TRIAL OF WOMAN CONTINUES

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 197, 18 May 1944, Page 6

TRIAL OF WOMAN CONTINUES

Death Of Infant Son DOCTOR’S EVIDENCE FOR DEFENCE (Bv Telegraph.—Press Association.> WANGANUI, May 17. The trial of Frace Rosaline Robertson, aged 26. adding machine operator, on a charge of murdering her infant sou. aged 14 days, near Mangaweka on December 18 was continued today. The ease is being tried before Mr. Justice Smith. Mr. N. R. Bain is Crown prosecutor and Mr. J. Goldstine, Auckland. is appearing for accused. A brother of accused, James Robertson, a plumber, of Dargaville, said that did not have companionship as a child. , , , Mr. Goldstine: Was her home life what one would call happy? Witness: Not altogether. Witness added that his rhother had very strong religious convictions which dominated the home and caused division. Accused was wrought between the two opinions. Witpess could not recall any of accused’s friends being invited home nor was she allowed to take part in any organized sport or go to pictures. Every other member of the family had been brought up ns Open Brethren, but the mother had later joined the Exclusive Brethren and the teachings of this, more rigid sect were applied to accused’s upbringing. , ~ Medical evidence was called by the defence. Dr. George H. Robertson said he was of the opinion that at the time the incident occurred the girl was suffering from puerperal , insanity. “On that particular night this girl was so far out of her mind as to have no power of reasoning or understanding of what she was doing.” Said witness. She was also in a state of economic insecurity and. travelling from place to place., was cut off from her parents, friends ano the father of the child. No mother who was normal mentally and physically could do as much as accused had done 14 days after the birth of the child, said witness, adding that he had gone over with accused incidents during the train journey on December IS. . - “I went over this with her several times and am quite satisfied that the memory of the actual disposal of the baby is buried deep in her mind and cannot be got at by ordinary means, said witness. “This is quite in line with the whole disease as I can see it. The fact that she contemplated suicide, though she did not actually commit it, is also consistent with this condition.” Mr. Goldstine: What would you say about the removal of the baby’s clothes? (The child's body when found was naked.) Witness: I questioned her very closely for some time, but was unable to get any memory in her mind and she stuck to her story as described in her evidence. The Court adjourned till tomorrow.