Independent (Footscray, Vic. : 1883 - 1922)(about) |
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Saturday 10 December 1898
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' GAMON STREET PUiSONiNU CASE. ELLEN McNABB CdWMITTED. Tlitzinqulry into theideah of Ethel Maud 31cNabb, an infat who died at Gamon atreet on the 25th ofNovei;ber, frdo inadose of p iriti of salt,' alleged.to have, been admin istered by Ellen NcNabb, mother of the child, was continued before Mr G. A. Morriscn, the District .Coroner, on Tuesday. . . .. : The jury-were: 'Messrs- A.' E.' Franklin (foreman). S. M.DavDie;, T. McGregor, D. P. Griffith', C. Faser, F. Goodwin and.J. r.; 1 B a t " r ... . " . ^ *« : - - . Sub-Inspector Gaham ;onducted the pro. '"c eedings on behalf of the police, and Mr;D. Gaunson appeared on behalf of Mrs McNalbb' Laurence, O'Connell,. engine. driver, father, of accused,.testificd'th'af lie-was. at ' home on the evening of the zýth November last he tween the hours of six and seven o'clock He went to a neighbour's house for his daughter, because her baby was crying at hom-. When his daughter ame-ut of the neighbour's house S he'gai?;'e ea'aponcti'iiead with his open Saind, and.itd'her thiat tihe had no business Sthere and hetr hild crying at hi me with her Smother.' He falin ta temper, hut she dii not reent his action; 1-1ieuisbsequently t Id his daughter that.i'f'ia'.' jipy,' McNabb did not Skill ?cet.r bet he heat hes in Melbourne; and then he ?ould iave been' hung, and there would have been an end ti it all. Ils reason for saying that Lwas because McNabb had treated her very hadlv. i To the Coroner: McNabb used to beat his daughter, and'he had: known her to come home.blacli and blu;e. He alko turned her out of doors, on one occasion,'in the middle of the night, and she came home, to witnesses house with her baby. 'Whe. she patted from her husband the last time.i ':as not because of Sany ill-treatment, but because his wages were continually garnisheed, and they had no money tloliveon;. -.: : - ITo Mi Gaunsons~ When his daughter came mn'serwas, tok danDb.ne~khd.to ,;op ;n bed S- -two or three 'iays o'-.aeoinnt of ijures to her. body. She stated then that her husband got drunk, and beat and kicked her. Also that he never gave her apy gopcey, though he was iti the'employ of the government, and that she had to live on dry bread.and a drop of tea. He understood that McNabb was not dis missed from ithe,?Govenrmnt service, but re signed because he wouill not, as he said, work 'for the Jews. , His daughter, beforeashe was married, was.'a'dcc'cnt.m'ddst girl;i and had kept coripany with''McNibl for five yeais. When he struck hisdaughter, he meant that she should feel it,.but t was.the first time he had lifted his hand to 'h:li 'and he was 'rx tremely sorry he did so.: He'kept the spirits Sof salts on a shelf seven;(qet high. : Annie O'Connell, wife of previous witness, and mother of Mrs McNabb, deposed to mind. ing her grindchild, whilst Mrs McNabb was visiting Mrs Dugas,'a neighbour,. on the 25,h November last.. Her.fatherbrought her back shbitly before nine o'clock, when he had to go 'to work.., He slapped her .twice on the side of the faceand spoke sharply to her, telling her that she hac.,no right to go out, leaving the baby crying at home. After Mr O'Connell went to.woik, her daughter .took the baby with her,into the kitchen. , She stopped there about five minutes, and then came back, and said. " Mother, I've-done it, I've poisoned the baby.", Her daughter seemed very excited- almost mad, and the baby was foaming at, the mouth. Witness screamed, and then sent for a neighbour. A Mrs Mcagher came .and .gave the child an emetic of salt and water, but it had no effect. Dr Box was then sent' fr.' \ To Sub-Inspector Gralianm She had never heard her daughter i"ake any threats against the child. Did not,know if she had had'any drink that day. . . To Mr Gaunson: She never knew Mrs McNabb to speak one angry word to her child. She was alwaysa kind affectionate mother, very patient' with her, baby, and there was nothing in her conduct up to that time, that shicould find fault'with. Her daughter gave way to grief often-times, .because she -had no money to buy abything for herself and ,the baby, and was living with her parents without being able to pay for hei food. Annie Dugas. married woman, residing at Greig street, Footscray, said that Mrs McNabb was at her :place about' half past eleven or twelve o'clock on the" morning of the 25th November: She seemed slightly intoxicated, and witness gave her a glass. of beer, ,which she drank.ri Mrs McNabb came back in the Ier; lfather came and called for her, aod when she ,'went out he struck her a hard bloiw' oni the side of the.heid. 