CHILD BURIED IN GARDEN

Taranaki Daily News, 13 July 1929, Page 13

CHILD BURIED IN GARDEN

CHARGE AGAINST PARENTS. ALLEGED CONCEALMENT 1 OF BIRTH ; '■ ; ■- i By Telegraph—Press Association. Waima.te, Laist ’ Night.' The adjourned inquest on the remains of an infant found in a back yard in Waimate was continued to-!day before the district coroner, Mr. G. ;Dash. Lomond Kennedy, a plumber of Timaru, stated he had made a statement' at the detective office in Timaru about the birth and burial of a child, but the statement was not true. He had known Juanita Wilce, the mother of the child, who was now carrying on s, milliner’s business at Waimate, for about seven years, first at Timaru. •The child was born on February 14, 1927, as far as he knew. He was not present at the time. Kennedy declined to give more evidence, claiming privilege on legal advice. In answer to Mr. Boland, solicitor for Wilce, Kennedy said some of his statement made at Timaru was true and some wag not'. Detective Studholme said Kennedy had made a voluntary statement to him in Timarir and had signed it as being true. He alleged the statement said that on and off for three years he bad lived with Wilce as man and wife,- but only when away from Waimate. About February 24, 1927, Wilce gave birth to a child. About 10 p.m. that day he had asked Wilce to marry him and “let the kiddie live,” both requests being refused.

Kennedy saw Wilce next morning, the statement had allegedly continued, and she tohl him the child was born and she had stopped its breathing with her hand. Kennedy suggested the only thing to do was to bury it, and she agreed. The body was that of a female and was wrapped up and taken to the residence of Wilce’s parents and buried under a tree. Wilce’s mother knew nothing about the matter, and Kennedy did not know if the child had lived.

Juanita Wilce, aged 26 and single, said she found herself in a certain condition towards the end of 1926, Kennedy being responsible. About three months later, on a Thursday, the child was born, but it did not cry. She wrapped iti in a cloth and placed it in a portmanteau. On the Sunday Kennedy took and buried it in the garden of -witness’ parents’ residence. When site found herself pregnant she told Kennedy she would not marry him, but she made no threats to do away with the child. Dr. Wylie stated that he bad examined the bones found in the backyard and was of opinion they were those of a full term child. He was unable to state the sex or whether- the child had breathed. • The coroner’ returned a verdict' "that the illegitimate child of Juanita Wilce was found buried in the x garden of 44 Rhodes Street, but there. was no evidence to prove that the child was born alive.”

Lomond Kennedy then appeared on remand, charged that about February 4, 1927, he disposed of the dead body of a female child by burying it with intent to conceal the birth. Juanita Wilce also appeared charged that about the same date she disposed of the dead body of a child with intent to conceal that she was its mother, Both were remanded to July 16. Wilce was released on probation on condition that she report daily to the police, but Kennedy did not ask for bail.