ALLEGED MALPRACTICE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 95, 23 April 1928, Page 9

ALLEGED MALPRACTICE.

CHARGE AGAINST DOCTOR.

WELLINGTON COURT CLEARED

STRONG BAR ENGAGED,

(By Telegraph.— Special to "Star.")

WELLINGTON, this day.

A charge of having unlawfully used, an instrument on a woman with intent to procure miscarriage was preferred against Joseph Patrick Hennessy, medical practitioner, to-day. Mr. Macassey appeared for the Crown, . and Messrs. R. A. Stringer and O. Stout for accused, and Messrs. W. E. Leicester and R. Kennedy for the principal witnesses in the case. The Court was cleared, counsel saying the principal witness was still in the care of the hospital authorities, and the presence of the public would have an effect on her. All witnesses were also ordered from the Court. The suppression of the name* of the principal witnesses was sought. Mr. Page said he was satisfied that he had power to direct suppression of the names of witnesses in preliminary hearings. The practice qf suppressing names had been followed in the higher Court, and he accordingly directed that the names of the girl and the man concerned should not be published. The woman stated in evidence that, on discovering she was in a. certain condition, she visited Wellington >n March 23 and went to Hennessy's house on the following morning. Prior to coming to Wellington she had received a £50 note from the man in the case, and this she had handed to Hennessy. No reference was made as to any receipt for the amount. Arrangements were made for witness to visit Hennessy*? surgery in the evening. She went on to describe what occurred there, and said she was directed to a certain house with an address in writing. The principal male witness gave evidence, stating that Hennessy Agreed to perform an operation. ' The case is proceeding.