CHARGED WITH MURDER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2553, 10 March 1923, Page 3

CHARGED WITH MURDER.

THE COOPERtS ON TRIAL. .FURTHER SENSATION Eyi- .. HENCE. Wellington, Thursday. Newlands murder trial was i;§sumedM >ef or e Mr E. Page, S.M., this morning. Dr.' B. E. Wright, of Johnsonville, said that Cooper told him in October last, that many young women came to his house for confinement and that there was money in it for anyone who would look after them. Jjle Sfiw. Maygaret McLeod at the accused’s house after the birth of the phild and also saw the child. The patient appeared to have been neglected. He also saw Miss Lester at the accused’s house. Cooper stated that women came from all parts of New Zealand to he cured of women’s troubles and that he had cured eases where the doctors had failed. Witness deposed that a naked body of a baby had beecn found in a hole on Coopei’’s property. The body was covered with clay and a kneebone of one leg was exposed through the flesh, which was*, in an advanced state of decomposition. The body weighed about four pounds, but the weight would decrease as decomposition advanced. His conclusion from the post-mor-tem was that the child had lived for three days at least, probably more. The opening in the abdomen indicated violent injury, either anti or post-mortem. There was no definite indication of the cause of death. Witness considered that the child had lived about six days and had been buried about two months. The Crown Prosecutor: How could the injury have been caused to the abdomen and knee? Witness: It is hard to say. Could they have been caused in digging the. body out?

Oh, no, I don’t think so. Dr. Hector concurred with the evidence of the previous witness and tlie opinion that some artificial injury was inflicted either before or after death.

Detective .Tarrold produced a spade, found at Cooper’s place and described the unearthing of the body. The marks found in one part of the grave, he said, corresponded exactly with the points of the spade and apparently were made in digging the hole. Detective Jarrold said Mrs Cooper refused to give auy information as to where the McLeod baby was to he found. In reply to questions, she said she had nothing to say. When the male accused was asked to prodttee the baby, he said it was impossible while ho was in prison. He was told that if he would give the information the police would endeavour to produce it for him. When both the accused were charged with the murder of the McLeod child, they declined to make any statement, except that they were not guilty. Inspector MeJlveney, in charge of the Wellington police district, gave evidence as to the discovery of the body. When the accused were informed of the discovery they declined to make a statement, except that they wanted to see a solicitor. Detective Lewis said Cooper made a statement and said it was 39 years since he had practiced as a health specialist at Dunedin, eventually removing to Wellington. When told about the discovery of. the child he said 1 , “I wonder what the meaning of that is? I know nothing about it. If it is the man Lupi who has done away with the child I don’t know what to say. It is possible when they come to a map’s house and do a thing like that, to go and bury a. child and not give it decent burial.”

An Island Bay fisherman, named Lupi, said he knew nothing of the child, and did not bury the child on Cooper’s premises. His child by a Miss Lester, was a male child. Other detectives gave evidence of clothing, etc., discovered at Cooper’s place at Newlands. There were no records of the adoptions of the children mentioned. Lilian Lester, from Dunedin, said Hugo Lupi,. was the father of her child. After her confinement. Cooper said he had arranged to have the child adopted, but would not divulge the name. “I kissed the baby,” said witness, “and.never saw it again.” The case was then adjourned. Wellington, Last Night. Police Inspector Mcllveney, continuing his evidence, stated that when he asked Cooper as to the -whereabouts of Miss Lester’s child, accused declined to make ti statement’ but s aß<Tcd fhht ’someone was trying to blackmail him on account of another child. Cooper subsequently said the child was all right but refused to say where it was. Later on, Cooper sa'id “Mrs King knows everything about it. She' arranged everything. She knows the woman who took it away and she is the only person who can sav where it is.” When Mrs King and Cooper were brought face to face, the woman denied Cooper’s statement, whereupon he said, “You’re a liar!”

Detective Henry Nut tall gave corroborative evidence. /.Senior Detective Lewis, in further evidence, said Cooper could not give the address of the unknown woman, who, he said, had taken the child away, and had never been seen since she left Johnsonville station. The dress of the woman was described in detail by Cooper. After hearing further police witnesses, Court adjourned until to-morrow, when, it is said, the case at this stage will be completed.