ALLEGED MURDER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 18786, 21 May 1923, Page 5

ALLEGED MURDER

TRIAL OF THE COOPERS CROWN’S CASE NOT CONCLUDED The charge of murder preferred against Daniel Coo|>er and his wife was continued at (he Supreme Court, Wellington, on Saturday, when Beatrice Beadle gave evidence, regarding the birth of (he second child she bore to Cooper, also to its disap|*ear« ance when handed over to Cooper by Miss Adams at Xewlands. The hearing will l>e resumed this morning, when the Crown Prosecutor will complete his case. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, May 19. The Cooper case was resumed at the Supreme Court tin’s morning. Beatrice Irene Beadle gave evidence as to the birth of her second child by Cooper. She became pregnant in February, 1921, From -March to October, Mrs. Cooper was absent from Wellington, but. she knew witness was pregnant. Before she left. Cooper told witness he was getting some well-to-do people at Palmerston North to adopt the child. Witness then described how, after her confinement, she and the child were taken to Newlands by Cooper. They were accompanied by Miss Adams. Witness, not being very well, did not. walk to Newlands. but stayed at the bottom of the hill beyond Johnsonville railway station. Cooper and Miss Adams took the baby over the hill towards Newlands, Miss Adams subsequently coming back and rejoining witness at. the foot of the hill. Witness and Miss Adams then returned 10 Wellington. That was the last she saw of the child. When she next saw Cooper he told her that people had been waiting in a motor-car to take the child to Palmerston North, and it was doing well. She would not *have parted with the child if she had known it was not going to be adopted. She never signed any adoption, papers in connection with her child. She made a formal demand for her child from Cooper, but it had not been restored to her. To Mr. Treadwell: While cohabiting with Cooper she lived in the house with Mrs. Cooper, and remained on perfectly friendly terms with her. After the birth of the second child she continued her relations with Cooper for a month or so. To Mr. Wilford: Miss Adams wa-s away from her for only a few minutes. By that she judged that Miss Adams must have handed the baby over to Cooper before they reached Newlands. Mrs. Cooper was not at Newlands that night, but witness believed a motor-car would be waiting with people who would immediately take the child away to adopt it. She had perfect confidence in Cooper's story regarding the adoption of the child. Mrs. King deposed as to the birth of the girl Beadle’s second child at her house. Dr. Smythe gave corroborative evidence. Effie Muriel Adams deposed that after Cooper and she left Beadle at the foot of the hill she carried the to a fence near some trees. Cooper here got through the fence and witness handed the baby to him. He then told her she could return to Beadle, as he could carry it the rest of the way. She was only a fewminutes absent from Beadle. Cooper told her the child was to be adopted, and she believed him. To Mr. Wilford: You are the fifth woman who believed that story? Witness: Yes. Acting-Detective McLennan gave formal evidence as to demands made upon the Coopers for the restitution of this child. To Mr. Wilford: Mrs. Cooper was away from Wellington when this child disappeared. She might, therefore, have been perfectly innocent when she said “I have nothing to say in connection with it ” Formal evidence was given to show that there was no official record of adoption of this child. Formal evidence, was given by the police as to finding a body at Newlands. It was covered with soil mixed with wood and ashes. At this stage Mr. Macasscy intimated that the Crown’s evidence could not possibly be concluded, and the Court adjourned till 10 o’clock on Monday.