Helen Glegg's story has been published on this platform before. But it was a relatively early one, and my research skills have improved in the last few years.
Helen Glegg was born in Scotland and married the also Scottish-born Charles Forbes Glegg. They came to New Zealand in 1880.
Charles' profession was that of civil engineer and it would have been a well-paid one. But Charles died in 1912 and Helen, with two children, had to go it alone.
DEATHS.
GLEGG. - On July 30, at his residence, 26 Lees street, Charles Forbes, beloved husband of Helen Glegg, and eldest son of late Captain H. V. Glegg, H.E.I.C.S.; in his seventy-third year. -Otago Daily Times, 31/7/1912.
Prior to her husband's death, Helen had endured the death of a ten year old son, Frederick, and the public exposure of her other son, Henry, as an opium addict.
Henry Herbert Glegg, a well-dressed man, pleaded not guilty to being an idle and disorderly person. —Sub-inspector Keily said that accused, who had a good home to go to, was found in a Chinese den, with the last accused, smoking opium. He was a resident of Dunedin, belonged to a respectable family, and had only returned from Melbourne a few days ago. The police had no wish to press the charge, but wanted him to avoid the bad companions he was associating with, and go to his home. — His Worship, under the circumstances of the case, decided to discharge accused, at the same time warning him to profit by the opportunity afforded, and avoid a continuance of his way of living. -Otago Witness, 22/6/1899.
Henry, it seems, did not learn his lesson, though he might have thought he was safe in his own house.
Opium Smoking. — John Glegg alias Henry Herbert Glegg was charged with smoking opium on October 17. John Lowry was charged with abetting in the same. The evidence being the same in both cases, they were heard together. Mr Emslie appeared for the accused, who pleaded not guilty. — The Sub-inspector stated that the information was laid under section 9 of the Opium Prohibition Act of 1901. The section provided that any person found smoking opium or abetting the smoking of opium was liable to a penalty not exceeding £l0. On the night of the 17th inst. Detectives Hill and Connolly went to the accused's father's house, and found accused in his room with an opium pipe in his hand. Lowry was also there. — Detective Hill started that on Monday last, at 10.30 p.m., he went with Detective Connolly to accused's father's house. On entering the front door he smelt the fumes of opium. He went to accused's bedroom, which was shut, but not locked. Accused (Glegg) had the stem of the pipe and a needle in his hand. The bowl of the pipe was off, and was still hot. The other accessories (all produced) for opium smoking were there. When taxed with smoking opium Glegg said he was not — "Had none to smoke, worse luck." — Mr Emslie contended that the police had had no warrant to search the house, and the opium accessories (produced) could not be tendered as evidence.— His Worship ruled against Mr Emslie. — After Detective Connolly had given evidence corroborative of Detective Hill, Mr Emslie submitted that the information must be dismissed, because it was laid not under section 9 of the Act but under section 7, which provided no penalty for it. Section 9 said: "Any person found smoking opium," and the prosecution had not proved that the accused had been found smoking. He might add that Glegg had been an opium smoker and was weaning himself from the practice with the aid of pills, which he could procure only at Sydney. On the evening in question he had run out of his supply of pills, and was scraping out the opium pipe for the refuse to make into pills until he could procure the proper supply from Sydney. — The magistrate remarked that the information was laid under section 7, and that it had not been shown that accused was smoking, therefore he must dismiss the case. -Evening Star, 20/10/1904.
DEATHS
GLEGG. — On March 3, 1920, at his mother's residence, 15 Phillips street, Kensington, Henry Herbert (Bert), dearly beloved son of Helen Glegg and the late Charles Forbes Glegg; age 48 years. "At rest." -Otago Witness, 9/3/1920.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.
Mrs Charles Forbes Glegg, 15, Phillips street, Kensington, desires to thank her many friends for kindness and sympathy extended her in her recent sad bereavement, also for the beautiful wreath from her son's old acquaintances. -Evening Star, 13/3/1920.
