The Otaki Manslaughter Case.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXXVII, Issue 11713, 16 August 1902, Page 5

The Otaki Manslaughter Case.

Per Press Association,

WELLINGTON, August 15,

The trial of Harriet Drake for the manslaughter of her eight-year-old daughter a,t Otaki was continued to-day.

Dr. Clay, in further evidence, t>aid "he could come to iio other conclusion, than that the child died from shock.

Mrs. Jenkins, of Eltham, sister-in-law of the accused, said that while on a visit to the Drakes she had noticed that the child was neglected. Mi's. Drake had expressed her di.slike for the; deceased.

Sarah Webbey, a Maori, avlio bad been in service at Drake's, when the deceased -was from two to three years old", gave evidence that, the child had never been treated like other members of the family, though she was welDl fed and clothed." Sometimes Mrs. Drake tied Dorothy to a fence near the back door with a tether rope round the child's waist. She ■would tie her up after giving her breakfast and bath, bring- her in to have dinner, and tie her up again during the afternoon. This was only dune on fine days. On wet days the child was put into the nursery by herself. Mrs. Drake said she tied her up to keep the child away from the river., but as there was a, high wire netted fence on the bank of the river the child could not have reached the river. The child! was treated that way all the time witness was at Drake's. Other witnesses gave similar evidence, and the case stood partly heard when the Court adjourned until -to-monw.

CABLES;