DR. ADAMS’ CHARGES

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28284, 23 May 1957, Page 8

DR. ADAMS’ CHARGES

Consultation On Evidence

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) EASTBOURNE, May 21. Defence and prosecution clashed sharply today over a Scotland Yard detective’s evidence at the hearing of charges against Dr. John Bodkin Adams. The officer. Superintendent Herbert Hannam, late today began giving evidence about a street conversation he had last October in Eastbourne with Adams. Defence counsel, Mr Edward Clarke, immediately challenged the admissibility of this. He said that the Judge at the Old Bailey had held it to be inadmissible. It dealt entirely with the doctor’s background, how he came to be in Eastbourne, and other matters. After arguments between Mr Clarke and the prosecutor (Mr Malcolm Morris), the Magistrate adjourned the hearing until tomorrow to allow the lawyers to consult together on what evidence by Superintendent Hanham could be given. Adams, who was acquitted of a charge of murder at the Old Bailey Central Criminal Court last month, is facing 15 allegations under the Cremation, Forgery, and Dangerous Drugs Acts. Some of the charges are about legacies left him by patients who were cremated. The prosecution alleges that in the cremation certificates he declared he had no financial interest in their deaths.

Earlier today, Gladys Miller, a nurse, 'testified that in a nursing home she heard Adams discuss a will with an elderly patient, Mr James Priestly Downs.

Adams had told the man that he had been his friend and looked after him for many years. He reminded Mr Downs he had promised to leave him something. James Heath, a solicitor, said Mr Downs left a total net estate of £27.000. Heath said that at the nursing home Mr Downs instructed him to include a legacy of £lOOO in his will for Adams, who was present at the time. Mr Clarke: Sometimes a solicitor has to be satisfied that there is no undue influence brought to bear on an elderly man to make a bequest? Heath: That is so, yes. You were quite satisfied that Mr Downs was not the victim of any undue influence from Dr. Adams? —I had .no reason to think otherwise.