DEATH OF A GIRL.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 February 1923, Page 5

DEATH OF A GIRL.

ILLEGAL ACT ALLEGED. CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER. WOMAN SENT FOR TRIAL. By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright. Gisborne, Last Night. After several adjournments a case was taken at the Magistrate’s Court to-day, in which Frances Quinn is charged that on or about December 15 last, at Gisborne, she committed ah unlawful act on Eileen O’Donoghue, which unlawful act caused the death of O’Donoghue, thus committing manslaughter. Henry Augusto Martin, a farmer, of Omahanui, said deceased was exployed by him as a general help. During his wife’s absence witness was intimate with the girl, and witness knew the girl was pregnant when she left for Gisborne. Witness refused tn answer several questions. He admitted he handed the (Ari a letter containing a cheque, which she delivered at Gisborne. Andrew Joseph Sheerin said that in consequence of a message he spoke to accused, stating that a cousin of witness had got a girl into trouble, and he wanted to know if accused could do Accused called two days later and said she would du her best, and that it would cost £4O. Witness met O’Donoghue a few days later and told O’Donoghue to ring accused.

Other witnesses deposed to the movements of O’Donoghue from Martin’s place to a hotel at Gisborne, and thence to a private boardinghouse, from which a taxidriver stated he took a young woman answering O’Donoghue’s description to accused’s house.

Martha Matilda Parsons, a married woman, sister of accused, stated a young women giving the name of Mrs. Duncan and answering the description of O’Donoghue, met her in the street and asked where bhe could get board. Parsons offered her accommodation and within a few hours of her arrival a miscarriage took place. A doctor was called in and ordered the girl’s removal to hospital, but Parsons stated the girl refused to go. Four 'days later the girl went to Napier by the Afahura, giving the name of Duncan. Deceased’s name was not on the passenger list, but she was met on arrival at Napier by a taxi-driver, who knew her, and who took her to her mother’s home Duncan was identified as O’Donoghue. Shortly after her arrival al Napier she was ordered to hospital, where she was operated on, but subsequently she died. Three Napier doctors who attended deceased, two of whom were present at the post-mortem, were strongly of opinion that death was the result of acute peritonitis and septicaemia, following induced abortion.

Accused pleaded not guilty and was committed for trial.