MRS MORT RELEASED

Hokitika Guardian, 19 October 1929, Page 3

MRS MORT RELEASED

A SYDNEY SENSATION. ' A calije message received yesterday -from Sydney stated -.Mrs More had uceii released from .Long Bay Gaol the previous evening. It was added that plans were being made to send her either to America or New Zealand. The- Sydney “Guardian” of October ,th m recalling the case, gives the following particulars -governing - the position wlu:a the rejpslsp ;was under Upnskleyatipn lately: •! \

EXLUNf; OF,DRTOZER REGAINED Afcer nine years’ incarceration “ at “the Governor’s pleasure,” fallowing her acquittal, on grounds ..pf (.insanity, of the murder ,of Dr. Claude Tozer, Alls Dorothy Alort is to be released, if Cabinet is satisfied with the reports of some of Sydney’s leading .alienists. Thus will be crowned with victory the efforts of many who have worked, individually, and in groups, to win her liberty.

Airs Mort is in a very diffei*ent position from that of the ordinary prisoner. She was found riot guilty of the murder, and was confined merely as insane. Thus het case comes up for review periodically, and as soon as the auth'orities are satisfied she is sane, she ‘hVrist he released. <•-TOt-iti? -p; p> ' "“ Had Mrs Alort ■fetnairiedf‘"jn' i the asylum instead of griol, she would; have* behri 7 released.'lo'ng ago.” . i •’ •-6. -’• ' ;.v: . n ,j‘. That was the stsirtlihgState-merit' rp'adc to “ The Guai’diaH y; ' yesterday" by a medical man whd”has heeir'mb'n-i needed with the* case, <R“So had was ; the-‘irientfiUeffectnof association with thely if&ahav; upbn Mrs Alort, 1 ” lie explained, “that she asked to be allowed to return to gaol. This was granted, and she- has been there ever since. But had she remained in the asylum the authorities would probably have released her as soon as they were satisfied she was sane: which I think would have been ■some time back.

r ‘ In one sense, from the judicial aspect, it is as well that she has served a substantial term of incarceration, as this should prove a powerful deterrent to other women who might be tempted to similar * 1 crimes through jealousy, which the evidence/ clearly indicated as the motive in this case.

•A* j \‘i ARomeij L . ; arfr- indtqt iye,, and in France, where light punishment for crimes of passion by* women are •common, such' offences ;;are very- fre- . qnent.

DR, ROSS RECOAIAIENDS. “ However, nine years is a long time, and personally I should be - glad if she -were now released.,/£/ 4 “ It was my recommendation over a jr-ageu” sqid -Dr.' Chpisholm Ross - if planned:.to Aelease, Afrs-Jsbrt at all they should do so at mice, without further procrastination.” Claude, Tozer, killed by Airs Alort,; was a returned soldier, a rising young jmedicaj' practitioner, and a well-known inter-state cricketer. He was, in fact, -Aseleeted- for an important match while he lay'dead ,at Lindfield. He had not long become engaged to marry at the time, and it was suggested that the announcement of this to Mrs Mort might have precipitated a jealous- vengeance. rtltiwUs inVthe lounge at her home ■that Airs Alort shot To-cer. He been attending her -professionally, and, it was stated, went to . her home in response to a message about 11 a.m. He was shot in the hack, as he sat on a settee,, and Jt, wjsvs surmised that she came tip behind him, and, under the guise of a caress, placed the gun against his back and prilled the trigger.

ABNORMAL MIND. As there was no bullet hole in his coat, Mrs Mort ruust .have placed this on the body after death. It was not 'Until F nightfall '{. : tlias /ishe opened the door -in response to the maid’s knock, and revealed T.hn.t Jlhei Jiad sat all day alone wfth her slain'lover—for it was Clear from “letters' and' 'other evidence that there "had 'beeri'ddn intrigue her tween them./ /!-; ; Ilei; whole attitude in the case revealed an abnormal. _state of mind., and she was neurotic. The Court found ‘ her'inkarih: i ' Now : spe6ialfgts'’baW'found her sane —and it remains only, for Cabinet to say if she shall he free.