Mercy-Killing Sisters’ Story

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 307, 11 December 1936, Page 2

Mercy-Killing Sisters’ Story

“BROADMOOR HAS MADE U’E O' US; NOW FOR £EEEDOi.i” Two sisters are taking up lite afrcs after a year’s treatment in Broadniuoi where they were sent on putting loi ward a “mercy-killing’' plea to tin charge of murdering their nn!;e;i!< brother. “You can say that they have uiadi ibsolutely new women of us at Broad noor,” ©ne of them told (lie bail) Sketch. We are back to our old cheer,' jelves and we want to forget.’’ The sisters are Catherine Gertrude \Valsh (69), single, and Airs Evelyn Jonstance Alexander (35), of Bainbe. Bridge, Lanes. “It is wonderful to be free again—vhat a grand surprise when the doetoi told us we were to leave,’’ said Alis.iValsh. “Aly sister, Airs Hibbert, knew a nonth before that we were going to be ’reed, for she had written twice to the

I Ollv lliiu n UILVII IU lilt dome Secretary. ‘We want to thank Sir John Simon '- for what he has done. i “Now the past is behind us w© have j plans for the future.” Mrs Alexander broke in: “We have nothing but thankfulness for what ■ Broadmoor has done. - “The treatment was excellent —and 1 think our good conduct helped towards our relea.se. “Our great thanks go to the police, the doctors and everybody at Strange ways, Manchester, and Broadmoor for building us up again. “In Broadmoor we were known a: I‘The Sisters,’ and ni- were together all I the time by special permission.” ' I When originally charged with murde I Miss Walsh was stated to have said. ) ‘ 'J. had lived for him and I. lin ed him. Mrs Alexander said: ‘‘The thing w. have .done has not only been a duty but a promise to a dying mother. 1 was loving devotion for a hapless, hop. less being.” It was stated at the trial at Mm Chester that the brother did not leas the house from one year’s end to ih other, and that his mental cond.tio was such that one of the sisters had t watch over him continumisly. Iho, dared not leave him. j