ELSIE HOLLAND’S DEATH.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1029, 12 August 1911, Page 4

ELSIE HOLLAND’S DEATH.

SENSATIONAL EVIDENCE. Auckland, August 10. The second stage in the Police Court proceedings arising out of the death of the young woman Elsie Holland, occupied the attention of Mr Fraser, S.M., to-day. James Edward O’Shaughnessy, Jane Burns Hartley, Charlotte Campbell and Mary Hassell are charged that, on or about June 13th, knowing that one Martha O’Shaughnessy had murdered one Elsie Elexandra Holland, they were accessories after the fact. Mr Singer appeared for the three first mentioned accused, and Mr Hackett for Mrs Hassell, while Mr Selwyn Mays conducted the prosecution. Elizabeth Sindlen said that she saw accused, Campbell and Hassell, in the afternoon of the Saturday following the death. There was also a Miss Duggan present. Mrs Campbell said they had got into a dirty mess. She also said Mrs Hassell put the tabloid in the girl’s mouth, and that Mrs O’Shaughnessy did the operation. She said she went into the room, and the girl was dying. She went out into the kitchen to Mrs Hassell, and said, “ Mary, that girl is dying, and no one to say a kind word for her. You’re a Catholic; come in and say a prayer.” Mrs Hassell went into the room where the girl was dying.

At this stage Mr Hackett and Mr Singer complained that they could not hear the witness. Mr Hackett remarked that he had her in the court before, and had no difficulty in hearing her. “ You won’t have any difficulty now,” replied the witness with heat, and applause at the back of the Court was suppressed. Continuing, witness said Mrs Campbell and Mrs Hassell went into the bathroom and prayed ; so Mrs Campbell said. Mrs Campbell said to Mrs Hassell before this, “My God, Mary! she is dying !” She said to Mrs Hassell, “ You’ve a lot to answer for, Mary. You took a lot on your shoulders you had no right to.” Mrs Hassell said, “Mum’s the word. Don’t give the nurse away; she’s been good to us.” Mrs Hassell said she let the girl in, but she didn’t know the and didn’t care if she was burnt in hell. Mrs Campbell said the poison was put in the girl’s mouth to make people think she had poisoned herself. They also put some in the hamper. When Mrs Hassell said she let the girl in, Mrs Campbell said, “ Mary! Liar, liar, liar !” On Monday, July 31st, she met Miss Duggan and Mrs Campbell in Queen street, and Mrs Campbell said witness had turned King’s evidence, and that she (Mrs Campbell) was going to deny everything she had said. She advised witness to do the same as she was on oath, and asked her to go and see Mr Singer. She didn’t go. On the previous occasion Mrs Campbell said Miss Holland had some nice clothes, a nice watch, a nice chain, and £6 in money. Mr Singer applied for an adjournment in order that his crossexamination of the witnesses Sindlen and Duggan might be carried straight through without any chance of anyone being able to convey what happened in the cross-examination to the others. In explaining the reason tor his application, Mr Singer commenced, “You see, your Worship, we have here two women of low character —” “Did he say I was a low character?” came from the witness box in a low but ominous voice. His Worship assured Mrs Sindlen that she didn’t need to take notice of what Mr Singer said, and he granted the adjournment. When the witness was being cautioned to return after the adjournment, she returned to the attack. ” But he said I was a low character,” she complained.

Again she was reassured that the remark was not worth troubling about, but as she went through the door of the witnesses’ room the ejaculation. “Low character,” pitched in a key of virtuous indignation, again came from the departing witness. After the luncheon adjournment, Mr Singer continued his cross-examination of the witness Sindlen. She stated that it was the day after the detectives first saw her that she made a statement to them at her own house. So far as their attitude was concerned they were all right to her and Miss Duggan. Miss Duggan had been living with her for three months, helping her. She had a thumb out owiug to her falling through an old cane chair when she was hanging out some washing. Miss Duggan was now staying with her people at Arch Hill. She left witness’ place a fortnight or three weeks ago. “What do you do for a living ?” “Up to seven weeks ago my husband supported me.” Witness admitted that she had been convicted once for using obscene language, but then she was driven to it, THREE COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. The Bench considered there was no case against Mrs Hartley, who was accordingly discharged.

The other accused were committed for trial, bail being granted, which was forthcoming, in the cases of O’Shaughnessy and Mrs Hassell only.