Parkinson, Alice May (1889–1949)

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Parkinson, Alice May (1889–1949)

New Zealand murderer. Name variations: Alice May O'Loughlin. Born Dec 29, 1889, at Hampden in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand; died on July 21, 1949, in Auckland; dau. of George Parkinson (farm laborer) and Rosina (Beazley) Parkinson; m. Charles Henry O'Laughlin (carpenter), 1923 (died 1942); children: 4 sons, 2 daughters.

Worked as domestic before becoming maid at hotels in Napier (early 1900s); was impregnated by Walter Albert West, who had promised marriage; when baby was stillborn and West reneged, shot and killed him (1915); tried and convicted of manslaughter, was sent to prison; after case drew wide attention in New Zealand Truth newspaper and was championed by labor movement and feminists of socialist movement, was released (mid-1921). The case focused on issues of unequal social and economic condition of women and stirred debate on judicial reform.

See also Dictionary of New Zealand Biography (Vol. 3).

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