Doctor Denies Charges

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29890, 2 August 1962, Page 14

Doctor Denies Charges

(N.Z. Press Association) PALMERSTON NORTH, August 1. Giving evidence on the third day of his retrial in the Supreme Court at Palmerston North today, James Lanyon Poor, 44, medical practitioner, of Shannon, denied having had unlawful sexual intercourse with a young girl. Poor is charged before Mr Justice Leicester and a jury with having had unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl then aged 14 years 9 months, at Tokomaru on January 9, 1962, and at Pretoria road on January 18,1962. The Crown prosecutor is Mr A. M. Ongley. Poor is represented by Mr R. B. Cooke, with him, Mr G. L. McLeod.

Mr Cooke told the jury that both the mother and daughter were definite that January 9 was the date of the first alleged offence. After the first trial a Miss Erin Quinn arrived back in Wellington after four months overseas January 9 had had a special significance for her, in that a farewell party was held in her honour at her home at Makerua She would say that Poor and Mrs Poor were a', that party from about 730 p.m to about 9.30 p.m. Evidence would go to prove that the accused's station waggon had not left its garage on the night of January 18. the date mentioned in the second charge Question of Blackmail There would be evidence on the question of blackmail based on the fear that must be evet present to a medical practitioner over the public: ity coming from charges such as the present ones If the accused had been foolish in some ways, he had paid for it over and over again with the suspense of four Court hearings and six weeks in prison Foolishness was no offence James Lanyon Poor said in evidence .he girl's family had ibecome friendly with witness’s family when the boy David. Elwood had come to stay at witness’s home Last year, the girl had become ver morbid and depressed through a chest infection brought on by colds Witness enjoyed her company in the car with the other children, and the drives seemed to cheer het up conThe girl’s mother was far from understanding and her daughter seemed tn have a very unhappy home life There had been no sex relationshiDs between witness and the girl Witness’.’ son naa been m the Middlemore Hospital at ■he time 'he complainants in ’he oresent case had been visiting Auckland Witness had discussed with nis wife earlier the question of taking the girl for an outing whle he was tn Auckland He telephoned the mother to ask if he could take her ou’ to; “see the bright lights of the b g city ” They drove to the end vf Gladstone road near •he Parnell rose garden which overlooked the city ’:ghts and the harbour It was not a secluded place and on ‘nat Saturday evening was packed with cars Then they went alone 'he waterfront to M ssion Bay where the memorial 'nuntam played in the evenings vissing Denied

Witness denied he had kissed the girl at any stage of his acq j lintance with her After the Auckland trip the mother sent for him to see her daughter, whose complaint witness diagnosed as a kidney infection, and lef' with her some capsules which he had in his bag at the time

Witness said he had had no sexual intercourse with the girl, neither had he given her contraceptive pills He had forgotten the date ot the Quinns party, which later ne learned was on one of the dates mentioned ip the charge. On January 18. Poor recalled he had only two patien's to see. named Perry and Tucker. He walked to their houses Later he talked to a neighbour, a Mr Campbell.

*‘He jokeo about seeing me

walk for a change,” Poor said. He said his car was under repair at the time. He noticed a light in the girl's house and thought ne saw the girl’s mother inside playing cards. He said ne had seen her earlier in the day and had told her to lake certain tablets for a back complaint. Poor said he called briefly and “jokingly ticked her off" for being up when she was supposed to be in bed He said the girl was ironing in he same room. “She asked if 1 was going driving that evening but I replied that 1 had no car.’’ he said He chatted tor a few moments with some visitors. the Parris family, then went home On January 22. Poor said he went to the girl’s home to ask if she wanted to go for a drive She and tier mother “obviously had had some words." he said He said the mother had *eterred to her daughter as a “selfish little bitch” The mother said the daughter wanted to stay at home m case he called The mother also sard she would not go for any more drives because of her selfishness “I said it was all right by me. and left.” Poor said Tht mother telephoned the surgery next day and asked to: him Later he met her m the street and she sard to him: “Why can’t you be decent?’ “I asked ner what she was talking about," Poor said “She then said something t< the effect that she and 1 were tld enough to know what we were doing and that the girl was only, a child “1 said. ‘Oh no. you art not going to start that business op me’ She was very excited and very difficult to talk to . “Highly Excitable” "Tht next day she seemed th a highly excitable stati and said she had a story thacould put me behind bars for years She sgid she had telephoned her solicitor in Palmerston North that morning and he. after ascertaining 1 was a professional man said, according to the girl’s mother to soak him tor al! be is worth’ “She also said 1 would nave n> pay up or go to bloody gaol I did not take 'his seriously as it was not unusual for her to have outbursts like this ” Mr Cooke: You heard her evidence in which she said vour fate was in her hands where she alleged you said it could be worse she could be having a baby and your love for the girl was fan•astic’? Poor- That ts quite untrue He said the mother had an uneven temperament and

was wiivu iiiguiy m’liaoic under the influence of drug: she was taking When he came to Shannon he said, he learnt that she had been taking quantities of dangerous drugs over a long period She was tot unique in the district, as there were about a dozen patients similarly addicted- when he firs: took over the practice Later this number had been reduced to only the girl’s mother Poor described his movements on the night of January 27 He said he war parked near the Shannoi Post Office awaiting the arrival of an ambulance from Palmerston North when thi girl poked her head in 'hrough the window and spoke to him She said sbwas going home from a dance He said he offered to drive her home, which hdid When they reached ths gate. Poor said, the girl urged him to drive on pas’ her house They drovt round for about 15 minutes hen he took her home Mr Cooke: At the first trial -he girl said you talked to her during the drive, while at the second trial she said voti kissed her?—-I never kissed her that night or any ither time “I've Got You Now” “When 1 reached her horn-, ner mpther was almost elated.” Poor saia “Sh< laid, 'l’ve got you now. boy You’ll pay up now ' She was shouting loudly Her husband came out to investigaic and she told him. Shut up and go inside. I’ll handle this’ I found it difficult to get a word in edgewise ano left in disgust ” Shortly after he got home Poor said the girl telephoned and asked him to go across When he got there she was waiting for him in her dressing gown, clutching her koala bear “I tried to reason with her mother, who was threatening to murder her if she stayed at home," Poor said -‘I took the girl to my home and Mrs Poor made up a bed for her on the settee “ Poor sard that the mother in a discussion the next day. reiterated her threat that he should pay up or go to gaol ‘She said I couldn’t afford a Court case because win or lose, the publicity would ruin me." te said. "She suggested that I should pay for the girl to go to boarding school or open a trust account for her 1 was able to calm the mother to a nnint where she consented "» have her daughter back." witness said. The case is proceeding.