THE ADDINGTON MURDER

Waikato Times, Volume 88, Issue 13667, 22 December 1917, Page 5

THE ADDINGTON MURDER

ACCUSED BEFORE THE COURT. By Telegraph—Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH. Friday. Winifred Carrick, a single woman, aged 27, was charged in the Police Court this morning with the wilful murler of her son, Donald Lewis Carrick, aged three years, at Addington, on December 6. Mr Raymond, K.C., prosecuted, and Mr Alpers appeared for accused. Mr Raymond, after outlining the case, said it was alleged by the Crown that the motive for crime lay in the state of mind ef accused following imf)risonment for two years for previousy abandoning the child. Annie Cox, manageress of the Government Receiving Home, said the child was boarded out from the home. She was present in court on June, 1915, when accused pleaded guilty to abandoning the child. Mr Alpers formally objected to any evidence bearing on a previous conviction. Dr Scott gave evidence as to the finding of the body in the gaurien on the morning of December 8, also to finding a screw wrench and spade near the body. He said the cause of death was laceration of the brain, due to a fracture of the skull. Such a fracture was consistent with a blew from a spade. He also examined certain clothing produced, and found the bottom of a skirt damp, as was also a handbag he examined. William Hart, clerk of the Magistrate's Court, said accused called at the court office on November 27, accompanied by Mrs Green. A summons had been issued for maintenance of the child, and, after considerable discussion, she consented to an order of 5s weekly. Accused was unwiling to sign the consent order, declaring she could not afford to pay- On Monday, December 10, he received by post a ten shilling postal note, "From W. Carrick " being written on an envelope. Mrs Katherine Green, a member of the Hospital Board, said she was also a member of Vincent de Paul Society, a prison visiting society attached to the Roman Catholic Church. She visited accused while in prison for abandoning her child at the end of September. Accused asked her advice, and wished to get the child adopted, Baying she was prepared to pav £25 down. Witness advertised, but the onlv reply n'ked a premium of £IOO. Witness frequently advised accused to pay maintenance, but accused said she did not want to pay for it. Witness also urged her several times to allow proceedings to be taken against the father of the child, but accused was obdurate, refused to give the man's name. She BSiIJ f.he did not know whp the father r« ::•!!;, was. as he had given her a false name. Accused gave the impression that she was determined to shield the man. Other evidence was given, and accused was committed, for trial.