MRS. HEARN NOT GUILTY

Taranaki Daily News, 25 June 1931, Page 5

MRS. HEARN NOT GUILTY

ENGLISH MURDER TRIAL ENDS. ACCUSED COLLAPSES TN DOCK. By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright. London, June 23. Mrs. Annio Hearn, charged with murdering her sister and another woman, and who collapsed in the dock after the judge’s 41 hours’ summing-up, waited 54 minutes while the jury considered, its verdict, which was not guilty of the murder of Mrs. Thomas. It was directed that the indictment in connection with Miss Everard be abandoned, and Mrs. Hearn was discharged. Two thousand.outside the court awaited the verdict. Mrs. Annio Hearn was charged at the Police Court, Launceston, Cornwall, with murdering’her sister, Miss Mary Everard, and her friend, Mrs. Alice Thomas. The prosecuting counsel, Mr. Delvin, 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 ji domestic position in a house. Her employer’s suspicions were aroused by her interest in reports of the case, and he gave information to the police, w’ho arrested her and charged her with murder.