A BABY'S BODY
Secreted in a Suit Case And Left in a Chemist's Shop
Single Young Woman in Trouble
(From "Truth's" Dunedin Rep.)
On Saturday last a young woman named Mary Walker came to Dunedin from Lawrence with her mother, and, on quitting the railway premises, she left her suit case in the chemist's shop kept by Frank Leslie Anderson, in Stuart-street. She left the case there until it would be called for. In the meantime, the young woman and her mother went to a friend's place at St. Clair, where the lady took suddenly ill. As a result, Dr. Evans was called in, and the results of his investigations showed that the young woman had been recently confined. The suit case was traced, and, on opening it in the shop, Dr. Evans found the
DEAD BODY OF A NEWLY-BORN CHILD. The mother, whose condition became somewhat serious, was removed to the hospital. On Monday evening last an inquest, of a formal nature, was opened at the Morgue, Mr. J. R. Bartholomew presiding as Coroner.
Lawyer Scurr represented the young woman, Mary Walker. Dr. Evans stated that he examined Mary Walker at 6.30 p.m. on the 22nd inst., at her mother's request, at the home of the girl's sister at St. Clair. He found she had been recently confined. The girl said that the baby was born at 3 a.m. on Saturday, and that her mother knew nothing about it. She said that the baby would be found in a suitcase at Mr. Anderson's chemist's shop in Stuart-street. The girl was sent to the hospital, and he went to the shop indicated, opened the suitcase, and found the body of the male child now at the Morgue. As directed by the Coroner, he made a post mortem examination of the body on Sunday.
Frank Leslie Anderson said that Mary Walker called at his shop on Saturday last with her mother at about 11 a.m., after coming from Lawrence. The girl had a suitcase with her, and, at the mother's suggestion, she left the case in the shop, as the mother said it would be
BETTER TO LEAVE IT THERE, instead of carrying it about. The suitcase was the one opened by Dr. Evans.
To Mr. Scurr: Mary Walker was his sister-in-law. She and other members of the family were in the habit of leaving parcels at the shop when they came to town. The inquest was adjourned sine die. -NZ Truth, 27/3/1917.
CHILD IN A SUIT-CASE
Mother Charged with Murder
Resumption of Inquest — Dr. Evans's Evidence
Coroner's Verdict: "The Child was Born Alive."
(From Truth's" Dunedin Rep,)
The adjourned inquest on the body of the male infant found in the suitcase deposited in a 'chemist's shop was resumed before the Coroner, Mr. J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., at Dunedin last week. It will be remembered that a young woman, Mary Walker, left a suitcase in her relative's shop in Stuart-street, on September 22, and Dr. Evans afterwards discovered the dead body of a male child in the case, the mother of the infant being Mary Walker.
As a result of the discovery and further investigations, Mary Beatrice Maud Walker has to answer
A CHARGE OF MURDER, the preliminary lower court proceedings of which were adjourned until late this week.
Meanwhile, the Coroner resumed the inquest adjourned from a few weeks previously. Lawyer Scurr represented the accused, who was in charge of the police matron, and Detective-Sergeant Kemp conducted the case for the police.
Christina Walker, wife of David Walker, accountant, at Lawrence, said she was the mother of Mary Walker. Her daughter was 23 years of age, single, and had been employed at Dr. Drennan's in Dunedin as a domestic servant. In September she wrote to witness saying she was taking a week's holiday, and witness asked her to come home to Lawrence. She arrived in Lawrence on September 17 by the evening train, and witness met her. Her daughter had a suitcase with her, the same produced now in court. She looked well, and was in her usual good spirits. She stayed with witness at home from Monday till the following Saturday, and witness noticed nothing unusual in her condition. Her daughter opened the suit-case on arrival. It contained only some fruit and clothing. On Saturday they left for Dunedin on the morning train. Witness had noticed at breakfast that her daughter was looking unwell, and she remarked on it. Her daughter said she was all right, and was only temporarily unwell. At 11 a.m. they arrived in Dunedin, and left the suit case at the chemist shop kept by her son-in-law, Mr. Anderson. Her daughter did not look well on her arrival at her sister's residence in St Clair (Mrs. Anderson's). She went to bed, and witness sent for Dr. Evans. At Lawrence her daughter slept in a room in the middle of the house, the room being some distance from the one occupied by witness. She slept in the room alone, and never at any time said she had given birth to a child. Witness knew nothing of it until informed by Dr. Evans. Witness saw no baby's clothing in the suit case, and no preparations whatever for
THE BIRTH OF A CHILD.
