CHARGED WITH MURDER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2552, 8 March 1923, Page 3

CHARGED WITH MURDER.

. THE COOPERS ON TRIAL. SENSATIONAL EVIDENCE. - > , . _____ ' Wellington, March 7. -vV After a number of remands, the ’''hearing of more sensational charges in the Newlands ease was . proceeded with at the Magistrate’s Court to-day. M. E. Page, S.M., was on the Bench. Mr P. S. K. Macassey (Crown Prosecutor) conducted the case for the Crown. Mr C. A. L. Treadwell appeared for the male accused, Daniel Richard Cooper, and Mr P. W. Jackson for the female accused, Martha Elizabeth Cooper. When the first charge, that they did at Newlands, on or about 20th October, 1922, murder the infant child of Margaret May McLeod and ' William James Welsh, was preferred both accused appeared calm and undisturbed. The age of the child was given as ten days. At the outset, Mr Macassey said he did' not propose to address the Court, but would proceed to call evidence. The first witness, Margaret Mary ' McLeod, said she was introduced to the male accused at his office in Lamb ton Quay in February, 1922 She went to him for medical examination.' She was examined with an instrument. The male accused told witness she was in a bad state of health and that he did not give much chance for the child being alive when born. “I explained,” said witness, “that I "was a single woman and that .it would be hard for me to go through it. He advised me to get financial assistance and told me to come back later. I saw him about a week later, when he advised me to keep in touch with him and keep on working as long as I could.” Witness did not see him for about three months afterwards, when lie asked her what she was going to do with the child. “I was rather surprised,” said witness, “because T was under the impression that the child would not be born alive.” Mr Treadwell said he considered ’ that was not admissable, and the Magistrate agreed. Continuing, the witness related further conversations with the male accused, who said he knew a person who would adopt the child. He said it would cost about £SO; that, would cover all expenses. Witness added that during the subsequent week the male accused, in reply to inquiries by witness, stated that his communications with the persons who had the child revealed that the infant was doing fine. Cooper mentioned on one occasion that the child’s leg was slightly stiff and that those who had taken it were having its leg massaged. Cooper told witness that he had placed several children in a similar manner and always kept in touch with the’ people taking the children.

Regarding the objection by couneel for the accused to that class of evidence, the Crown Prosecutor stated that,he proposed showing that the male accused had been carrying out a scheme for getting rid, of children and that adoption was only a sham. When asked to produce the children he could not do so.

Witness, continuing, said that she told her people in Auckland that she bad an operation. She consented to the adoption because she thought she was doing the best thing possible for the child. The male accused informed her that Lester’s child was being adopted by people in Palmerston North. Witness identified two letters to Cooper, demanding her child, which, however, had' not been forthcoming. The next witness, Effie Adams, fainted on entering the witness-box and the Court adjourned until this afternoon. Effie Adams said that she knew Cooper, and accompanied the witness McLeod to Cooper's office, where accused examined the latter. Later she met Cooper and after McLeod, and was tpld she Was doing all right. " ’ i ■v; William Welch said he was sent by McLeod to make arrangements to have the child adopted. He saw Cooper, and came to an arrangement, witness agreeing to pay £35. It was Cooper who told him that the child had been born, and that he had made all arrangements for its adoption. Witness did not sign any adoption papers. Duncan McLeod, brother of Margaret McLeod, said when he saw Cooper the latter said he felt it his duty to help girls in trouble and humanity at large but said he could not do it for nothing, but was not doing it for gain. After the birth of. the child Cooper said a man came down n a ear from Palmerston N. and had taken it away, and that everything_was all right. Ethel Tucker, Florence Brown and Lilian Lister also gave evidence. 1

The Government analyst said he examined the body of the , child and found no trace of poison. The case will be continued tomorrow.