It was not long after her son Henry's death that tragedy struck again. Possibly Helen's illegal activities were a result of needing money to live and having no alternative.
DEATH OF A YOUNG WOMAN.
(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) DUNEDIN. June 13.
Late last night the police received intimation of the death of a young woman, whose name has not yet been ascertained, at a house in Kensington. By direction of the Coroner, the body was removed to the morgue, where an inquest will be held to-morrow. This morning the police arrested an elderly woman named Helen Glegg, the occupier of the house in which the young woman died, on a charge of using an instrument on another young woman who was found in the house. The accused will be brought before the Court to-morrow. -Press, 14/6/1920.
CHARGE OF MURDER.
(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) DUNEDIN, June 16.
As a result of further enquiries made by the police into the circumstances surrounding the death of the girl May Pile, who was found dead at 15 Phillips street, Kensington, on Saturday night in a house occupied by Helen Glegg, a charge of murder was preferred this afternoon against Mrs Glegg, who already stands charged with performing an illegal operation in respect of another girl who is now in hospital.
The accused, a widow, aged 67 years, appeared before the Police Court this afternoon. The charge read "that, on or about May 28th 1920, at Dunedin, she did murder one Olive May Pile." She was remanded til the 28th inst. -Press, 17/6/1920.
The grave of Olive May Pile in Dunedin's Southern Cemetery. Her burial record describes her occupation as "Wardress."
A SERIOUS CHARGE
Young Woman Dead, Another Seriously Ill
Old Lady Arrested
(From "Truth's" Dunedin Rep.)
On Saturday night last Dr. Linden, of South Dunedin, advised the police that he had been called to 15, Philips street, and on his arrival had discovered a young woman dead in a room on the premises. Sergeant Thomson and Detective Hall promptly were sent to make inquiries, and found the body of a young woman at the address given. Further investigations revealed that another young woman was on the premises. This girl had to be removed to the hospital where, at present, her condition is pronounced as favorable.
On Sunday the police paid another visit to the house and arrested the occupier, Mrs. Helen Clegg, an aged, white-haired woman. She was charged with unlawfully using an instrument upon the girl removed to the hospital with the object of procuring abortion. The young woman removed to the hospital and Mrs. Clegg herself made statements to the police. Mrs. Clegg stated that the dead woman came to her house on May 27, and stayed with her since that date. At 7.30 p.m. on Saturday last she was breathing heavily. She sent a male boarder for the doctor, but the young woman died in Mrs. Clegg's arms before Dr. Linden arrived.
The deceased young woman was
IDENTIFIED BY HER FATHER, a Puketiraki fisherman, as his daughter, Olive May Pile, who had left her home some time back and for whom her parents were searching ever since.
On Monday last Helen Clegg appeared before Magistrate Bartholomew at the Dunedin Police Court. Chief Detective Bishop said that the girl alleged to have been interfered with was not yet out of danger, and as there was likely to be a serious charge preferred against accused, he asked that she be remanded. The request was granted and the old lady was removed, in custody.
The inquest, held on Monday afternoon, was merely formal. Mr. J. R. Bartholomew presided. Chief-Detective Bishop represented the police.
William John Pile, fisherman, Karitane, said he identified the body as that of his daughter, Olive May Pile, aged 20 years. She was single as far as he knew. Nearly all her life she lived at home, except for six months when she was at Oamaru as a domestic servant, and three months in Seacliff Mental Hospital as an attendant. Shortly after she returned from Seacliff he discovered her condition and found out who was the cause of her trouble, which, he understood, was the result of what had taken place four weeks previously. She disappeared from home three weeks ago. Neither he nor his wife knew she was going or where she went to. He was away fishing when she cleared out from home. He visited Dunedin several times to try and find her, but failed. He did not see her again until he identified her dead body at the morgue. The inquest was adjourned. -NZ Truth, 19/6/1920.
