ELSIE HOLLAND S DEATH.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1019, 20 July 1911, Page 3

ELSIE HOLLAND S DEATH.

FOUR ARRESTS MADE—A FIFTH PROBABLE. Auckland, July 18. Another arrest was made this afternoon in connection with the Kiugslaud murder case, which is in some respects likened to the Christchurch Cashel street mystery. There are now in custody for the alleged murder of Elsie Holland four people—James Edward O’Shaughnessyy, his wife, Martha Jane O’Shaughuess, her daughter, Jane Burns Hartley, and Mary Hassell, a visitor to the O’Shaughnessy’s house. A filth arrest will probably be made. A great deal ot public interest has been taken in the mystery surrounding the death of Miss Holland ever since it was first reported, and especially after some sensational features were revealed in the course of the corouial inquiry. The facts sworn to were to the effect that, with a male companion, she went out to Kingslaud on the night of Monday, June 12th, being then in good health and spirits ; that she was left carrying a large dress basket, making her way in the direction of First Avenue. She previously told her male escort that she had made arrangements with a woman, whose name was not given, to undergo treatment at Mrs O’Shaughnessy’s house because of her condition. On the following Wednesday morning doctors were telephoned for about x. 30 o’clock to attend a serious case at Mrs O’Shaughnessy’s and later, about 4 o’clock, Constable Wainhouse was summoned, it being reported to him by O’Shaughnessy that a strange woman had died in the house.

Amongst the occupants of the dwelling were Mr and Mrs O’Shaughnessy, Mrs Hartley, Mrs Hassell, Mrs Campbell, and a young man named Bert Williams, who was sleeping at the shop kept by O’iShaughnessy. The story was substantially concurred in that deceased visited the house, asked to see the mistress, complained of being unwell, and was admitted by Mrs Hassell vvueu mie else was at home. Mrs Hassell went to call Mrs O’Shaughnessy from the shop, and in the meantime the strange woman went to bed and died some hours later, Mrs O’Shaughuessy having in the meantime visited her several times.

All said the woman was a complete stranger, and had never been seen by any ot them before. Amongst other things found in the room in which the woman died was a phial of perchloride of mercury tabloids on the washstand at the head of the bed, and there were evidences of the corrosive sublimate about the deceased s mouth, but none of the poison was found in the stomach contents. The doctors who made the postmortem examination asserted that death was due to septicaemia arising from an attempt to perform an illegal operation, and tnat the corrosive sublimate was placed iu deceased’s mouth just before death, when the woman was unconscious, or after death had occurred. The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical testimony, but came to the conclusion that the evidence did not warrant an opinion being expressed as to the guilty person or persons. Since that time the detective staff have been making careful inquiry, with a view to obtaining further information upon which to base a charge, with the result that the arrests were made yesterday afternoon. The O’Shaughuessy household were surprised by the visit of the strong posse ot detectives while they were partaking of the midday meal, and the three accused were immediately taken into custody on warrants issued, and complete search made of the runeroomed dwelling in the presence of either one or other of the accused. two women were taken to the lockup iu cabs, and while Mrs O’Shaughnessy was calm, though showing slight nervousness, Mrs Hartley was excitable and troublesome. O’Shaughaessy was permitted to arradge some matters connected with his store business, and was then taken to the lockup by tramcar. Separate cells were allotted the prisoners.