INFANT IN A SUIT-CASE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 185, 25 April 1918, Page 9

INFANT IN A SUIT-CASE

* ADJOURNED INQUEST. Tho adjourned inquest concerning the death of an unnamed male infant, the child of Norah Fleming, was ronchded yesterday, before Mr. S. E. M'Carthy, S.M. The body of tho child was found in a suit-case, which the woman was carrying in her hand on April 4, when she was arrested. Evidonco was given by Norali Fleming, the mother of the child, who >iated that she had been employed in domestic service at Mangnweka. When she was in trouble she came- to Wellington to mnko arrangements to go into a home, she made arrangements on March 29, and was to go in after tho Easter holidays. In the nieantimo she stayed at the Central Coft'eo Palace, Cuba Street. Tho child was born on the morning of March 30. Previous to tho birth of the child she. had not been in good health. When. assistance was needed by her in the middle of the night there was no one available. She last consciousness, and when she camo to she found-she was lying on Iho floor, and tho child had been.born. ; The child was lifeless. Sho could re- : member very little of what took place > from that time up to tho date of her ar- i rest on April 4. She intended to return ! to her work the following day (Friday, j [April 5), and carried the body of l« i child in a suit-case, thinking that if she . ! got lack to her friends she could havo . i the child properly buried. She did not j know what she was doing. ! Tho coroner returned a verdict that | thy child was still-born. I j CHARGE OF CONCEALMENT OF •' 1 BIRTH. Norah Fleming was then charged that i being (he mother of a male child born I i or or about March 30, at Wellington, she ! did dispose of tho dend body of such | ! child with the intent thereby to conceal J ! the fact that she was delivered of it. Mr. A. F. Hogg, of Carterton, appeared . 'for the accused. The evidence tendered was a repetition I of that given at the inquest. The ac- j, cuse,d pleaded not guilt}-, and was com- , miffed to the Sunreme Court for trial. Bail -was allowed in accused's own recognisances for ,£SO, conditionally on her re- , ntaining at the Salvation Army Home. <