CHARGE AGAINST A SOLICITOR.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9816, 27 August 1897, Page 6

CHARGE AGAINST A SOLICITOR.

(press association telegram.)

INVERGARGILL, August 26. The Hall-Matthews case was continued to-day. Dr. Young, who went to the Bluff in response to a telegram from Mrs Gorman, said he expressed surprise when he found it was Mrs Matthews he had been summoned to see, but denied Mrs Gorman's evidence, that he remarked he had seen her in the same condition before. He had examined her, and found that prevention was impossible. Mrs Gorrnau sa, d all she wanted him for was to know if it would be safe to move Mrs Matthews, and he told her it could be done without danger if at once. He saw Hall before he left. Dr. Torrance had since told him that Hall had paid witness's fee. He denied having said " Whatever comes out of this case, Mrs Gormau, I will see you safe." Neither of the drugs administered by Dr. i'orrance could be noxious in the quantities administered, in fact they would be quite-harmless if spread over several days. Such doaes were often given medicinally in cases of pregnancy. Any modern physician, such as Dr. Torrance, would know perfectly well that, administered in the quantities given, they would not be likely to procure abortion. Re-exaniilied—Addressing Mrs Matthews he was harsh with her at being brought down by what he considered false pretences. His enquiries, however, only bore upon the question as to whether it was safe to remove her. He denied having told Mrs Gorman to "turn the woman out." He could not account foe the miscarriage on any grounds known to him, from what he had heard. The effectiveness of a drug depended on the peculiarities of the individual, but the quantity administered in this case was beneath what would injure auy patient.

Sergeant McDonell deposed that when he arrested Hall he refused to tell where Mrs Matthews was, and that she Mas subsequently found by him and Chief Detective O'Connor locked in a rocm in a house belonging to Hall. She was in an excited state, and, on hearing the charge, appealed to him to save her, and said it must be a mistake. Afterwax-ds she said, " You know my position. My hueband went away, and I wae left with a large family destitute, and it is doubly hard on mc." She said her trouble at the Bluff was an accident, and that she wished she was dead, as she was sick of this lite. He denied that disagreeable relations existed between him and Hall, or that he knew that Hall had been actively engaged in'trying to secure his removal. He first heard of the subject matter of the prosecution a long time ago. Mr Matthews told him about six months ago, but witness could not say anyone else. Mr Matthews told him some time after he was bound over to keep the peace against Mrs Matthews about six months ago. Dr. Torrance was then away.

Mr Solomon—Did anyone tell you anything about this bu3ine33 before Dr. Torrance went away ?

Witness —No, I heard them referring to the affair at the Bluff, but I can't say who. If was some considerable time after Dr. Torrance returned that I spoke to him.

Mr Solomon —What was the cause of that delay ?

Mrs Matthews disappeared last February, and it was only shortly before I saw Dr. Torrancs that I found out she was in Invercargill. I thought she was in Sydney. She told mc she "was in Invercargill all the time. He sent for Mr Henderson, the solicitor for the accused, in consequence of a letter received from Mrs Gorman. He handed Mr Henderson the letter, and said he believed he had been acting for Mrs Gorman, in connection with the promissory note given by Hall to Mrs Gorman. He said he believed that Mr Henderson knew a great deal about the matter. He admitted he knew something, and witness asked him to tell him all he knew. He replied—" Selfpreservation is the first law of nature. I have fourteen of a family, and must look after my bread and butter. lam afraid of the Halls. They are two of the most dangerous men 1 ever met.' Witness said—"What can they do to you? They can't harm you for telling the truth." He answered, " They can. If I had a Government billet I would give evidence against them. I - would then be independent." Witnes3 said—"Supposing you had a Government billet, what evidence could you give ?" He said—" Oh now you are trying to get at mc. I was trying for a billet a short time ago, and got a number of promises from Mr Ward, but his promises are not worth anything." He would not write anything. Witness then wrote these words on an envelope :—" Write down evidence like this, so that you can say you did not tell mc, if you like." He resorted to that device because he could not get f-he information by other means. Witness had been prepared to hear of a conspiracy against him ever since he started the case mouths back.

Mr Solomon—That is not evidence. You have no right to say that. Witness—You watch and see if what I say is not correct. He never had a quarrel with the Halls, but one of them wanted something from him wliich he would not give.

Further evidence was given this afternoon, and the accused were committed for trial, bail being allowed each in £200, and two sureties of £100 each. The bail was forthcoming.