Dr. Evans said he had held a postmortem examination of the body on September 23, as directed by the Coroner. The body was well nourished, and weighed 71b 7oz. On the right side of the neck about the centre of the collar-bone, the skin was broken in four places, and there was a small bruise in a fifth place. The largest wound was just under a quarter of an inch. There were no marks on the left side of the neck. Both lungs and heart filled the cavity of the chest. When placed in water they floated perfectly, and the separated lungs also floated. Witness was of the opinion that the child was a full-term one; that complete respiration had been established, and that the cause of death was asphyxia. If ordinary care had been exercised the child would have lived — that was, without medical aid at all. The girl told him that the child was born on Saturday morning, she put it in the suit case, and then came to Dunedin with her mother.
Sergeant Boulton said he went to Anderson's shop at 9.30 p.m. on September 22 and found the suit case. The body was inside the case wrapped in a sheet. The suit case also contained lady's clothing.
Detective Hammerly stated he had visited Mrs. Walker's residence, with Mrs. Walker, on September 24, and she showed him the room which her daughter had occupied. Witness examined the bed and found the sheets missing; the mattress bore unmistakable signs that a child had been born there. The room was about the centre of the house. There was a bath between it and the room occupied by the girl's parents.
Detective-Sergeant Kemp said he wanted the Coroner's permission to put in depositions of an inquest held on May 29, 1916, on the body of a male child of which the same woman (Mary B. M. Walker) was the mother.
LAWYER SCURR OBJECTED. Detective-Sergeant Kemp: I want to show that this is the second child to which the girl has given birth, and she should have had ample experience by the first accident to make some preparation for the birth of the second child.
Lawyer Scurr: Even if the depositions are admissible, this is, not the proper time to put them in. The young woman already has a serious charge to answer, and if the depositions are admissible at all, they should be only admitted when the charge was heard. The evidence concerning any other birth or happening has no bearing whatever on the present inquiry.
Coroner: Are the depositions concerning the birth of another child?
Detective-Sergeant Kemp: Yes.
The Coroner consequently admitted the depositions, and, in reply to Mr. Scurr, said that the fact of the depositions being admitted by him, did not mean that they would also be admitted in the Magistrate's Court. The present investigation was an open inquiry to hear evidence from any quarter.
In bringing the inquest to an end, the Coroner remarked that he did not propose in these proceedings to make any finding on the question of criminal responsibility. That matter would have to be decided in another court. He could only find that the child was born alive, and that death was due to asphyxia. -NZ Truth, 27/10/1917.
THE CHILD IN THE SUIT-CASE
Mother Charged with Murder
Mary Walker Before the Court
Incidents of a Previous Inquest — The Ashbourne Hall Affair
(From "Truth's" Dunedin Rep.)
Mary Beatrice Maud Walker, a young, fair-haired woman, whose baby boy was found dead in a suit case, appeared before Magistrate Young last week. She was charged that, on September 22, at Lawrence, she murdered her male child.
Lawyer C. N. Scurr represented the accused, who appeared to feel her position very keenly.