OLIVE PILE'S DEATH
Inquest Resumed and Again Adjourned
Result of Post Mortem Not Yet Revealed.
(From "Truth's" Dunedin Rep.)
The adjourned inquest relative to the death of Olive, May Pile at Mrs. Clegg's residence, 15 Phillips-street, South Dunedin, was resumed before Mr. J. R. Bartholomew S.M. Chief Detective Bishop conducted the police proceedings, and Mr C. J. L. White represented the old lady, Mrs. Clegg.
Dr. Linden stated that at 7.30 p.m. on Saturday, 12th inst., he received a telephone message to visit a young woman at the above address. The voice that spoke through was a male voice, and the message said that the patient was suffering from pneumonia or bronchitis. He did not leave then, but at 9 p.m., on a second message from the same male voice asking him urgently he left at once. He arrived at the house after 9 p.m., and discovered the young woman quite dead. She was partly laid out with a handkerchief under her chin. The body was quite warm. Mrs. Clegg told him that the girl had been with her a little over a fortnight. She did not give much information as to what the girl had been suffering from except that the girl had been unwell for a few days. She had had rheumatic fever a few years back, and Mrs. Clegg felt certain that she
HAD DIED FROM HEART FAILURE. He examined the body casually, and did not see any marks of violence, but the whole circumstances seemed so shrouded that he could not grant a certificate. Mrs. Clegg said that if he had been there earlier he could have sounded the girl and seen that she had been suffering from heart failure, and would have been able to give a certificate. He said he could not give a certificate and would have to inform the police. She said nothing.
Sergeant Thomson said that about 11 a.m. on Sunday with Detective Hall he went to the house. They found deceased lying on a bed in a front room. Mrs. Clegg said deceased had been in the house since the 27th ult. She had been merely there for a holiday, and never complained at any time, but on the 10th and 11th had not taken much food, only soup and coffee. On Saturday at 7 p.m. deceased was breathing heavily and her heart was beating loudly. She sent a boarder, Bowman, at 7.30 to ring up Dr. .Linden. Half-an-hour later deceased died, falling into Mrs. Clegg's arms. The matting was quite wet, and there was a quantity of wet sheeting in the scullery. As a result of further investigations a search warrant was procured, and Mrs. Clegg arrested on another charge.
The inquest was adjourned sine die, as Dr. Drennan had not concluded the post mortem. -NZ Truth, 26/6/1920.
MRS. GLEGG IN COURT
CHARGED WITH ABORTION AND MURDER
Death of Olive May Pile
SENSATIONAL STATEMENTS BY YOUNG MEN AND WOMAN
(From "Truth's" Dunedin Rep.)
INQUEST CONCLUDED.
The inquiry concerning the death of Olive May Pile was concluded on Thursday of last week by Mr. J. R. Bartholomew S.M.
In the course of his lengthy statement, Dr. Drennan, who had conducted the post mortem, said: "Deceased died from septic infection. Infection spread to the veins and lungs, producing an acute pneumonia; also to the heart itself, producing an acute endocarditis, on top of an old standing breast condition. There was no evidence of recent direct injury to the genital organs, such as would produce the septic state."
As there was a case pending against an accused party, the Coroner returned an open verdict that deceased died from septic infection.
HELEN GLEGG BEFORE THE COURT.
On the next day, Friday, the accused person, Helen Glegg, an old, whitehaired woman, was brought before Mr. J. R. Bartholomew SM., and charged: (1) That on June 9, at Dunedin; she did, with intent to procure the miscarriage of Rose Williams, unlawfully use an instrument; and (2) that on or about May 28, at Dunedin, she did murder one Olive May Pile. Chief Detective Bishop prosecuted, and Lawyer Hanlon represented accused.
