ALLEGED ILLEGAL OPERATION

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 134, 7 June 1911, Page 5

ALLEGED ILLEGAL OPERATION

DJQUEST AT THE HOSPITAL. The resumed inquest on the body at Alice Eleanor Hart, aged 32, who died at the hospital on May 27, as the result, ft was believed, of the effects of an illegal operation, was continued this morning by the City Coroner (Mr. T. Gresham). Chief-detective Marsack appeared on behalf of the police. Mrs. Hart, mother of the deceased, said her daughter was a, typist, and lived with her. On May 9 she came home unwell, and later a doctor was sent for. Subsequently another medical man was called in, and deceased, on their advice, was removed to the hospital. Witness could throw no light on thie matter. She knew nothing of an. operation having been performed. Dr. J. C. Macdiarmid deposed to receiving the-deceased at the hospital. Aa a result of a consultation it was- decided to send for Dr. Dudley, as it could be seen that an -operation was immediately necessary. The examination showed that an illegal operation had been performed. Deceased volunteered the statement that she had used two different kinds of mixtures, but denied that any instrument had been used. In reply to the Coroner, Dr. Macdiarmid said no medicine , could have produced the effect in that case. An instrument or instruments had undoubtedly been used, and carelessly too. At the time the depositions were taken by Detective Marsack, the deceased was fully cognisant that there was no hope of recovery. She died on the following day. It was not possible for the wound to have been self-inflicted. Dr.' Bull said he was called to the deceased's home' when she was first ill. He did not thflik there was anything very wrong at first, but the symptoms became puzzling, and he called in another doctor. On questioning the deceased as to whether she was concealing anything from him, she admitted that a nurse had interfered with her with a view to procuring abortion.

It was decided to send the case to the hospital. Witness was present at the post-mortem examination. He considered it possible for the wound to have been self-inflicted, but not probable. Dr. Srdagh, who examined deceased on her arrival at the hospital, deposed that in a statement she made to him she first of all said she had been taking medicine and pills provided by Mr. Eccles. In reply to a question from Detective Marsack, the doctor said that deceased declared that Mr. Eccles said the medicine would kill the pregnancy, adding the words, ''Don't give Eccles away; it wouldn't be fair." She then admitted having been to two women. The first gave her medicine, but, thinking this woman a fraud, she went to another, who performed an operation. Deceased denied that any instrument had been used. Mr. Eccles here asked the Coroner if he might be allowed to ask the doctor a question. Leave havirig been granted, Mr. Eccles asked Jf the doctor were quite certain deceased had made the statement in regard to himself? It""was remarkable if she said so, considering he was not. aware of her condition, and that he had been given to understand her illness' was, brought about by sea-bathing. The medir cine given was to bring about a recovery. The witness replied that deceased clearly made the. statements... A juryman: It does not seem likely a chemist would have said such a thing. The Coroner: That is so. This poor girl was in a desperate condition, and evidently wanted to shield the women. The fact that she went to those women after she had been taking Eocles , medicine for a" month, and in view of the fact. that the evidence now. points to perforation, that could only result from improper interference. Therefore, what she said about Eccles' medicine was. not to be regarded as proof. Even the mother did not know the girl's condi; tion.

Chief-detective Marsack, who obtained depositions at tlie" dying woman's bedside, read her statements which were to the effect that she went to two women at the North Shore. Asked who they were, she said ehe would tell if a promise was given that the information would not be used against them. The promise was, of course, not given, and she refused to divulge- the names. Later she said, "I am equally to blame, and I am not going to give them away." Alexander Eccles, chemist, of Queenstreet, gave evidence of deceased's mother coining to his shop, and saying her daughter was out of sirts, suffering from colds and general ill-health. He gave her a quinine and iron tonic. A week later the mother came to' him again, and said the girl was still out of sorts, and he gave her some stimulating pills. Witness had no suspicion of the real state of affairs and advised the deceased to see a medical man. He denied absolutely that there was any truth in the statements, made by her concerning him 'to the doctor^ The jury returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased came to her death by "the use of an instrument used by some, person or persons unknown." It was also added that the jury were of opinion that Mr. Ecclee was entirely free from blame.