SERIOUS CHARGE.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18549, 26 November 1925, Page 7

SERIOUS CHARGE.

YOUNG WOMAN'S DEATH. ALLEGED ILLEGAL OPERATION. At yesterday's sitting of the Magistrate's Court, before Mr H. A. \oung, S.M., Amy Glenn, married, aged 28, of Woods' Buildings, Colombo street, appeared on remand charged with having, with intent to procure a certain result, unlawfully used an instrument on. Myrtle Veronica Thomson, on October 2*lst. The depositions of the girl Thomson had been taken at the Christchurch Hospital on November 7th, the day preceding her death. The evidence on the charge "was taken m conjunction with that in the inquest on deceased. „ Chief-Detective T. Gibson appeareu for the police, and Mr D. H. Hall for accused. Mr K. Twvneham represented Mrs Grav. one of the witnesses. James Alfred Thorpe, residing at 301 Cashei street, Christchurch, said the girl Thomson was his daughter, but her real name was Thorpe. She was aged 18 years and 11 months. Deceased entered the Hospital on November _nd.

Medical Evidence. Dr. Kendrick Holt Dean, house surgeon at the Hospital, said he examined Miss Thomson on admission to the Hospital. Shu was suffering from acute septic inflammation, and seveie blood-poisoning, the result of a certain happening. No operation was performed, and she died on November Bth. , , , , Dr. A. B. Pearson, pathologist at the Christchurch Hospital, produced a type-written report of the result of the post-mortem. The cause of death was acute inflammation, associated with blood-poisoning. There were no wounds on the body. The general appearance strongly suggested that deceased had been in a certain condition, but lie could not sav for how long. To the Bench: The acute inflammation might possibly obscure superficial injuries. He could not say that the inflammation had been caused by an operation, or an illegal.operation, and he could not account for it. The inflammation and the associated bloodpoisoning could have been caused by aa illegal operation. Other Testimony. Detective John Thompson said that, in compnay with Detective-Sergeant Connelly, and Mrs ' Ilodgers, police matron, he visited the rooms occupied by accused in Woods's Buildings on November 7th. He asked her if she was Amy Glenn, and she answered, •'Yes." He then read the warrant for her arrest t.o her. Accused said she dil no" know any girl named Thomson, and asked what it was all about. Witness answered that she was accused of performing an illegal operation on Miss Thomson at the house of Mrs Gray, Essex street. She said, "I know Mrs Gray, but have never ibeen to her house." Subsequently, when witness was engaged in searching the room, the accused handed him ap instrument in a paper bag. John Baker, also known as_ Don Baker, of 268 Tuam street, said he met Myrtle Thomson about ten weeks ago. While he was keeping company with her,' she had informed him that slid was in a certain condition, and threatened to do something. He asked her to allow him to tell her mother, but she refused. On the evening of October 28th deceased -had taken him to a house next door to a home in Essex street. Two women were standing at the gate. He knew one of them by the name of Lena, but /he knew how that she was Mrs Gray. Witness did not know the other woman...by name', but he could"now identify her as Amy Glenn who was in the dock. Miss Thomson had a conversation with the women, but he did not hear what was said. He was asked to stay outside bv Mrs Gray, and the three women went into tlie house. For about ten minutes he remained outside, and then Mrs Grav came out and asked him to come inside. Miss Thomson was walking from the kitchen into what he thought was a bedroom. _ She came back into the kitchen with her hat and coat on. Mrs Gray gave her a drink of hot water. The accused was in the kitchen, and was closing a handbag, but he did not see its contents. •Accused said he could leave the remainder of the money, £3, with Mrs Gray. To the Chief-Detective: When he handed over the money to Mrs Gray, he told her he had not the full amount then. He had paid Mrs Gray £7 before he went into the house. Accused was not present then. To the Bench: When lie wen? into the kitchen, the accused was absent, lie heard no noise from the bedroom. Mrs. Glenn did not return the same way to the kitchen as that taken by Miss Thomson.

Alice May Eleanor Gray, of 62 Essex street, 'ChristchurcE". refused to state whether she knew Myrtle Thomson, Don Baker, or Mrs Glenn. Mr Young: Why do you, refuse to answer the questions?— Because I may incriminate myself. Have you been advised by a solicitor to refuse?— Yes. Mr Young: I not order hey to answer the questions. Bail Refused. Accused pleaded not guilty and was committed for trial. Mr Hull applied for bail. He said the Supreme Court sittings did not come on until February. Accused could report to the police at frequent intervals, and the bail could be substantial. Tiie Chief-Detective opposed bail. Mr Young said He did not think it was a case for bail, and refused the application. A copy of the deceased's depositions was produced by Harold Vincent Jerred, a clerk in the Court. Coroner's V«rdict. ' The Coroner returned a- verdict that the deceased, Myrtle Veronica Thomson, died in Christchurch on November Bth from acute inflammation associated with severe blood-poisoning, the result of an illegal operation. The Coroner said that < three young women had died recently in Christchurch as a result of illegal operations, and in many other cases known to them permanent injury had resulted These cases should serve as a warning; to other voung women. Nature should be allowed to take its course. If necessary, discreet social workers would take charge of voung women and send them away. There was no difficulty •in getting children adopted.