William John Pile, father of deceased girl, said he was a fisherman, and resided at Karitane. He identified the dead body of his daughter at the morgue on June 14. She was twenty years of age at the time of her death, and had been single. Up to nine months prior to her death she lived all the time at home. For the nine months she was at Oamaru and Seacliff as a domestic. A month before her death he became aware of her condition and went to the police at once. She eventually cleared out and he could not trace her at all.
The Magistrate: Had your daughter ever given birth to a child previously? — No.
Mr. Hanlon: He said "to my knowledge." Of course he could not possibly know? — Of course I know; why .shouldn't I? There was nothing wrong with her till she came back home.
Charles Thomas Burdett, surfaceman, said he was in the employ of the railway department up to six months ago. He knew Olive Pile, and met her seven or eight months ago at Oamaru. He went out with her a few times, and about four or five weeks ago Mr. Pile and deceased saw him in regard to the matter. On the Wednesday following he came to Dunedin and met Miss Pile the next day and he, with her, took a tram and got off at Kensington corner.
The Magistrate here extended the usual caution to witness about incriminating himself, etc.
Continuing, the witness said that they went to No. 15 Phillip street, and accused admitted them. Accused took them to the sitting room, and wanted to know what they were going to do. Apparently deceased had visited the place previously unknown to witness. Witness said to accused, "I don't care what it is going to cost, I am prepared to pay." Accused said "Everything would be correct, and she would guarantee that the girl would be all right In a short time." She said it would cost £20. He paid her a ten pound note, and two five pound notes. After twenty minutes he left the house and Olive stayed behind. He reckoned she was five to six months pregnant by her appearance; she may have been more. Witness returned to Oamaru. The following Monday he received a wire
"ALL WELL. M. PILE."
Later he received a letter, and in answer to that he came to Dunedin. He destroyed the letter and telegram. He went to Mrs. Glegg's house that night. Mrs. Glegg asked him if he was the girl's boy; he had asked to see the girl. Mrs. Glegg said Olive was dead: that she had been dead for an hour. He then said, "What am I going to do?" and accused said "What am I going to do?" She said she had sent for a doctor, but he would not come. She then told witness to "clear away as quickly as he could, and say nothing about it." At no time did he give Mrs. Glegg his name and address.
The Magistrate: How did you find your way to the house the first time? — The girl brought me there; she had been there before.
John Hungerford Naylor Bowman, clerk with Mr. Wilkinson, solicitor, Dunedin, said that up to the time of the death of Miss Pile, he had been boarding with Mrs. Glegg for six weeks. Somewhere before 7 pm. on the 12th of June, he rang up Dr. Lindon on the suggestion of Mrs. Glegg. The latter told him that the girl had got an attack of bronchitis. She did not tell him the girl's name. He rang up the doctor, and also on the second occasion at her request. He occupied one room as a boarder, and a Mr. Martin slept on the sofa in the kitchen. He knew the deceased girl was boarding in the house, and he thought there was another person also, but he had not seen anyone. He had not spoken to the deceased girl at any time. There was no singing or drinking going on on the night of the 12th. Mrs. Glegg and her daughter lived in the house.
Chief-Detective: Six persons occupying three rooms and a kitchen? — That is so.
John William Hall, assistant superintendent, telegraph office, Dunedin, gave evidence to the wire mentioned above and also to another wire in the subsequent case. This latter wire read:
R. McCleod, Hartley Arms Hotel, Clyde. — Send party next week. H. Glegg.
This wire was endorsed Mrs. Glegg, 15 Phillips-street, Kensington, Dunedin. In his opinion the handwriting of originals in both cases were the same.
Dr. Lindon stated that on the evening of June 12 last, he received a message by 'phone to go to Mrs. Glegg's. The message was in a male voice, and an hour later he received a message from the same voice asking him to go urgently. He arrived at the house shortly after 9 p.m. He found the girl dead. She was partly laid out. The body was quite warm. An examination of the body did not show any marks of violence. Taking the history of the case from Mrs. Glegg he learned the girl had been there for a fortnight. She had not been keeping too well. Two years ago she had had rheumatic fever. On the night of the 12th she died suddenly, owing to heart failure, according to Mrs. Glegg. . The latter was of the opinion that if he had been there earlier he would have found that the girl was dying of heart failure. Being unable to give a certificate, he reported the matter to the police.
