ALLEGED MANSLAUGHTER.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 504, 18 August 1902, Page 3

ALLEGED MANSLAUGHTER.

THE DRAKE CASE,

THE MOTHER’S DENTAL.

By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Saturday. Tho chargo of manslaughter against Mrs Drake was continued to-day. Tho ca3o for tho Crown closed. Tho defence set up that the child sustained injuries to tho head which caused its death by a fall ; also that thoro might havo been othor causes of death than thoso disolosed by tho postmortem.

Wellington, laat night. The trial of Harriot JDrako for the allegod manslaughter of hor daughter Dorothy aged eight years, was continued yestorday. THE DEFENCE. For tho dofenco Jossio Bicknoll, who had been governess to the Drake children, said that she had abundant opportunity of observing Mrs Drake’s treatment of hor family, and found hor a most devoted mother. Mrs Annie Barraud, who had resided at Otaki, said that tho Drake children, including doceased, always appeared happy. Mrs Ada Hayes, who had been in service at Drake’s, gave corroborative evidence. No difference, sho said, was made by accused in her treatment of Dorothy and tho others. Mrs Kees, Alfred Knox, Katherine Bird, and Matilda Greeks, gave similar testimony. PRISONER’S EVIDENCE.

Tho prisoner elected to give evidence on hor own behalf. She admitted having tied tho child to a fence to keep it from mischief, but denied that there had been cruelty. Sho admitted having beaten the child with a whip on tho day of death, but denied having used undue severity. She denied having over troatod Dorothy differently from tho other children, or having entertained a disliko towards hor. Sho also denied having accused her husband of impropriety with a servant. She denied having brokon a hair brush on Dorothy’s ' head on a previous occasion, of having spoken to Dr. Lower, suggesting that there Bhould be no inquiry as to the cause of death, or of having made statements to Constable O’Rourke and Detective McGrath about boating tho child severely. At tho conclusion of prisoner’s evidence the Court adjourned further hearing of the case until Monday.