AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 255, 18 March 1913, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

WOMEN SENTENCED TO DEATH, BUT RECOMMENDED TO MERCY. At the sitting of the Supreme Court at Horsham (Victoria), before Mr. Justice a'Beekett, Agues Ferry pleaded not guilty to having murdered her infant at Dimboola on November 3,'1'J12. The Crown case was that accused gave birth to a child on November 3 in her room at the house of Dr. Phillips, of Dimboola, by whom she was employed. She told nobody of the birth of the child. Subsequently she was ill, but would not allow Dr. Phillips to see her. The body of an infant was found in an outhouse. Around the neck was a staylace.

Enquiries-made liy Detective Murray nt accused's liou.se nt Antwerp produced the admission that slie, luid given birth to a child, that it cried once, and that she tied the lace around its neck, and removed it next day. She said, however, that she did not know what she was doing at the time.

Dr. Ingham, who made a post-mortem examination, said that death was due to strangulation, hut admitted that certain conditions wove consistent with a cause other than strangulation. The jury found a verdict of guilty, with a strong recommendation to mercy.

His Honor said he would note the recommendation. He then formally passed sentence of death, and the. prisoner, in a state of serai-collapse, was removed.