ALLEGED CHILD MURDER CASE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1287, 20 August 1914, Page 4

ALLEGED CHILD MURDER CASE.

Lydia Schultz, ot the Palmerston district, was on Monday acquitted of the charge of child murder, for which she was arrested some few months ago. The principal evidence for the prosecution was a statement given by the woman to Detectives Quirke and Sweeney. This was to the effect that she had strangled her newly-born child and threw the body into a pond. Mr Justice Edwards most severely censured both detectives tor “bouncingthe woman into making a confession, and for entrapping her to making an admission.” “ 1 have said over and over again,” said his Honour, “ that persons about to be taken into custody should not be examined by the police. The forcing of statements out of persons by the police is quite contrary to the whole principle upon which English law is based. He then referred to instances where persons through being bounced bad been induced to make untrue statements. Detective Quirke said he had arrested the accused after she made the statement and had been cautioned, to which the Judge replied, “Then your caution came too late.” Drs Putnam and Peach were in doubt as to whether the child was alive when completely born. The Judge said there was no evidence against accused except that which the detectives had bounced from her. The jury returned a verdict of not guilty.