MURDER CHARGE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 May 1938, Page 8

MURDER CHARGE

YOUNG WOMAN IN COURT. DEATH OF INFANT CHILD. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) DARGAVILLE, This Day. ; .Charged with the murder of her infant child on April; 3, Hazel Francis Evans, a single woman, aged 21, of Aratapu, appeared before Mr G. N. Morris, S.M., this morning. The body of the child, Alma Rose Evans, was found on the bank of ' the Northern Wairoa River on Good Friday by Keith Warmington, of Aratapu. Mr V. R. Meredith, Crown Prosecutor, is appearing for the Crown, and Mr R. A. Singer, of Auckland, for the accused.

Ada Elizabeth Duggan, of Hawera, formerly matron of the Northern Wairoa Maternity Annexe, gave evidence as to the birth of the child on November 27. Elizabeth Helen Strand, a nurse who attended accused in the Annexe, described the baby, and added that accused did not appear to have the usual intelligence. Molly Richards, Plunket Nurse, Dargaville, said she had attended the baby on January 6 and again on March 31. The baby was normally developed for its age. She saw accused again on April 5, when she was told her baby was at her mother’s place. Witness called at her home again on. April 13, but found no one at home. She knew accused was endeavouring to have the baby adopted. Evidence of having found the baby’s body was given by Keith William Warmington, garage attendant, Aratapu. He was satisfied, he said, that a high tide could have carried the body to where it was found. There are twenty-two witnesses.

William Evans, labourer, father of the accused, in evidence that his daughter had talked of having thr, child adopted.,His daughter was well treated and there was no ill-feeling regarding the baby. On April 2, he and his wife spoke to the accused. She did not reply and later went to bed without speaking to anyone. The baby was in bed at this time. She used uncomplimentary language to her parents, with the result that they told her she had better go away and take the baby. She said she would do so. Witness did not think his daughter was fond of the child. He had seen her smacking it. The hearing is proceeding.