Mary Christina Walker stated that the accused was her daughter and aged 23 years. She had been employed at Dr. Drennan's in Dunedin as a domestic. On September 7 she wrote saying she was going on a holiday, and intended paying Mrs Anderson, her sister, a visit. Witness wrote inviting her home, and she came duly by the evening train to Lawrence on September 7. Witness met her at the train. She had a suit case with her. Witness did not notice anything wrong with her. A week later her daughter was returning to Dunedin. Witness said to her. "You are not looking well." She said,
SHE WOULD BE ALL RIGHT, that she was just poorly for the time being. At about 11 a.m. they arrived in Dunedin, and intended going out to St. Clair, to witness's married daughter, Mrs. Anderson. On the way up town the accused said, "Can I leave the suit case at the shop?" She said, "Yes," and she knew her daughter referred to her son-in-law's shop, Mr. Anderson's, in Stuart-street. Her daughter handed the suit-case into the shop and witness and she then proceeded to St. Clair, where she noticed her daughter was getting worse. Witness then went and saw Dr. Evans personally, and the doctor called round in the evening. As the result, of the doctor's information, witness went with him to her son-in-law's shop in Stuart street. The doctor opened the suit case in her presence, but she did not look at the body. Witness never knew at what period her daughter was delivered of the child. At Lawrence her daughter slept in the room by herself. If, during the night she should have called, witness would not have heard her, as she slept at the other end of the house. Her daughter never told her of her condition, and, as far as she knew, no preparation whatever had been made for the birth.
Frank Leslie Anderson, chemist, Stuart-street, and residing at St. Clair, said the accused was his sister-in-law. On the date mentioned last month she came into the shop, but witness being busy did. not notice her or the suit case. The first time he saw the suit case was when the doctor and Mrs. Walker called at his shop the same evening at about eight o'clock. Dr. Evans picked the suit case up himself and opened it. Witness did not note the contents, and the doctor told him to keep it in the room until the police came.
Dr. William Evans said he examined the accused at her mother's request on the evening of September 22. He found she had been recently confined. She said the baby had been born on Saturday, September 22, at 3 a.m., in her mother's house at Lawrence. She said her mother knew nothing about it. She said
THE CHILD DID NOT BREATHE, and she put it in a suitcase when coming to Dunedin. He sent the accused to Dunedin Hospital, and then went between eight and nine to Mr. Anderson's shop. He there opened the suit case and found the dead body of a child. At Mrs. Anderson's request, he reported the matter to the police. He found the body of the child well nourished, and weighing 71b 7oz. On the right side of the neck above the centre of the collar-bone the skin was broken in four places. The largest wound was just under a quarter of an inch. The heart and lungs, when placed in water, floated perfectly, and when, separated each lung also floated. The heart was healthy. The brain was also healthy. Witness was of the opinion that the child was a full-time one, that complete respiration had been freely established, and that the cause of death was asphyxia. With ordinary care the child would have lived.
Sergeant Bolton stated he visited the shop of Mr. Anderson in Stuart-street, and took possession of the suitcase produced, which contained the dead body of a male child. He removed the body to the morgue. In the suit case he also found a gold bangle bearing the name "Trixie,'' and a Bible bearing the name "Trixie Walker." The case contained articles of clothing besides.
Detective Hammerly stated he went to Lawrence with the mother of the accused, who showed him the room that had been occupied by her daughter. On October 15, with Sergeant Kemp, he arrested the accused on warrant at the hospital. The charge was read to her in the presence of her mother, but she made no reply.
Chief-Detective Bishop asked permission to have the depositions taken at a previous inquest on the body of a child born to the same accused fifteen months back. Lawyer Scurr objected. He said the present charge should stand on its own. If every person who had been unfortunate enough to have trouble had it brought up against him or her when
THERE HAD BEEN NO CONVICTION, that would lay the law of evidence open to very serious abuses. The magistrate said it was quite clear that there was an argument for and against the admission of the evidence, but it seemed to him that accused would not be prejudiced by Its admission at this stage. In the meantime, he would admit it, taking note of counsel's objection.
Constable West stated he was present at an inquest held at Dunedin on June 16, 1916. Accused then gave evidence herself in regard to the child she had given birth to on May 28, 1916 at Ashbourne Hall.
