TWO CHARGES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 208, 3 September 1935, Page 8

TWO CHARGES.

HEWER AND NURSE.

ALLEGED TREATMENTS

CHEMIST GIVES EVIDENCE.

Four witnesses onty, including three detectives, remained to be heard when the charges against OJeorge Frederick Hewer, aged 40, described as a medical practitioner, and Phyllis Shorter, aged 31, ,i. married woman, described as a nurse, were continued before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., in the Police Court this afternoon. The charges against accused were that they unlawfully used an instrument, or other means, with intent, on a female on July 23; and that about July IS last, with intent to bring about a certain result, they unlawfuly caused to be taken a certain noxious thing containing drugs. Evidence heard after the fnn.iu edition of the "Star" went to press yesterday afternoon follow*: — Dr. Walter Gilinour, pathologist to the Auckland Hospital, said that on July 2."!, with Mr. Kenneth MacCormick, lie examined the last witness at the hospital. The examination indicated that she was about four months pregnant. There was no sign of injury, ulceration or any inflammation. An abortion was threatened. Witness had seen the prescription of the medicine the girl had been taking. The. quantities of drugs in it would be prescribed by a medical practitioner in a ease of pregnancy for one purpose only. An operation combined with the medicine could ha.\c» only one object. Instruments Examined. With Mr. MacCormick witness examined a set of instruments. They comprised chiefly instruments for use on specilic parts of a female, but a very inadequate list for any other medical or surgical procedure. They were not euch a list as would be found in a medical man's rooms. On the contrary, they practically indicated only one form of activity. Witness also examined a list of drugs. The principal purchases consisted of quinine and a mixture containing quinine and another drug. In medical practice the use of that drug was almost entirely limited to obstetric practice. The dose prescribed in the mixture — half a drachm every four hours—was a large dose and itri action would be reinforced by the quinine.

Mr. Kenneth MacCormick, honorary surgeon at the Auckland Hospital, said that shortly before 11 p.m. on July 23 he wae asked by the medical superintendent to examine a police case. With Dr. Gilmour he examined the girl. Witness went on to give detailed evidence similar to that of Dr. Gilmour. After the evidence of three nurses from the Auckland Hospital and that of Mr. K. M. Griffin, Government analyst at Auckland, who analysed the medicine, the hearing was adjourned. Chemist Gives Evidence. The- first witness called when the hearing wae continued this afternoon was James Dinwoodio Jardine, manager of a Queen Street chemist's shop. He said that on Thursday, July 18, he was on duty, having commenced in the afternoon at 2 p.m. He knew both accused. He got a- message from Hewer by telephone that afternoon. Hewer asked him to get a bottle of mag. sulph. mixture prepared and gave the name of the person for whom it wae intended. Witness knew the mixture Hewer referred to. It. would be taken a table spoonful at a time. The medicine was prepared and put in a bottle similar to that produced. "Two young ladies came into the shop and one told me that she had come for the medicine ordered by Dr. Hewer," said witness.

Mr. Eobiiifion, instructed by Mr. R. A. Singer, objected to this evidence being included.

"The bottle was given to one of the young ladies, who paid 6/ for it," witness continued. "Whenever Hewer ordered medicine of a similar kind, patients usually called for it. Sometimes they paid for it and sometimes aeked that it be charged up to Hewer. On one or two occasions Hewer or one of his employees had called for it. When bottles of this mixture were charged to Hewer, he was .charged 4/." Bottles Were Not Labelled. Several monthly statements, dated from January 21 to July 22, 1935, from the chemist's shop to G. F. Hewer were produced by Detective-Sergeant Walsh. Witness said that they were in his handwriting. Of the 20 entries of 4/ each, nine out of ten would be for bottles of mag. slph. mixture. The charge of 3/ on January 26 referred to two instruments and a similar one on March 13 was for three similar instruments. They were for use on females. (Proceeding.)