DYING DEPOSITIONS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 36, 11 February 1926, Page 6

DYING DEPOSITIONS

CAN THEY BE USED AS

EVIDENCEt

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH, 10th Feb.

When Amy Glenn waa charged in the Supreme Court to-day with having procured abortion, legal objections were raised by her counsel (Mr. C. S. Thomas) to the admissibUity, as evidence, of the dying depositions of the girl Myrtle Veronica Thompson. These depositions were taken before Mr. Young, 8.M., in the presence of accused, and during the latter part of the hearing Mr.'Hall (accused's solicitor) was present. Mr. Hall, in evidence today, said he had had no opportunity, to cross-examine the girl, and as she was obviously on the point of death, he could not have cross-questioned her even had the opportunity been given.

The statement of Mr. Hal} that he had no opportunity to cross-examine was denied by other witnesses, who Baid that the Magistrate asked. Mr. Hall whether he wished to address any questions to the girl. Mr. Thomas objected to the admission of the .depositions on another ground. He claimed that they were irregular, in that the captions they bore seemed to show that the proceedings in the Lower Court and at the hospital were all part of the same hearing on the same occasion, which they were not. '

The hearing waa adjourned.