William Johnston Will, medical practitioner at Ashbourne Hall, said the accused was engaged as nurse at Ashbourne Hall on May 1, 1916. About 7.45 p.m. he was called by the submatron, and went with her to nurse Walker's bedroom. Nurse Walker was lying in bed well covered up. He lifted up the blankets and found the body of an infant. The baby was tying on its right side with its back to the mother. The child was dead, apparently having been dead for two hours. The child was a full born healthy male, and weighed 6lbs. There were
NO MARKS OF VIOLENCE on the body. The following day witness held a port mortem examination and, from the usual tests, found the child had breathed. All the organs were healthy. The child was born in a confined space, and evidently had died from suffocation. Accused reserved her defence, and was committed for trial at the next sittings of the Supreme Court. -NZ Truth, 3/11/1917.
THE CHILD IN THE SUIT-CASE
Mary Walker Arraigned
"The Victim of Some Man's Lust," said Lawyer Scurr.
Detention for Reformative purposes.
(From "Truth's" Dunedin Rep.)
Mary Beatrice Maud Walker appeared before his Honor Mr. Justice Sim, at the Dunedin Supreme Court, charged with the murder of her infant male child. Crown Prosecutor W. C. MacGregor outlined the facts as already published. "In most cases of this kind," said Mr. MacGregor,
"THE UNFORTUNATE CHILD was the first baby of a young: and inexperienced woman, and the inevitable defence was that death was the result really of accident. No such defence could be urged in this case, because it would be shown that in May, 1916, accused gave birth to another child while she was an attendant at Ashburn Hall. That child, also, was born alive, without anyone knowing anything about it, and was found dead, suffocated under the blankets of the bed. It could not be suggested that in this case accused was an innocent girl, suddenly confined for the first time. That was the reason why she did not tell her mother, and had made no preparations for the birth. No one but accused knew of the precise circumstances surrounding the death, and one had to look at the surrounding circumstances to consider whether or not the accused was really and properly responsible for the death. One had to consider whether there was any motive for the crime; whether there was any preparations for the crime, and also, to consider the subsequent conduct of accused to find out whether or not it was reasonable to assume guilt or innocence. In this case, the motive, of course, was to conceal her shame, and the death she had caused. Then as to the preparations for the crime, there was the almost inhuman way in which the birth and death were concealed, even from her own mother. In regard to the subsequent conduct of the accused, everything pointed to the fact that" she did her best in every way to remove all traces of the birth, so that, if she had not taken so ill, and had recovered, she could afterwards have put the body out of sight altogether.
Dr. Evans said that the marks on the child's neck showed some interference with the circulation of the blood. With ordinary care
THE CHILD WOULD HAVE LIVED. Mr. Scurr: That is if the mother had retained consciousness throughout the birth? — Yes.
Is it likely that there might be a period of unconsciousness at the birth? — Yes.
Might it last sufficiently long for the child to be suffocated by the clothes? — Yes.
Could the marks be innocently inflicted? — The marks on the right side seemed to have been inflicted by pressure from the fore-finger and thumb.
Can you say that marks were inflicted during life? — During life or immediately after death.
Dr. Will said that accused was engaged as a nurse at Ashburn Hall on May 1, 1916. She gave birth there to a full-term child. The child had been born alive and had breathed. Death was caused by suffocation.
In the course of a lengthy and earnest address to the jury, Lawyer Scurr said he asked them to believe that when the child was born the woman became unconscious, and that during the birth, and unconsciously, the child had been suffocated under the bedclothes. If she had expected the child was going to be born, would she have accepted her mother's invitation and gone to Lawrence? "I ask you, gentlemen," concluded Mr. Scurr, "also to remember that the young woman charged with murder in the dock before you is
THE VICTIM OF SOME MAN'S LUST. He is not here to-day, but she is."
The jury after a short retirement found accused not guilty.
Mary Beatrice Maud Walker was then charged with having disposed of the body of the child with intent to conceal the fact that she was its mother.
Accused pleaded guilty.
His Honor said the best course would be to detain the girl for reformative purposes, and ordered her to be detained for a period of not more than five years. -NZ Truth, 17/11/1917.
Mary later married Richard Beuth and died in 1969 in Nelson.
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