A SAD AND SORDID TRAGEDY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2817, 29 November 1924, Page 3

A SAD AND SORDID TRAGEDY.

OTAKI GIRL CHARGED WITH MURDER. Otaki, Last Night. The sequel to the finding of the body of a nqpvly-bom male child on Otaki Beach on November 14, was heard a( the Otaki Police Coui’t this morning when a girl named Eileen Bree was committed for trial on a charge of murder. The inquest, adjourned from the 15th inst., was resumed this morning, Mr A. Fraser, Coroner, presiding. Mr Dunkley, with him Mr Mazengarb, appeared for the girl, Eileen Bree, who was apprehended as being tbe mother of the child. Detec-tive-Sergeant Quirke, and with him Detective Holmes, represented the police. William George Manley stated that lie resided at Tokomarn. During part of November his wife occupied a cottage at Otaki Beach, he being a visitor at week-ends. Eileen Bree was employed by his wife as a domestic and lived with Mrs Manley at the beach.

A verdict was returned that the child died from the effects of exposure owing to his mother, Eileen Bree, leaving him naked on the beach shortly after birth. CHARGE OF MURDER.

The girl, Eileen Bree, appeared later before Messrs IT. Freeman and H. Nicolson, J.’sP.. and was charged that oil November 14, she did murder her illegitimate male child. Accused pleaded not guilty. Mervyn Webby gave evidence that on the morning of November 14 htwas exercising a horse at the. beach when be noticed (lie naked body of a male child on the sand.

Constable Satherlcv stated that Webby took him io (lie beach where the body of a child was lying. The tide was coming hi when lie arrived. Later in the (fay lie saw the accused coining towards the beach, from Manley’s house, with an empty sugar bag in her hand. He asked her if she knew anything of 1 lie child found on the beach. The girl admitted that she was the mother of the child, which’had been born that morning at 3 o’clock, that the child was alive when born, that she put it in a blanket and placed it near the water’s edge. Later she said she was going to get the child in the sugar bag and bring it to the house. Accused desired to make no statement, and was committed for trial. Application was made for bail, which was granted provided accused stayed with her mother, two sureties of £SO and herself £IOO being fixed.