THE CHILD MURDER CASE.

Western Star, Issue 1540, 28 February 1891, Page 2

THE CHILD MURDER CASE.

Ann Flanagan (mother) and Sarah Jane (daughter) were charged at the Supreme Court, Christchurch, on Wednesday, with the wilful murder of a male child. Sir R. Stout and Mr Stringer appeared for the accused. Intense interest was manifested in the case, and the court and its approaches were crowded. Mr Martin, who appeared for the Crown, in opening the case, detailed the circumstances briefly as follows The daughter was delivered of a child, which was put out to nurse. Mrs Flanagan was wroth, and said she felt inclined to murder it. On the sth January the prisoner went to the nurse’s house, and the baby was taken away. Next dav the head of a child was found, terribly mutilated, near an unoccupied house. The body was not found. A quantity of cloth ing was found, and was proved 1o have been taken away with the baby. A day or two later Mrs Flanagan called oa the nurse and told her that some men had assaulted her daughter, taken away the child and cut off its head, and that the police were making enquiries. She also said that the face was battered out of recognition, and that the body never would be found. Al ter this the daughter left for Wellington, where she was arrested. The evidence was precisely similar to that given in the R.M., court with reference to Miss Flanagan’s statement, her statements to the police, the finding of the head and clothes, etc. Mrs Freeman, the nurse, swore positively that the clothes found were those taken away with the baby, but not what it wore.

The defence of Mrs Flanagan was that she had left her daughter on the night ihe child was killed and knew nothing of the occurrence until afterwards. Two witnesses deposed to meeting a woman resembling her on the South Belt alone, who asked the wiy to Addington, where the Flanagans lived, about 10.3 Q that night. Sir R. Stout, who made an excellent speech in defence of Sarah Flanagan, contended that she had quitted her mother and killed the child in a sudden impulse clue to an attack of mania. He asserted that all the circumstances showed that there could not have been premediation. Mr Martin, for the prosecution, made a capital speech, during which Sarah Flanagau burst into hysteric il shrieking, and she sobbed hysterically during Judge Dennislou’s summing up. After an hour’* retirement the jury found both guilty, an I recommended Mrs Flanagan to merev on account of her advanced age. When they were sentenced t > death there was a terrible scene. Mrs Flanagan appeared not to realise her position, and asked a female warder standing by if it was true. Her daughter uttered piercing shrieks, and loudly protested her innoceuca.

The Lyttelton Times thus describes the scene in court when sentence was passed :—“ While his Honor was speaking the elder prisoner sat silent, rocking herrelf to and fro ; the younger one sobbed hysterically. The summing up occupied 10 minutes, and at 25 minutes to 7 o’clock the jury retired. The strain of waiting proved too much for Sarah Flanagan, who, a moment later, again began her cries and proves tations of innocence. His Honor ordered the prisoner to be removed, and left the bench himself. For an hour the crowd waited, and talked over the prisoners’ chances of acquittal, which were thought but small At 20 miuntes to 8 the jurymen were heard descending the stair leading from their room, and the next moment they entered with grave, inscrutable faces, and look thei/seats in the box. The crowd pushed into every available place for seeing the dock, and the judge took his place on the bench. The two or three minutes before the prisoners were brought in seemed terribly long, and then, amid a breathless hush, the foreman rose, and in firm, but low tones, gave the verdict —“ Griiilty,” with a recommendation to mercy of the older woman on account of her advanced age. The registrar asked the prisoners the customary question if they had anything to say. They seemed stupefied, aud not to realise their position, but managed to mumble something about their not having “done it.” The judge, pale with emotion drew the black cap, a square of cloth, from beneath his desk, put it on, and began to pass sentence of death. He had spoken but a few words when the wretched creatures in the dock seemed to suddenly realise their awful position, Sarah Flanagan broke out with piercing shrieks. Her mother wildly asked the female gaoler, who had entered the dock, if it was true, and then also uttered screams and lamentations. In heartrending accents

the two women appealed to the judge for pardon, wringing their hands and wailing. His Honor, in as few words as possible, words which were almost inaudable owing to the fearful cries which rang through the court, completed his painful duty ; the people in court, many of whom had risen to their feet at the first shriek from _ the wretched woman, were much excited, and several of the women were in tears. The strenuous efforts of the police, and the pesistent shouts of “ Sit down ’ restored comparative order in a few moments ; the court was adjourned ; the prisoners, still shieking and imploring, were hurried out of the room. Thus ended a scene surely painful enough to make the most persistent horror hunter in the gallery feel sated.