Constable Hart said that at 10.15 p.m. on the 12th June, Doctor Lindon telephoned as indicated above. He went to Mrs. Glegg's place, and saw the dead body of the young woman lying on the bed in the front room. Accused said deceased's name was May Pile, and that she arrived on the 27th May from Puketereki for a holiday. Accused occupied the same bed as deceased, and on the night of the 10th she heard deceased's heart thumping. On the 11th, accused went to Lamb's Pharmacy and purchased sixpenny worth of sal-volatile and gave her a dose of 20 drops. Deceased remained in bed all the following day — the 12th. Accused attended her. At 7.30 the same evening deceased breathed heavily, and accused sent for Dr. Lindon. The heavy breathing continued, and accused said she lifted deceased out of bed, and she died in accused's arms. Prior to leaving the house he was invited to have a beer which he declined. Shortly before midnight he visited the place again, and from the street he could clearly hear
LOUD VOICES AND LAUGHTER within.
Dr. Drennan, pathologist, supplemented his evidence as given above at the inquest. He said the old scarring that had taken place some three or four weeks prior to death, did not give rise to the septic conditions that caused death. The septic conditions were due to more recent causes but he could find no evidences of these. The septic conditions, however, were due to the introduction of some poisoned material. Four pieces of wire were exhibited which the doctor called skewers for domestic purposes, and one of these showed brown stains, which on examination proved to give the reaction for blood, whether human or not he could not say at present. Other "gear" were produced which witness described as "the favorite instruments used for abortion."
William Keith McLeod, a flash looking gent of the laboring class, said he was employed until recently on the public works at Clyde. (The Magistrate extended the usual caution.) He knew Miss Rose Williams, late of Clyde, and now of Dunedin. In April last he became aware of her condition, and with that knowledge he wrote a letter to Mrs. Glegg. About June 4 last he received a telegram in answer to the letter, and on the 8th Miss Williams left for Dunedin to go to Mrs. Glegg's. Subsequently he received a letter from Miss Williams from the same address, and next received a wire from the girl which said she was in the hospital. He destroyed the letters and telegrams.
Sergeant Thomson stated that on June 13 at 11 a.m., with Detective Hall, he visited accused's place, and found the dead body of Miss Pile. He corroborated the evidence given by Constable Hart, and added that in the bedroom where the girl lay dead, he saw Detective Hall take possession of the exhibits. On making further investigations through the house, Detective Hall began to open the door of the room in which Rose Williams was. When Mrs. Glegg came forward and put her hand on the door and said, "There is no one in there." Detective Hall said,
"I AM GOING IN TO SEE," and they went in and found Miss Williams there. Accused said her name was Smith. In the presence, of the girl, he told accused what Miss Williams had said that she came there on Tuesday and had been operated on next day. Accused made no reply, and was arrested.
Rose Williams said she was single, and had been a domestic at Clyde for eighteen months. While at Clyde she became acquainted with McLeod. (The Magistrate extended the same caution to this witness also.)
Continuing, Miss Williams said she kept company with McLeod. Early in May she became aware of her condition. Before she left Clyde, McLeod wrote a letter to Mrs. Glegg and he received a wire in reply. After that she went to Dunedin on June 8. She hired a motor and went to No. 15 Phillips-street. She met Mrs. Glegg and told her she was Miss Smith. Mrs. Glegg took her into the sitting room, where there was a single bed, to which Mrs. Glegg apportioned her. Next day after 1 p.m., she went to bed, and the instrument produced was like the one accused had when she entered the room. Shortly after having arrived at Mrs. Glegg's she paid accused £10.