'About half . ast six next momning witness was summoned to Mis O'Connell's house, and was told that the baby hid been poisoned, and was dying. She asked Mrs McNabb whatever made her do such a thing, and she replied- "Oh Mrs Dugas there is mnoe on my mind than anyone can tell." , . .. . ToMr Gaunson She Aid not mean any barm when she gave Mis McNabb beer, after she bhd'already had enough. _. When she saw her'in the evening there.was no sign 'of 'drink' on Eer. -Witness thoughtthat- Mrs -McNabb always ireated the biby. well and appeared to be very on'd"of it. ;'l'Dirtiigthe:time witness had known her she did not appear tj be de pressed. She spoke about her husband, said she was separated from,hini, and;.that he was not veiy kind to her. 'Witness coisidered Mrs McNabb to. be a very nice, well be haved, well spoken youcg, wyman. SBeatrice Dugas, a thirteen year old daughter of the previous witness, said that her mother sent her.for aixpenny;,worth of beer about half pat sfix or seven o'clock on the night of the tragedy. When she; t ok.it home Mrs McNabb was'with her noiher.' " ' - Margaret Dugas gave similar evidence to that given by her mother, relative to what took place at Mrs Dugas's house. ,She saw'Mrs McNabb about nine o'clock-.in. the. evening, coming over the green to;her..,' Ms McNabb said-"Oh Maggie, I've, poisonedmy child; whatever shall I do?" Witness went over to Mrs O'Connell's house and itoppid there until midnight. . To Mr Gaunson:. When she asked Mrs McNabb what she did it for, shaid'Sid--'Th.t will teach them never to get on to me again." She'appard' to be in hep ernses. . John Meaghcr, laboureg p re oborative evid?e?ce and in answer to r Gauson, said he thought .Mrs MoNabb was notfin her right Smind; through'drink. 1, *. MaryMeah'er, of Harriet street, married woman, testified to beinj called to 0'Connell's house by Mrs" McNahbbj,,g tthe .iib t-Of "the tragedy, also to giving the child an emetic. According to her idea, Mrs M~:cNbb' was under the influence of liquor. --.--- Sergeant Dempster gave evidence as to the arrest of Mrs McNabb,: whb admitted that the dead child'was hers, andthat she gave it the poison, adding that there ought to be more in It than her. .': }' - ?;' ' - t"! . , SChostable Byrne, Senior-Conslable McKee and Constable Fitzgraid ..gave similar . evidence. each agreeing that ihere was nothing ~; noticeable; iuo the way; o drink about. Mrs S r J-Box test.fied that Ihe child died fromni priitinitis;followirig perforatiin;of.the atom ; ach, ciusedh by some corrorive poison. -'- -i MirGaunison shortly'addressed the'jurytwith a view bf obla'nirg an expression of opinion that the child was poisonediwhile'Itbe,.mother was sufferieig from undue excitement or tem poraryinsanny . n .., ,,... .'. '" . The Coroner pointd' out hat a rider to that : effect could not be acce-ted,' as it"-would be inconristent wi:h the verdict of ,wilfulmuider, Swhich the juiry cou'd ,hardly avoid bringing in. WlV3itMt'rGasusson referredio nould be rather'd matter .fur a higher.cur. : : The Coroner summed up briefly, and aft r a :ahort-ifetiremeat, 'thi"' juy '-.bt ught.d :na verdict: ihathildeth. was caused':by poison. administered btiy-iEl en,M1cNabb, :and('tht thesaid 'Ellen McNabb was guiltyob-: wilful murder. .: .;-r. : l - ii i * l SAjuior;:(MrIJ. M I;Barr).gave it as. the opinion of the juiy that-ibe trtatment Mrs McNabb had,,ulfered .'atillhehands of .hir husbard and parents hid induced a condition of despair whea shq administered the!p:iion, - -'MsI McNabth.was ttien committed "to lake her trial on. ih'e- 'i :t:lD-ecmnber, and the w.tuessses were-iouund- over tn,allend.