A FOURTH ARREST.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1183, 19 July 1911, Page 7

A FOURTH ARREST.

AND A FIFTH PROBABLE. j LATEST PHASE OF THE KINGSLAND MYSTERY. (By Telegraph—PrcM Association.) Auckland, July 18. Detectives Cox and Quartcmain this afternoon arrested, at Avondnlc, Mary Hassell, wife of .Tohn Hassell, labourer, of Arondale, on a charge of being concerned iu the murder of Miss Holland, on or about June 13 last. Mrs. Hassell was one of the occupants of O'Sliauglmcssy'fl house before and at the timo of the death of tho young-wo-man. It is probablo that a fifth arrest will be made. .Tames and Martha O'Shaughnessy and .Tanc Hartley appeared at tho Police Court thi9 morning, charged with murder in connection with tho death of Elsio Holland, at ICingsland. Counsel for accusod asked for bail. Tho Crown Solicitor objected and tho Justices declined to take the responsibility and remanded accused till Thursday, to enable tho magistrate to deal with tho application,

• MARY, HASSELL'S STATEMENT. ARRIVAL OF THE STRANGER. In her cvidcnco at tho inquest Mary Has,soil said that on Tuesday morning, Juno 13, she carno into town about 10 o'clock, and remained in Auckland all day until about 9.15 p.m., when she took a Kingsland tramcar to tho terminus, intending to catch the train for Avondale, but missed it, and sho went across to Mrs. O'Shaughnessy's. Here tho witness was cautioned by the Coroner against making any statements likely to incriiuinato herself/ Sho replied that she wished to make a/Statcmcnt, correcting the report which sho found in tho "Herald" that morning, which was that Br. Brockway had said that she was under the influence of drink when ho arrived at tho house. "I was nothing of tho sort," said tho witness, hotly, "but I was so shocked and excited at such a sudden death that I didn't know what I was saying or doing. I had only one drink that day, and I would liko that statement corrected, for I am a young woman, and the mother of a familv."

In answer to questions, sho said she entered the house by the back way as usual, and went into the kitchen. There was no one in the house, and sho sat down in a Tocking-chair iu the kitchen. About 10 minutes iatei thero was a ring at tho front door. Sho answered it, and found n young lady standing there, who asked if she could >eo the mistress of the house. Witness replied that she didn't know, becauso sho wanted to sco her too. Sho then went, to call Mrs. O'Shaughncssy, and the young woman (who afterwards died in the house) followed her down the passage. Sho had n dross basket lying at her feet when witness snw her at the door. When witness saw her again she was lying on the bed in the room in which sho died. When Mr. and lire. O'Khauglmessy came in witness told the latter that there was "a party to seo her," and llrs. O'Shaughnossy went into the bedroom. Witness commenced reading in the kitchen and dosed oif to sleep. Sho was awakened by tho commotion when tho doctor came, nud went into tho room where tho deceased was, with him. At tho time witness did not think the woman was dead. Sho had never seen deceased I before in her life.

In answer to Mr. Singer, witness said she did not think thero was anyone on the verandah with the woman when sho opened tho door. Afterwards sho was very nervous and excited, becauso sho felt some degreo of responsibility for the trouble brought on Mrs. O'Shaughncssy, becanso, sho had admitted the woman to the house.

The Coroner: Why didn't you go to the store, and call Mrs. O'Shaughncssy P— No fear of 1110 doimr that; I've scon-too many rits about there, and was too frightened of them; and, besides, the woman might have missed her train tho snmo as I had done myself, arid I wanted my own bed—you bet! (Laughter.)