SERIOUS CHARGE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 122, 19 November 1937, Page 17

SERIOUS CHARGE

COMMITTED FOR TRIAL

(By Teleeraph—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, November 18.

A dressmaker, Olive Marie Murfltt, married, aged 37, for whom Mr. Aekins appeared, was charged before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court, with counselling or procuring a woman unlawfully to use- an instrument on a girl a-ted 19 on or about August 19. » . .

The girl concerned gave evidence that in August she visited the accused's home with a young man with whom she had been keeping company. He gave some money to the accused, who said she would get a woman to perform an operation on witness, and that she would lend' witness her wedding ring so that the cost would be £12 instead of £20, The operation was performed in the house by a woman, \ but when it did not prove successful the accused told witness to see a doctor, who gave her a prescription which had the desired effect. Witness' said she ' left the accused's house ab6ut September 3. Her health was not good,' and, when' she collapsed .at work on October 11, she was taken fto the Auckland Hospital, being discharged in a few days.

Similar evidence was given by the young man who was keeping company with the previous witness. He said the accused gave him a wedding ring for the girl to wear while she was in hospital:

Cross-examined, witness said the police, told him that both the girl and he were liable to prosecution, but that they would not be prosecuted.

Detective Brown said •he interviewed the accused on October 12, when she made a statement which she

would not sign. She would not give particulars of the woman who performed the operation, saying she would not be so despicable as to give anyone away, and that she could stand it herself. The accused denied that the operation was performed in , her house, witness added. She said a man and a girl stayed at the house as man and wife.

The accused pleaded not guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial.

When Mr. Aekins applied for bail Detective-Sergeant Walsh said bail had been refused in recent cases, even when application was made to the Supreme Court. In view of the next Supreme Court sessions not being until February, the Magistrate granted bail of £250. The accused left the courtroom screaming loudly.