MURDER CHARGE FAILS

Southland Times, Issue 21429, 25 June 1931, Page 7

MURDER CHARGE FAILS

ACQUITTAL OF MRS HEARN. (United Press Assn.—By Telegraph—Copyright) London, June 23. Annie Hearn, who collapsed in the dock after the Judge’s 44 hours' summing up, waited 54 minutes while the jury considered its verdict, which was one of not guilty of the murder of Mrs Alice Thomas. The jury directed that the indictment in connection with murdering her sister, Mary Everard, be abandoned and that Mrs Hearn be discharged. Two thousand people outside the Court awaited the verdict. At the hearing of the charge against Mrs Hearn in the Police Court at Launceston, Cornwall, it was stated that Mrs Thomas attended a picnic with Mrs Hearn and Mr Thomas. She was offered sandwiches and took the top one, as would 99 persons out of 100. After eating it she became ill, but recovered subsequently. Later the accused cooked a meal of mutton for Mrs Thomas, who afterwards died. Mrs Hearn left the district and a search for her was unsuccessful. Then she was found to be at Torquay, where she had taken a domestic position in a house.