Dr. Evans said that about 2 p.m. on June 13 he went to No. 15 Phillips-street, and at the request of the police he examined the girl Williams, who was lying in bed and looked ill. Her temperature was 99 and her pulse 30. Having obtained the patient's consent he made a further examination, and came to the conclusion she was
SUFFERING FROM BLOODPOISONING. She was removed to the hospital. The same afternoon he was present at the operation at the hospital, and formed the opinion that there had been some external interference to bring about a miscarriage, and it was not a natural one. There was nothing in the constitution of the girl to bring on a threatened miscarriage. He agreed with Dr. Drennan's findings.
Dr. W. G. Scannell said on Rose Williams being admitted to the hospital, on examining her and also from the statement she made to him, he came to the conclusion that she was going to have a miscarriage, and the conditions were septic. He made an operation.
Detective Hall, in the course of lengthy corroborative evidence, detailed the "gear" he found in No. 15 Phillips-street. Prior to arresting Mrs. Glegg, he read over the warrant. "Murder!" she said, "Surely that can never be me! I never murdered her."
Other witnesses gave formal evidence.
Mr. Hanlon put no questions to the witnesses. Accused reserved her defence and was committed for trial. -NZ Truth, 14/8/1920.
SEPTUAGENRIAN SENTENCED
Charge of Murder Fails
"MOTHER" GLEGG FOUND GUILTY
Boobed for Abortion.
At Dunedin Supreme Court last week, before his Honor, Mr. Justice Sim and a jury of twelve, Mrs. Helen Glegg stood her trial on a charge of murdering Olive May Pile, aged 20, on or about May 28 last. She pleaded not guilty, and was represented by Lawyer Hanlon.
The complete evidence of the case has already appeared In these columns. The facts were that until twelve months before her death Olive May Pile, a young, unmarried woman, lived with her parents at Puketeraki. She then went to Oamaru as a domestic, where she kept company with Charles Thomas Burdett. This man took her to Mrs. Glegg's place at 15, Phillips-street, Dunedin. He gave Mrs. Glegg a £10 note and two £5 notes. Mrs. Glegg assured him the girl would be all right, and he went away, returning again on the night of June 12, when the accused informed him /that the girl was dead. She told Burdett to
CLEAR AWAY AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE,. and say nothing. Constable Hart, acting on the information of Dr. London, who had been summoned to the house by Mrs. Glegg, saw the dead body. Sergeant Thomson and Detective Hall later visited the place and possessed themselves of certain instruments. Rose Williams, who was found in the house seriously ill, had previously resided at Clyde, where she got into trouble, for which a laborer named William Keith McLeod admitted responsibility. This gent, stated that he had asked Mrs. Glegg to perform a certain operation on Rose Williams, giving the girl's name as Smith. Miss Williams duly came to Dunedin. She gave Mrs. Glegg £10. Later she was removed to the hospital. Dr. Drennan, who made a post mortem examination of the body of Olive May Pile, gave as his opinion that death was due to septic infection, which affected the lungs.
Lawyer Hanlon, addressing the jury, said that the charge of murder in the present case was what might be called constructive murder. It was killing another while in the performance of some unlawful act. Did accused know her conduct was likely to cause death? If not, her offence would be manslaughter only. Where was the evidence that accused interfered with Miss Pile? There was the evidence of the informer, Burdett, who, however, was an accomplice. The Williams case was brought in because the Crown sought to show by the girl Williams, and the man McLeod, that the operation performed upon her was similar to the one performed upon the girl Pile, which had caused death. That was their logic. They could not prove that the woman had touched the girl Pile at all. He invited the jury to ignore absolutely the evidence given in connection with the case of the girl Williams. Juries were not entitled to
HANG PEOPLE ON SUSPICION. Could they for a moment believe that, assuming Mrs. Glegg did perform the operation, she knew, or ought to have known, that her conduct was likely to cause death? If not, she could not be convicted of murder. But there was not any evidence at all that the woman had interfered with this girl, and he put it to the jury that their verdict should be one of acquittal.
