"IF HE HAD STOOD BY ME."

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 199, 24 August 1925, Page 9

"IF HE HAD STOOD BY ME."

A WITNESS' STATEMENT

SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST WOMAN

"I am very sorry, but if tlie man had stood by mc I would not have had to bring the woman up." That was the

statement made this morning in the Police Court by a single woman, aged 35, the chief witness for the police in a case in which a married woman was charged with the serious offence of unlawfully using an instrument with intent to procure miscarriage. The suppression of names was ordered. Mr. R. A. Singer appeared for accused. Tlie woman on whom the offence was alleged to have been committed, stated to Chief Detective Cummings that she had been in business in Whangarei. She became friendly with a man about November, 1924. and came to Auckland in a certain condition about Christmas time. On January 8 she was taken to the house of accused in company with the man in the case. Xext day the alleged operation took place. Witness described ! several alleged conversations with the accused. On the way to accused's house, witness received from the man two cheques of £17 10/ each, which she said she handed to the accused. . Witness alleged, also, that after the operation accused said she would take no more as it was too big a risk. I "Why Should I Shield Him?" ! The witness made a series of statements in a dramatic manner, when' she was cross-examined by Mr. Singer. "When I told the man I was in pain," she said, "he replied, 'I've finished with you—l've never loved you.' I told him that I would not put him up if he gave mc £50 or £100 to get out of Whangarei? I gave him every opportunity. I even went to his brother." "Why should I shield him?" cried witness. "He would not shield mc. He •was taking another girl around tiie town." "I loved tlie man," plic continued. "He even -accepted presents from mc. I found out afterwards that I was only one of a dozen—but I was the poor unfortunate one who was caught." The Court adjourned for lunch.