THE CHILD MURDER.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3716, 21 January 1891, Page 2

THE CHILD MURDER.

Magisterial Prooooctinffs.

Painful Seono

' Christcuurch, January 20. The Magisterial proceedings in the | infanticide case were resumed today before Mest-rs E. Westenra, F J, Kimboll, and J. Hamilton. Duxing Chief Detective O'Connor's evidence, about 11.20 a.m, Sarah Jane Flanagban went into a most excitable fit, and it was with considerable difficulty that silence was restored. On the recommendation of Dr Symes the girl bad to be removed for a few minutes into the fresh air. When she heard the Chief Detective giro bis evidence respecting the blood on the maroon dress, (marked P), and her ulster (marked Q), she throw herself off the chair on which she was seated, and crisd out, " Oh, there's no blood on my clothes." Seeing her brother behind her she • said," Oh, Jack, let me kiss my brother. Oh, Jack dear, there's no blood on my clothes, If they were telling the truth I wouldn't mind. They're such lies, such lies. Oh, don't tell lies on me. Do have it 51 analysed." After a short pause tho again said, "Oh, don't tell such lies on me. They know they are lies. There'B no blood on my clothes. He said he'd have it analysed. He said he'd have it analysed again. I come herd. Why did'nt he have it done." The Court by this time was paralysed, as tho witness could not be heard. Mr Stringer advised that she should be removed.

After being quiet a while Bhe again said, "Oh, the lies ! I cannot stay here 1 I stay hero ! Oh, Jack, there is no blood on my clothes ! I murdered no child! I done nothing ? Ma, \yhat are the police bringing oat, There's no blood on my clothss! In addition to the former evidence where the Chief Detective said that there appeared to be a spot of blood on a lady's ulster which he got out of Sarah Flanagan's room, he remarked, in addition to wild barley seeds on the red and white shawls, ho had found some on the ulster. There was a lot of similar seeds on the section in Gloucester street, where the head of the child was found,

Neil Phinson, cabdriver, said that he knew No. 11, Gloucester street. Or January 7th he saw the two female prisoners at that house somewhere between 7 and 8 p.m. He could fix the time by an entry in a book through & customer keeping him. He said, "I saw the two women." The accused, Sarah Flanagan, again got excited, and called out, "Oh, speak up, speak up plain, let me hear what he has to say. I was not in the 9 garden." The witness resumed : I saw the woman before 1 got to the place, and when I got abreast of it I saw who it was, as I knew them. I did not see i wbat they were doing. I have no doubt about them. 1 have known them for some time. The rest of his evidence was mainly a repition of that at the inquest. Mr Stringer said that so far as the two female accused were concerned their defence would be reserved, but with respect to Michael Flanagan he submitted that there was not a particle of evidence on which a prima facie case could be made out which would warrant the Court in sending him for trial; in such case it was necessary that sufficient evidence should to bring the accused in ehlterWprincipal or an accomplice. The Beach committed the three

Burned te Death,

Two cases of burning to death are reported from Victoria. At Portland on Boxing Day a man named George Jones and his wife were burned to death. Two sons of the unfortunat couple left home about S o'clock ii the morning, at which time Jones <m his wife were partially intoxicated boys returned home about mid night, when they found nothing lef of the house but smoking ashes ar the charred bodies of their paren lying among them. Ihe police we: communicated with, and the remain consisting of a few charred bones, we: removed to the town, where they no lie awaiting an inquest. Jones ar his wife were both addicted to drin and when the boys had left they can into town and obtained a fiesh sappl of drink. It is supposed that tl place was set on fire through tli upsetting of a lamp or by some fir . failing out on to the floor, and thi the unfortunate couple were so helj lessly intoxicated as to be unable t escape. On the night of the sam day at Barooga station, near Cobram two men saw the cottage occupied b a gardener named flelmbrecht appar ently on fire. Upon their approachin the house Mrs Helmbrecht opened tli door and walked out with her clothe a mass of flames. A moment aftei wards she fell, almost roasted alive and was carried inside the house. D Kennedy, whose aid was obtainec attended to her terrible injuries, an advised her removal to the Mooroopu Hospital. Mrs Helmbrecht was sen there, by train on Saturday, bu expired on renching Numurkah. He child, a few months ago was found ii bed surrounded by burniug clothes but fortunately uninjured. Helm brecht had his hands severely biunee while endeavoring to extinguish hi wife's clothes. The fire, which wa easily extinguished, was caused by i lighted candle having accidenall ignited the bed.