GRAVE CHARGES.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 46, 24 February 1927, Page 10

GRAVE CHARGES.

CHIROPRACTOR ON TRIAL.

THE DEFENCE OUTLINED.

(By Tolecrarh. —Own Correspondent.)

HAMILTON, this day,

In the case in which Cyril Gervais Gould Long, chiropractor, of Hamilton, was charged betore Mr. Justice Stringer and a jury of twelve with having indecently 'assaulted tlireo females (two adults and a girl of 11) at his rooms in the course of his practice, evidence was given that Long, in the case of the little girl, stood the child on a table in a nude condition and told her she would have a very nice figure when she grew up. He also, it was alleged, interfered with her improperly, and told her to keep it a. little secret between them. The mother of the girl, who also alleged that she was assaulted by Long, while under his treatment, declared that Long had her under a spell, and she had felt compelled to do as he told her. She continued the spinal treatment for a period after this, and it was only two months after the assault that she told her husband of it. She had, in the meantime, learned from her daughter that Long had interfered with her. The husband of the last witness .uid lather of the child, said that he interviewed Long in company with his wife and daughter, and accused Long of interfering with his wife and child. Long denied knowledge of any such happenings. and suggested that the woman -hould be examined mentally.

A single woman of 25 years also gave evidence that Long made a physical examination of her. and improperly interfered with her. She called out for the lady assistant. Witness admitted that she continued treatmeut for about six weeks after the alleged assault, and did not tell her mother until after she had ceased nttending at his rooms. She told the. attendant, however, all that happened. Witness said she wrote to the Chiropractors' Association in Christchurch complaining of Long's treatment, and an inquiry followed, in which Long was exonerated.

The attendant at Long's rooms at the time said that when she mentioned the girl's accusation to Long the latter denied that he had acted improperly.

It, was ascerta' ed from this witness that she was not friendly towards Long when she left his employ.

Sir John Findlay, in opening the case for the defence, sought to show that the two women who alleged they had been assaulted were neurotic, and suffered from a form of hallucination, under which they imagined all sorts of things. In the case or the married woman and her husband, however, Sir John said the evidence would go to :how that their object was blackmail, and that the little girl had been to a certain extent prompted by her mother.

Long gave lengthy evidence in which he denied anything but professional conduct towards patients. He stated that he had for a long time regarded the married woman in the case as mentally unbalanced. At the interview with the woman and her husband the husband said he knew how much witness was earning and how much he was worth. This he (Long) regarded as an invitation to him to make an offer. Regarding the young woman of 25 he admitted that he gave her a physical examination with her consent.

I Sir John Finlay, in his final address said that Long had an unblemished reputation. The only evidence against him was that of a woman of unbalanced mind who believed Long had her beneath j a spell, of the little daughter of this woman who doubtless was prompted I by her mother, and of a single woman ! of 25 who was subject to and was being treated for hysteria, and whose mind became so confused on the verge of hysterical fits that she conjured tip things. Counsel commented on the fact that the three patients who had made complaints had actually gone back for treatment for fairly considerable periods after the alleged assaults. Not one of them had disclosed anything of the alleged assaults until weeks later.

The case is proceeding.