CHRISTCHURCH SUPREME COURT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LV, Issue 8607, 15 November 1906, Page 5

CHRISTCHURCH SUPREME COURT.

Charge of Manslaughter of an

Infant

The Jury Disagree

{By Telegraph — Press Association.)

Cbristohuroh, Last Night.

Georgina Frances Brown was indicted for " that, on August 6th, at Christchurch, by omitting and neglecting to provide the newly-born infant of one Clarice Bell Patterson" with proper care and attention, she did cause the death of the said infant, and thereby did commit the crime of manslaughter."

Evidence was given that accused was the proprietress of a nursing home. S_e received Mrs Patterson in' the home for the purposes of confinement. At that time, however, Nurse Brown was ill and unable to attend to her patients, and the work devolved upon a probationer with five months' experience. Mrs Patterson was unattended at the time of birth, and the child died from suffocation as the result, it was alleged, of such inattention.

For the defence it was argued that it was not clearly proved that the child had been born alive, and his Honor Justice Denniston, in summing up, said that the Home was shamefully understaffed, and it was abundantly clear that there had been a gross breach of duty.

The jury retired shortly before 6 p.m., but failed to agree, and were discharged.

A Christchurch message, received as we went to press, states that the proceedings against Georgina Frances Brown, charged with manslaughter have been abandoned, the evidence not being conclusive that the child was born alive.