WELLINGTON MANSLAUGHTER CASE

West Coast Times, Issue 12282, 15 August 1902, Page 2

WELLINGTON MANSLAUGHTER CASE

Wellington, Aug 14

The trial of flariet Drake, on a charge of manslaughter of her eight year old daughter was continued to day, but was not conclnded v, ben the court adjourned for the day. Dr Power, of Otaki, who was called to attend the deceased said the child had been dead about an hour when ha reached the. house. He examined the body by candle light and found ifc very niucb discolored. There were bruises everywhere except on the face and neck, there were dark bruises on the chest, and three groups of cuts across the abdomen, making about fifteen marks altogether. The skin was broken and showed blood and the marks looked as if it had bee caused by the lash of a whip. He found a depression on the right side of the skull just above tae ear and the bruisoa were so numerous and coalesced thic a piece of unbnvsed skin as wide as a shilling could not be sound. The prisoner was preseut whOQ Witness nutte the flrst exara,uuti<>u

of the body. She remarked : " how frightful, I gave her a severe ' thrashing."

The post mortem showed Kter that all the deceaieds organs were healthy and did not reveal any cause of death. Witness thought death rusulted from shock caused by punishment or from concussion of the brain. Dr Clay gavefeprrobbrative evidence. The hearing of the case will becoot'nued tomorrow.