NOT A MURDERESS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 108, 8 May 1916, Page 7

NOT A MURDERESS.

' GIRL ACQUITTED ON GRAVE CHARGE. In summing up at the trial of Alice Daniels, aged 16, a domestic servant, who was indicted at Durham Assizes, charged with the manslaughter of a little girl named Winifred Southerland, at South Shields, Mr. Justice Low declared that in th e course of his by no means inconsiderable experience of criminal law no more remarkable case than that of Alice Daniels had come within his ken.

The prisoner was admittedly a liar, an accomplished thief, and a person of considerable inventive power,, but it would not do because she was that to assume, in the absence of proof, her guilt of a cruel and hideous crime. The prisoner was found not guilty, and bound over, on a charge of theft. According to the prosecution, Mr. and Mrs. Southerland returned to England from Canada and engaged the prisoner as a day girl. Mrs. Southerland ultimately secured a situation as a school teacher, and her two little children were left in charge of the prisoner. Money was stolen and mischievous acts committed, including the cutting off of the child’s hair, putting trousers up the chimney. The prisoner placed the blame for these acts on the children.

One night the parents -wont to a picture hall,-and were recalled by the prisoner, who said that Winnie had burnt herself. According to the prisoner, Winnie told her she had set fire to her. clothing when striking matches to look for money. A month later the same thing happened again, but the child was so severely burned that death ensued. Mr. Southerland’s suspicions were aroused through prisoner having possession of his wife’s pendant, which she said her father had given her, and eventually she admitted taking the money, adding: “I may be a liar, but I am not a murderess.”

Eventually the prisoner was arrested, and, replying to the charge, said: “I hav e seen Winnie thrashed for what I have done, but I did not sot fire to the children. ’ h

The accused girl, giving evidence, denied that she was either directly or indirectly responsible for the burning of the children. When questioned, Winnie said she got a. match out of a box and struck it on the wall to burn her brother’s ear, and the reason why she did not do so was because the match burnt her finger, and she dropped it.