CRIMINAL SESSIONS

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 28, 1 August 1924, Page 8

CRIMINAL SESSIONS

ALLEGED USE OF UNLAWFUL INSTRUMENTS. . The hearing was commenced in the Supreme Court to-day of charges against Julia Ruddleston and Frederick Raynor Pinny that they did on 12th April, with intent to procure miscarriage, unlawfully use an instrument or other means on a single woman named Lucy Josephine Pope. Mr. Justice Reed was on the Bench, and there was a jury of twelve, of which Mr. T. K. Shields -was foreman. Mr. P.. S.. X.. Macassey prosecuted, Mr. J. F. B. Stevenson represented Mrs. Rnddleston, and Mr. R. Kennedy the accused Pinny. The Tacts- of the case were as fully reported as necessary in the lower Court trial. According to the evidence for the Crown, Pinny and the girl Pope kept company in January last, and the girl became pregnant. Pinny made arrangements for her to go to Mrs. Ruddleston, and,.on her going there, Mrs. Ruddleston performed an operation, the result being that she became' seriously ill, and was removed to hospital. Mr. Macassey stated this morning that- the girl was very . lucky to. be still alive, hut she was now .able to appear before the Court to give evidence, thoueh her evidence was previously taken iii hospital. Police inquiries resulted, and detectives went to see Mrs. Rnddleston, and told her that if she handed over the instruments she had used it would save them searching the house. Mrs. Ruddleston handed over two -instruments, and stated that this was the first occasion on which she had used them, and that she had done it to oblige and not for gain. A letter written by the- girl to Pinny after the operation, and found in his possession, was put in in evidence. (Proceeding.)