On the issues, the jury found: (1) Did the girl, Olive May Pile, die as the result of an illegal operation? — Yes. (2) If so, did the accused Helen Glegg perform that operation? — No.
His Honor: The verdict amounts to one of not guilty. Accused was then charged with having, in June, at Dunedin, with intent to procure the miscarriage of Rose Williams, unlawfully used an instrument or other means. The facts were the same as elicited in preceding case and previously published in "Truth." Lawyer Hanlon defended.
The Jury returned a verdict of guilty with a recommendation to mercy.
In view of the recommendation of the Jury and the woman's age and condition, his Honor sentenced her to a term of eighteen months' imprisonment without hard labor. -NZ Truth, 14/8/1920.
DUNEDIN DOINGS.
(From Our Own Correspondent.)
Mrs Glegg's Case.
The two outstanding features of interest in connection with the sessions of the Supreme Court which have just closed were the charges of murder against Mrs Glegg, of Dunedin, and John Sharp, of Rongahere, and the unusually long list of divorce cases which were disposed of in one way and another. On Wednesday of last week, Helen Glegg, who is 67 years of age, was placed in the dock on a charge of murdering a girl named Pile, and prosecution alleging that the death of the girl was due to an illegal operation performed by the accused. The same sordid story was told as in the lower court and Mr A. C. Hanlon, who knows his work thoroughly, threw the weight of his arguments against the weak points of the case and showed to the satisfaction of the jury that his aged client had not been knowingly and wilfully guilty of the terrible allegation made against her. Mrs Glegg was then charged with having performed an illegal operation on another girl and here the defence was faced with an enormous weight of evidence of a particularly condemnatory nature. Nevertheless Mr Hanlon took up his task manfully and in accents which quavered with sympathetic emotion he sought, by means of a series of interrogations, to arouse the merciful instincts of the jurymen, and by all the arts of his profession to convince them that his client was innocent of any nefarious practice. In a purely impersonal way he said some unkind things about the young man and the girl who were the principal witnesses for the prosecution, but about whom nothing more derogatory could be said than that after their initial mistake their luck was out. Referring to the paraphernalia of Mrs Glegg s art, which were produced in court, he described these as perfectly harmless things and ingeniously asked how many of the jurymen themselves had not similar articles in their own homes? But it was all to no purpose. His Honor Mr Justice Sim summed up strongly against the accused, remarking that Mr Hanlon's fortitude in arguing the matter at all was really "the courage of despair" and, reversing one of the arguments of learned counsel, he asked how many of the jurymen actually did have "these things" in their own homes? The verdict was one of "Guilty," with a strong recommendation to mercy, no doubt on account of the age of the accused, although the jury did not say so. The next day the old woman came up for sentence and despite the apparent causticness of His Honor in summing up on the previous day, he imposed the surprisingly light penalty of 18 months' imprisonment.
IS IMMORALITY PREVALENT?
A case of this kind naturally leads to some reflections on the prevalence of immorality amongst young people and to the extent of the evil practices of the abortionist, which, in the cold light of the law stood out in all their naked hideousness. At the same time there is the long list of divorce cases no fewer than 15 in number — and it is a curious circumstance in connection with these that they were husband's petitions. Set in this unseemly juxtaposition the two things are enough to make the grandfathers and grandmothers of the present generation hold up their hands in horror, and they again give rise to the frequently recurring question: Is the world growing better or worse? The explanation of the whole position is, of course, trite enough, and like the high cost of living and kindred problems, it is due very largely to the effects of the war, especially its psychological effects on the young. Just as certain diseases afflict mankind in "waves/' so does a wave of immorality sweep over the world after every great war, and so the present condition of things is very largely a passing phase which will gradually dissolve away with the re-adjustment of values that are already slowly taking place.
