CONCEALMENT OF BIRTH

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4766, 20 October 1924, Page 2

CONCEALMENT OF BIRTH

CHARGE AGAINST YOUNG WOMAN. COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE. At the Magistrate’s Court, Paeroa, on Friday, at the conclusion of the inauesi, Elsie Annie Bidois, aged 25 years, a single woman residing in Paeroa. was charged before Messrs W. Marshall and F. E. Flatt, J’s. P.. with, in AugUst last at Paeroa, being delivered of a male child, and was alleged to have disposed of the body by burying it in a hole in a coalshed in the backyard with the intention of concealing the birth. Mr E. W. Porritt appeared for the accused and Sergeant D. A. Mac Lean conducted the prosecution. Evidence similar to that adduced at the inquest, and published in Friday’s issue of the "Gazette” with reference to the post-mortem examination held on the body, was given by Drs. W. W. Little, Paeroa, and W. Fulton. Waihi. James Bidois, father of accused, gave corroborative evidence as to the accused being the mother of two illegitimate children, the father of whom could not be traced. Witness stated that tlie children were aged 5 years and 3 years, respectively, and that no maintenance had been received in respect of them. John McCliuchy, police constable, Paeroa, said that in consequence of information received on October 11 he had visited the accused at her father’s house in Corbett Scjeet, and he produced a signed statement made by the accused. Later in the day the premises were again visited by witness, accompanied by Sergeant MacLean, and the body of the child was discovered in a hole about two feet deep in the corner of the coalshed near the back door of the residence. The body was wrapped in some bluecoloured material, and the ground was of a soft clayey nature. There was no sign of gravel in or near the hole. The body was taken to the morgue, after which witness returned to the house and formally charged accused with the concealment of birth. Accused was naturally very upset, and made a further statement (produced) admitting her action. To Mr Porritt witness said that he had known accused for three and a half years, and knew nothing against her other than that she was the mother of two other illegitimate children. A warrant had been issued for the arrest of the alleged father, but witness said that he was unable tc execute it. He was aware that the father of the accused had assisted in providing for the two children.

Mr Porritt did not call any evidence and on accused’s behalf pleaded guilty and read a' statement made by her admitting the crime and stating that as the child had been stillborn she did not know that she had to register it or that she was doing wrong in burying the body. Accused was committed to the Supreme Court, Auckland, for sentence, and the Bench recommended that the case be dealt with as early as possible.