DOORS CLOSED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 19 January 1931, Page 5

DOORS CLOSED

INCIDENT AT OLD BAILEY MOTHER CHARGED WITH MURDERV. i r ., x. TRAGIC STORY ■ " (United Press Association—By Electrio Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, 17tli January. The Old Bailey, which has been tlxe .. scene of many dramas, provided yet another when Mr Justice Charles sen-—-fenced to death Mrs Olive Wise, aged ‘ ‘ 37 years, who in a fit of desperation- • placed the head of her nine-months-old : son in a gas oven on Christinas Eve.be-;' cause she was unable to bear the thought of a foodless Christmas. Her story was very similar to that.'. , of many others. The woman is separated from her husband and was living..., with her two children and another man, who deserted her. She wept throughout ,-,i> the trial, repeatedly crying out, -“l. didn’t mean to kill him.” ‘ Immediately after the sentence the---Judge ordered the doors to be closed, no ' one being allowed to leave, and em-'“ panelled a jury of matrons, when a'' doctor gave evidence that the woman was about to become a mother. The jury returned a verdict accord-. , ing'lv and the Judge ordered, a stay of . execution of the capital sentence. ...- • - The woman was carried in a state of collapse from the dock. REPRIEVE DEMANDED (Received 19tli January. 12.50 p.mi)-' r LONDON, -18th January. ~ A Member of the House of Commons, ~ Mr V. McEntee, made a strong repraseixtation to Mr Clynes demanding:' the' 4 immediate reprieve of Mrs Wise. He.ex-;*,, pressed the opinion that trials of .women’' f in her condition, ought to be postponed in order to avoid mental anguish before??; accouchement. • " ' The National Council for the Abolition of the Death Penalty says no sahe per-'” son could defend the death sentence iri;;j such cases. - . C-. Y, The “Daily Express” understands. that legislation will shortly bo introcjiic- - ed amending the law relating to trials of.~ expectant mothers. ~ '