Doctor, Alleging Persecution By Patient, Produces Love Letters

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 270, 13 November 1937, Page 3 (Supplement)

Doctor, Alleging Persecution By Patient, Produces Love Letters

Extraordinary persecution to which a doctor alleged he was subjected was described at Skegness, when the magistrates committed for trial a girl who was formerly one of his patients.

The doctor accused the girl of smashing the windows of his motor car with beer bottles, and throwing a Jugful of water over him. He also alleged that she wrote love letters addressing him as "Darling," and made dramatic appeals to him to marry her.

THK reading of six letters and six postcards was a feature of the case,

which was heard in a crowded court by a Bench which included two women.

The misshes were alleged to have been written by Muriel Tonge Wilkin. 26, of King's Avenue, Skegnass, who was charged with having "maliciously published a scandalous and defamatory libel" concerning Dr. John Desmond O'Neill, of Algetha l'oad. Skegness.

In evidence T)r. (Weill told how on tlie evening of August 1!>, in response to a telephone iiiess;ij»e, lie went to Mrs. Wilkin's bungalow and found Mrs. Wilkin in bed and her daughter in a highly excited state.

Miss Wilkin, the doctor proceeded, then left the room, but returned twice. On the second occasion, while standing in the dark, in the doorway, she threw over hi in what appeared to be "a fairly large jug of water."

Shortly afterwards she appeared with what seemed like two or three empty beer bottles in her hands. These she threw at him, and one hit him on the shoulder.

Soon afterwards, he alleged, Miss Wilkin appeared and "bombarded" him with stones and bricks.

Mr. Stimson stated that shortly after the incidents concerned in the other charges Dr. O'Neill began to receive letters and postcards, the sender of which, it was alleged, was Miss Wilkin.

The first letter, dated August 23, read as follows:—

Darling, you must keep your promise to marry me. You know I only said I was sorry and would pay before the police.

I don't want any trouble with the B.M.A. When you told me you had finished I felt mad. Don't make me desperate. Come and see me.

The following day Dr. O'Neill received through the post another letter in the following terms: —

Darling, why don't you come? My heart breaks at your feet. I will never leave you if you will keep your word to marry me. I shall always love you. We could be happy. You know, the other night you drove me mad. Darling, come the moment you can. We must be married. You know why. It is too cruel to treat me like this.

Four days later, said counsel, the doctor received a further letter saying: You see, I have protected your name. You know you are my all. When we are married we shall be happy. You must come and see me.

You know when you tried to give me up you saw what you drove me to. Mother is furious at the way I am treated . . . Don't drive me to desperation again, or this time it will be the

With all my love.—Muriel,

Mr. Stimson explained that between the alleged assault and the sending of these letters an announcement appeared in a local newspaper that a marriage was to take place between the doctor and Mies Wilkin.

The following week the newspaper published a statement to the effect that Dr. O'Neill denied any such marriage had been arranged or contemplated.

Following the publication of that denial the doctor, on August 29, received the following letter: —

Desmond. —Where do you get your otter lack of heart from to do these things to me? You know you have promised to marry me over and over again. I have written and told you why I never want to give you up. Why do you wish to ruin yourself and me in the eyes of the world ? You don't care how much you hurt me.

If you don't come here, and tell me you are sorry, the whole world is going to know about this.

On the following day, added Mr. Stimson, the doctor received a further letter, which read-. —

Desmond, why don't you come and see me? You are the only man I ever cared for. That fearful row makes me feel sick with misery.

If you don't marry me your good name and mine will be gone for ever. Only you and I know.

If you persist, you will have to accept the consequences. It is so cruel to leave me like this.

By the evening post came a further letter, saying:—

Desmond, you will have got my cards this morning. You should not have driven me to send them.

• The policeman brought me your summons this morning. What a swine you must be, although it cuts me to the heart to know it.

If you could have hushed up your abominable treatment of me you would have done «o. . . . You were so cunning, but I love you so well that I will serve a term of imprisonment, if need be, so that the whole world shall know. . . .

Why have you turned against me? Have you put another girl in my place? I will not write again. One day you will regret.

Miss Wilkin, who pleaded not guilty and reserved her defence, was committed for trial at Lincoln Assizes on all three charges.