Baby Boy Flanagan

1891 Child murder in Christchurch. On 5 January the head of a three-week-old male child was found by children in Christchurch. Anna and Sarah Flanagan, the mother and grandmother of the dead infant, were found guilty of infanticide but their death sentences were commuted. The case was a sensation because of the gruesome circumstances and the hysterical behaviour of the accused in court. Hear podcast and see related newspaper report (PapersPast). Source: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/culture/nz-crime-timeline

1. Taranaki Herald 17 January 1891 Page 2 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TH18910117.2.11
2. Evening Post 14 March 1891 Page 2 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP18910314.2.12

THE GHASTLY MURDER OF GLOUCESTER STREET “My father knows nothing: so help me God!” Constable Daniel Flanagan, a well-liked local police officer, was going about his duties at the Addington Police Station when he was issued with a search warrant of his place of residence by his Christchurch City counterparts. Most likely he was not surprised as his infant grandson had been discovered murdered just days earlier. It was 9th January 1891. As Daniel walked the officers into the grounds of Addington Prison (Jailhouse Accommodation), where his family had the use of one of the staff cottages, his daughter Sarah Jane Flanagan was on the ferry “Te Anau’ sailing up the East Coast of the South Island, heading to Wellington. Her luggage was labelled with the surname ‘Cullen’, and upon her arrest in Wellington on 11th January 1890, she gave the same false name, claiming to be travelling on to Sydney to meet her husband. She argued with her arresting officers about her innocence, it taking two days for her to finally give a statement under her true identity. With what she claimed, the whole story began to take shape. On the day of 13th December 1890, a baby boy was born in secret at the Flanagan’s cottage. The infant was barely a day old when he was handed over to baby farmer, Mrs. Freeman by Mrs. Anna Flanagan (Sarah’s mother) with some money towards the baby’s upkeep. It was not the first grandchild Anna had surrendered over to her. On 5th January, Mrs. Freeman had been surprised to find both Anna and Sarah Jane Flanagan at her door, asking for the baby back at around 8pm. Sarah told her that her husband had asked for her and the baby to join him in Wellington. Mrs. Freeman gathered up the child and watched as he was wrapped up in a red shawl and then the women disappeared into the night. Both women were spotted by various witnesses walking towards the eastern side of Christchurch and most importantly, leaving the empty of section of No. 11 Gloucester Street. Upon Anna’s arrest, she claimed she had left Sarah and the baby outside St John’s Anglican Church in Latimer Square and headed off home. Where was Sarah going? She claimed that she was off to see friends. It was during this walk alone, she later claimed, that 3 men rushed at her, taking away the baby and tying her up with rope. They had dragged her along awhile before she was rescued by a passerby. She asked him to help her find her baby which he did for a little while before waving down someone travelling by on a horse and dray. He asked the driver to take Sarah home to Lincoln Road. With arriving home around 3 that morning, Sarah told her parents what happened and for some strange reason, they told no one. The next day, around 3pm, the Coombs sisters went to play in their neighbouring Gloucester Street empty section as they had done many times before. Upon coming across a severed baby’s head and a bloody length of rope, they ran home alarmed to their mother. Their mother rushed to police, and it was Detective Maurice O’Connor who responded. Upon failing to find the baby’s head, and even a body, he did come across a baby’s bottle, clothing, rope, all covered in blood. He returned to his station with the items before heading back with other officer to further search the section. Five metres from where the sisters had showed him originally, the baby’s head was rediscovered. Suspicion soon fell on the Flanagan’s, especially with the discovery of the red shawl at the family’s home, covered with barley seeds, the very same found throughout the murder site. Mrs. Freeman identified the item being the same one she saw the night of the 5th, also reporting of the odd visit from Anna soon after, asking her if the police had been by to ask her questions. It was then Anna told Mrs. Freeman that the baby was dead, and Sarah had been taken ill. She told of Sarah’s story about the men kidnapping her and then oddly stating, “It will never be found.” All three members of the family faced court together under the charge of murder. Although Daniel had assisted with getting his daughter out of the city under false pretenses and had not sought help after hearing of his grandson’s abduction, the charges were soon dropped again him for lack of evidence, and he was free to go. During the trial, he had been under house arrest in the grounds of Addington Prison while his wife and daughter were housed in Lyttelton Gaol, travelling by train every day to attend court. He appeared ‘...pale and anxious-looking...” as he sat through the rest of the trial, his wife and daughter being found guilty and sentenced to death. This was later reduced to life to prison, Sarah to Lyttelton Gaol and a very mentally unwell Anna to Sunnyside Asylum. As for Daniel, he was discharged from the police force on 1st March 1891, after 25 years of service. He received compensation. Remembered as a likable fellow, it was soon summarised that he had acted in what he thought was in the best interest of his daughter and had no backbone considering his head-strong wife. Both women cost him dearly. https://www.facebook.com/PeelingBackHistory/photos/the-ghastly-murd...