MURDER CHARGE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 May 1938, Page 8

MURDER CHARGE

DEATH OF INFANT MOTHER SENT TO TRIAL (By Telegraph—Press Association.) DARGARVILE, May 20. The case in which Hazel Francis Evans, single, aged 21, Aratapu, was charged with the murder of her infant child, was concluded today before Mr G. N. Morris, S.M., in the Magistrates’ Court. The body of the child was found on the bank of the Northern Wairoa River on Good Friday.

This afternoon evidence was given by Elizabeth Emma Evans, mother of accused, who said that in her opinion accused was a normal girl, although she appeared to be a little backward. Marion Isabelle Alves said accused called at her home on April 3 and was crying She stated that her father had kicked her out. She told witness there was a lady coming from Auckland that night to pick up the child, and when seen by witness in the morning she said she had got the baby away all right. Representatives from various instiutions in Auckland and Whangarei gave evidence that letters had been received from accused for adoption of the baby and denied that any arrangements had been entered into.

In a signed statement read in court by Detective J. B. Finlay, accused stated that her father made it hard for her at home. On April 2 she had a “row” with her father because she would not drink a cup of tea he had made for her and he swore at her and told her to get out of the house and take the baby with her. She decided to get rid of the baby. She told Mrs Alves that someone was coming from Auckland to adopt the baby, but' she had made up her mind to put it in the Northern Wairoa River. With Verner Alves she went to Te Kopuru to meet the woman from Auckland. It was only make up. Verner later left and accused said she walked to the river, into which she threw the baby. She then went to the old people’s home, where she told Verner and another girl that a woman had called and taken the baby to Auckland. When she put the baby in the river, stated accused, she knew what she was doing. She could not get a job because of it. Mr Singer made a formal objection to the production of accused’s statement.

Accused was committed to the Supreme Court at Auckland for trial and the inquest was adjourned until after the trial.