CHARGE OF MURDER.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1227, 8 September 1911, Page 4

CHARGE OF MURDER.

<, THREE LETTERS. THE KINGSLAND MYSTERY. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Auckland, September 1, The hearing of tie charge of Murder preferred against Margin Jane O'Shanghnessy in connection with tho death of Miss Elsie Alexandra Holland, at the residence of tlie accused, in First Avenue, JCingslnnd, on or about .Tunc 1!) last, was continued at tlio Auckland Supreme Court to-day. Arthur Richard Miller, a storekeeper, who said he had purchased accused's in-k-rests in the contents of tho shop at Kingsland, and had taken possession on July 21, produced two letters. The first letter commenced "Dear Mrs. O'Shaughnessy," and proceeded: "Just a. line to ask you if you would put mo right, or, if you cannot, would you mind giving mo another address, as 1 am in a nice way alxmt it? If you will, would you mind if I came round to-morrow evening? 1 am -so sorry to bother you again, but I think you know me well enough not to Ijo afraid of anything underhand on my part. I got on all right that other lime, and I am most gratelul, for I don't know what I should hnvo done if it had not been for your kinditCSS." The second letter started "Dear Nurse," and went on: "Just a lino to ask you if you would lake a case. You will get ,£B." Sir. Singer: Did you open these letters? —No. How did they come, like this?—l don't know. Did you tako these letters to tho policof —Yes. When ?—About a week after I took pos* session of the premises.. Where did you get them?—ln a drawcl in the shop with other documents. What were they?— Some unpaid bills. Have, any letters come to the shop siucfl you had occupation of itf—No. llavo you searched high i>nd low for anything else?— No. To whom did you give the letters ?~Dotertivo Mursnck. Detective Quartcrmain, who visited tho accused's house about 9 o'clock on tho morning of the occurrence, detailed what he saw and did, and covered the samo evidence as he previously gave at the inquest and at the Lower Court. He said he had just completed obtaining a statement from accused when Mrs. Hartley burst into the room and said Mr. Singer had telephoned advising thorn not to make any statements. Mrs. O'Shaugknewsy hesitated about signing the state- • meiit, but later attached her. signature. The statement was produced mid the contents were practically similar to the evidence given by Mrs, O'Sliauglinessy at the inquest. Intimating that there was certain ovi. denco which lie did know could lie admitted, Mr. Tole proceeded to ask tho detective about a letter that was delivered through the post at Hie residence of tho accused on the day of the arrest and taken possession of by the polici The detective stated that he Jiai>. • u Iho letter to tho accused when in the coil and at'first she said: "Give it to my solicitor," but: later took it, opened ami rood it. Sho made no remark, and witness then took possession of tho letter, Mr. Singer objected to tho loiter being admitted as evidence, stating that it had not been found in her possession, nor traced to her possession in any way prior to being in the possession of the police. His Honour agreed that tho letter was not on tho samo fooling as the other two letters, as il had not been retained by accused, but merely received by her. It. was conceivable, though extremely impossible, that tho letter was written for tho purpose of injuring Iho accused, and it was safest not to admit tho letter, This closed the evidence for the prosecution and Mr. Singer intimated that ho had no evidence to lender for the defence, and would confiso himself to addressing the jury. Mr,, Justico Chapman said that it woVil'd' be cbrapctent for the jury to reduce tho charge from murder to manslaughter. THE JURY DISAGREE. v " Auckland, September 7. The jury disagreed, and a fresh, trial was ordered, tiro question of bail being reserved.