YOUNG WOMAN CHARGED WITH MURDER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3000, 18 February 1926, Page 2

YOUNG WOMAN CHARGED WITH MURDER.

REVELATIONS AT INQUEST.

An inquest was held at 1 Palmerston North yesterday, before Mr. A. J. Graham coroner on the death of the unnamed child of Hazel McNamara.

Constable Thom stated that in consequence of instructions on January 21 he went to 33 Cuba Street. He went to a bedroom, the door of which was locked Witness went to the window, on the sill of which he saw blood. He then obtained a key Tor the door and entered the room, where he found the bedding and floor also blood-stain-ed. Witness went to the railway station and saw a girl named Hazel McNamara She had a suitcase and said she was going to Auckland.

Witness took her to the police station, where she admitted giving birth to a child on January 19. She said that it was alive when born, and that it was a six months’ child. II was in a suitcase, she said, stating further: “The case I have with me.” Dr. Putnam then arrived and ordered her removal to hospital. The suitcase was then opened, and the body of the child, which was wrapped in a red dress, was removed and taken to the hospital for examination. The girl said she was alone at the time the child was born.

Dr Putnam deposed to having attended McNmara and described her condition. She was suffering from blood poisoning. The body of the child was that of an apparently mature infan, ( and appeared to have been dead a couple of days or so. There were no marks of external violence. In the opinion of witness the child was born alive. There was no reason to suspect the child would have died had it received proper attention at birth.

The boardinghouse-keeper, a married woman, stated that some time in December last year Hazel McNamara came to witness’s house and took a room. She had her meals out and returned home only at night. On February 29, as a result of blood-stains that she noticed, witness went to Miss McNamara’s room. The door was locked, and witness went to the window, whereupon Miss McNamara said' she was all right, Witness recommended a doctor, but Miss McNamara would not have it. She dressed and went- away ten minutes later, and witness did not see her again. The police were then called.

Dr. E. B. Watson, house surgeon at the Palmerston North Hospital, gave evidence. The coroner said that in view of the proceedings to follow he did not intend commenting on the case. The verdict would be that the child died from lack of attention at birth. Hazel McNamara, domestic servant, aged 22, was then charged in the Police Court that on or about Janaury 19, at Palmerston North, she did kill her infant daughter. Accused was not represented by counsel.

Tke depositions given at the inquest were taken, and accused, who had nothing to say, was committed to the Supreme Court at Palmerston North for trial.