On the whole, however, there is little cause for pessimism. The vice of immorality is like the poor: it will always be with us. But the experience of those qualified to judge shows that it is not of very extensive incidence in this Dominion, and New Zealand is gratifyingly free from those accessories to vice which stain many of the cities of the old World and America. The promiscuous immorality of ostensibly respectable young people is undoubtedly the most serious phase of the problem in this country and it is a problem which will have to be solved by the Church and not by the state. The remedy does not lie in the establishment and legislation of licensed houses or in the prevention of the sale of this article and that. All the legislation in the world will not produce one grain of virtue. But in the properly directed teachings of churches and in a revival of those feelings of chivalry on the part of men for women lies the only effective remedy. It is always the woman who pays. In the case under notice one young girl died, another suffered a severe illness and now an old woman has gone to prison for 18 months. In the Hayne case much the same sort of thing occurred - the unfortunate girl Batchelor, apart from her other troubles, suffered the ignominy of nine months' imprisonment. And at the same time the man concerned has escaped all punishment except the more or less innocuous one of publicity. Thus it has always been. Thus it will always be until public opinion, by a shattering upheaval, has been instructed on the whole matter.
Of course there is the further evil of the married woman who declines to assume her responsibilities in the way of maternity and who, in doing so, merits the scorn of all right-thinking people. It is persons of this type and not single girls, who are the principal clients of the abortionist, and who, in these days of over-crowded Eastern populations which must eventually seek an outlet, are setting our nation on the terrible pathway of racial suicide.
Do not these cases all afford a further illustration of the saying that there is only one commandment: "Thou shalt not be found out?" The misfortune, in fact the very crime, of all concerned lay in the circumstance that their guilt was discovered. How many are not found out "Judge not, that ye be not judged" are wise words, and charity and sympathy are two virtues that still need to be cultivated by many people.
Other Cases.
There is not much to be said about the other cases. In the proceedings taken against Sharp, a vindictive and evil-tempered old man of 71 years, the jury could come to only one finding and the judge only one penalty, which, of course, by the curious asininity of the law was passed only to be repealed. In another case a young man of 19 years raised the ire of his parents by getting married and at their instigation he was charged with making a false declaration but was let off with a fine of £3. To the outsider it should clearly have been a case of leaving well alone, for marriages arc things that cannot be undone, even by the most wrathful of parents. -Cromwell Argus, 23/8/1920.
SUICIDE AT KAIKORAI
AN OLD WOMAN’S DEATH.
This morning an inquest was held by Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., sitting as coroner, into the circumstances of the death of Helen Glegg, aged seventy-five years, who committed suicide by strangulation yesterday afternoon. Deceased was a widow.
Evidence was given by Catherine Hamilton, who identified the body, and said that the deceased boarded with witness in Main street, Kaikorai. She had means to live on, and her health was very good for her age. Deceased had a daughter of about forty years of age who lived with her. The daughter was of weak intellect. Deceased had been worrying over her trouble, and she drank pretty heavily. Mrs Glegg did not appear despondent yesterday, but when witness entered her (deceased’s) bedroom at about 4.40 p.m. alter an outing she found her hanging by the neck from a big pedestal bed by a jersey belt. Witness called assistance, and the body was cut down.
Constable Wootton also gave evidence as to having been called to the scene. He mentioned that the daughter had been taken charge of by the Salvation Army. There was a considerable credit balance in deceased’s bank book.
A verdict of suicide by strangulation was returned. -Evening Star, 4/9/1924.
DEATHS.
GLEGG. — On September 3, 1924, at Dunedin (suddenly), Helen Glegg; aged 75 years. "At rest." Private interment. — K. McBean and Son, undertakers. -Otago Daily Times, 5/9/1924.
The site of 15 Phillips st now lies under the southern abutment of a bridge on Dunedin's Southern Motorway.
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The Glegg grave in the Northern Cemetery, Dunedin: mother, father, sons - no daughter. |
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