SERIOUS CHARGE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 79, 30 September 1938, Page 6

SERIOUS CHARGE

ACCUSED FOR TRIAL A PAD OF CHLOROFORM (By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, September 29. The contention that there was no evidence of the offence alleged by the police was made in the Magistrate's Court by Mr. C. S. Thomas, counsel for John Stuart Jarrnan, who was charged with attempting to cause a person to be affected by chloroform with intent to commit a crime. The Magistrate, Mr. E. C. Levvey, S.M., formally ruled against Mr. Thomas to say that it was a matter for a Judge's ruling. Jarman, who pleaded not guilty, was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. "I must say that I am at a loss to understand this charge," said Mr. Thomas, after evidence had been tak§n. "There is no evidence of the offence alleged." The essence of such a charge was intention and the evidence showed that there was no intention by the accused to do anything except try whether a bottle contained chloroform. "Surely this is an obvious case of assault," said counsel. The Magistrate: You are asking me to give a very big ruling. You may get the honourable Judge to take your view. lam not altogether disagreeing, but do not think it is a matter for me to decide. John Faulks Landreth, medical practitioner, said he left his car in his garage about 7.15 on the evening of September 19. The garage door was left open. In the back of the car were two bags. One contained chloroform and ether and appliances for using them. In the morning, at about 9 o'clock, he found the car to be missing. On the morning of September 21, he saw his car at. the police station. The bottle of chloroform was missing. He identified a bottle produced in court as similar to the one he discovered to be missing, and identified a hammer produced in court as similar to one missed from the car. 'A woman gave evidence that on ner way home late in the evening she noticed a car by the footpath with the door open and the engine running. As she drew level with the car a young man came out of the drive on her left and said, "By jove, it's muddy here." She just glanced at him and walked past, about three steps. The man grabbed her round the neck with, one hand and with the other placed something like a pad with something sweet and sickly on it under her nose. It was soft like the rag produced in court. She bit the man's hand and he moved the hand with the pad further up her face. She struggled and called for help. The man did not let go till he saw lights go on in a nearby house. The man got into the car, which was driven away. In a statement read by Detective R. H Watt, -the accused described the taking of two cars in the city. One was abandoned in Cashmere and another taken The statement added that he found- the bottle in the car taken in Cashmere. He could g^ve no explanation of having assaulted the, woman, and having tried to chloroform her. He had no intention of using the chloroform when he took it. NURSES' HOME PLANS N.Z ARCHITECT? "TOO LATE TO ACT NOW The suggestion that a New Zealand architect should be employed for the preparation of the plans of the new Nurses' Home at Wellington was made by Mrs. Knox Gilmer, at a meeting of the Wellington Hospital Board last evening. She was supported by Mr. J. G. Crawford, who said that buildings in the city designed by Australian architects were not a success. > The chairman (Mr. J. Glover): I am afraid it is too late to bring this matter up now. It was decided three years ago. Mrs. Gilmer: Only for the hospital. Mr. Glover: If you want to alter this matter you will have to give notice of motion. He added that it would also mean that a payment of between £30,000 and £40,000 would have to be made as well. Mrs. Gilmer: What for? Mr. Glover: The work they have already done. Mrs. Gilmer: The. plans are altered. Mr. Glover: The plans are not altered; it is only the section that'is altered. Miss A. G. Kane said that the criticism made about the architects was a grave reflection on the past board. Mr. Haughton, of the firm of New Zealand architects acting for the board (Messrs. Crichton, McKay, and Haughton), had stated that he had learnt an enormous lot from the Australian architects, Messrs. Stephenson, Meldrum, and Turner. Mrs. Gilmer said that plans for the Nurses' Home had been produced, and Mr. Stephenson had had nothing to do with them. Mr. Glover: But Mr. Haughton is in daily consultation with the architects. Mr. A. H. Carman (chairman of the building committee) said that Mrs. Gilmer must be aware that there was no extra expense to the board because the commission was being shared by the architects. Mr. Haughton had asked to have Mr. Stephenson with him. The board had a definite contracL with Messrs. Stephenson, Meldrum, and Turner, and if that contract were broken the board would be liable for the work done,»and, he presumed, for loss of expected profit. Mr. Haughton had said that quicker work would be done if the plans were sent to Australia. Mr. Crawford said that he was quite satisfied, after having heard Mr. Carman's explanation. BUSINESS WELFARE CHAMBER AT BLENHEIM (By Telegraph.) (Special to the "Evening Post.") BLENHEIM, this Day. The formation of a Blenheim Chamber of Commerce was unanimously decided upon at a large and representative meeting of business and professional men last night. The proceedings were marked with keen enthusiasm and it was stated that 107 business men had already promised to join, with definite prospects of raising the number to at last 250. The motion to form the chamber was carried unanimously, and the following officers were erected:—President, Mr. W. R. Day; vice-president. Mr. W. J. Girling; executive, Messrs. C. R. Rabbits, A. C. Nathan, R. Wanden, W. Thornber, R. J. Meatyard, F. Platt, J. Smith, W. G. Cresswell, C G. Whiteford, C. C. Dix, H. Duckworth, and W. K. Gill. Mr. E. Mogridge was appointed secretary pn: tera.