nurse's house, and the baby was takon away. Next day the head of a child was found, terribly mutilated, near au unoccupied house. The body was not found. A quantity of clothing was found, and was proved to have been takeu away with the baby. A day or two later Mrs Flanagan called on the nurse and told her that some men had assaulted her daughter, taken away the child and cut off its head, and that the police were making enquiries. She also said that the face was battered out of recognition, and that the body never would be found. After this the daughter left, for Wellington where she was arrested. No new facts *vere adduced in the evidence for the prosecution which closed about 3p. in. The defence of Mrs Flanagan was. f hat she had left her daughter on the night the child was killled and knew noth ing of the occurrence until afterwards. Two witnesses deposed to meeting a woman resembling her on the South Belt alone, who askod the way to Addingtou, where the Flanagans lived, about 10.30 that night. Sir H. Stout made an excellent speech in defence of Sarah Flanagan, contending that she had quitted her mother and killed the child in a sudden impulse due to an attack of mania. He asserted that all the circum* stancesshowed that therecouldnot have been premeditation. Mr Martin, for the prosecution, made a capital speech, during which Sarah Flanagan burst into hysterical shrieking and she sobbed hysterically during Judge Denniston's summing up. After an hcur's retirement the jury found both guilty, recommended Mrs Flanagan to mercy on account of her advauced age. When they were sentenced to death there was a terrible scene. Mrs Flanagan appeared not to realise her position and asked a female warder standiug by if it waa true. Her daughter uttered piercing shrieks and loudly protested her innocence.