Child Murder Trial.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 August 1922, Page 1

Child Murder Trial.

|BV TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION] DUNEDIN, August 14. The trial of Stuart Cecil Harland and Hcatherbello Harland, on a charge of child murder commenced before Justice Hosking this morning. Mr Hanlon with Air Irwin for the accused pleaded not guilty. The Crown Prosecutor, Mr F. BAdams, said the child was born and murdered at the house of Mrs Mould of Dm,das St. The female accused came to Dunedin from the south at the beginning of the year. The couple were married on April 19th. A fortnight later she took a double room with Mrs Mould. Her husband paid several visits from the Bluff where he was employed ns a slaughterman. The last visit was early in June, when he stayed with his wife at Mould’s, till the 30th. On July I7th., a boy playing in Park St., found a parcel near a bush, which was examined and found to contain the dead body of a baby. That was a month after the date, June 17th., which was fixed for the murder charge, so the body was lying out practically a month. That it did not show signs of putrefaction. was duo to the cold frosty spell, and close wrapping of the body. Two pieces of tape were round the neck, and the body was wrapped in a tablecloth, towel and brown paper. One piece of paper bad the name “Lange”, on it and it was ascertained bo was a student who took liis washng to Mrs Mould the latter writing his name on the parcel for identification. On a second paper was the name “Aitken, tailor”. Mrs Mould, identified this as the wrapping In which a costume came to her. She recognised the towel as her property, and the tablecloth was identified as the property of an hotel at Gore, where the accused stayed previously. Similar pieces were found in the room occupied by accused, at Mould’s. The Gape round the murdered child’s neclc corresponded with the tape found in the room occupied by accused, and a towel from Gore hotel was also found in the room. About the middle of Jnno the female accused was in an advanced slate of pregnancy.

VERDICT OF NOT GUILTY. DUNEDIN. August 14. The trial of Stuart Cecil Harland aged VI and his young wife, aged 19, Heartherbelte Harland. on the charge of the murder of their infant female child at. Dunedin on or about Juno 17 took pinee to-day before TTis Honour, Mr Justice Hosking. A baby was discovered by a boy adjacent to Park Street, and, as a result of inquiries by the police, the two accused were arrested at the Blue, The child, was found on July 17, and from the medical evidence adduced it was considered to be a full time child. The female accused had denied having given birth to a child, but admitted that- she had had a miscarriage. The accused had been married on April 19th.

The case took a peculiar turn when the Orwn stated iEs ease. Mr Hanlon c-intending that there was no ease to submit to the jury ns the Crown had not proved that the child had had a separate entity, and that' it had completely proceeded in a living state from the bo.lv of its mother.

His Honour agreed that this was a point which would have to bo elenred up first, and he submitted the following question to tbe jury: “Are you satisfied beyoml reasonable doubt that tlio child in question met its death after completely proceeding in a living state from the body of its mother?”

The jury returned with an answer in the negative, and His Honour said that this meant a verdict of not guilty. The prisoners wore therefore rplscharged