A RECENT CASE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXV, Issue 13036, 1 April 1910, Page 4

A RECENT CASE.

There is a case in point, cited by the police, as showing why the secret inquisition's of prisoners, pending their appearance in Court, should be encouraged. A young Finlander, arrested about six weeks ago in connection with the death of her mistress, collapsed under the ordeal of the. “third degree,” and gave information which it is believed will terminate in the execution of the woman’s husband for murder. The girl underwent the “third degree” for 18 hours, persistently maintaining that she was entirely ignorant of the circumstances of her mistress’s death or the whereabouts of the dead woman's husband. After 18 hours’ inquisition, during which all the sustenance she received was’ a cup of water, she was taken to the morgue to look at the body of the ■ murdered woman. She at once recoiled at the sight, admitted that she recognised the body, but that was all. They next took her to the office of the Public Prosecutor, who for two hours plied her with questions. Then she broke down completely, and confessed that Johansen had admitted having murdered his wife, and that. she had kept house for him afterwards.