ACCUSED WOMAN

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 89, 12 October 1938, Page 11

ACCUSED WOMAN

FAILURE TO APPEAR

NOTE FROM DOCTOR

The non-appearance of Marjorie Pickering, a married woman, aged 42, in the Magistrate's Court today, to answer two charges of unlawfully using an instrument with intent to procure a miscarriage resulted in a visit to the accused woman's residence by a police doctor, and her subsequent appearance in court.

Mr. J. L. Stout,. S.M., was on the Bench, and Detective-Sergeant P. Doyle prosecuted. | At the outset, Mr. F. W. Ongley. counsel for the accused, produced a 1 note from a doctor in which it was stated that the accused was in a very nervous condition, and he doubted if she was fit to appear in court. The police were quite prepared to proceed, said Detective-Sergeant Doyle. When the accused was previously before the Court bail was refused, and the matter was subsequently taken to the Supreme Court and came before Mr. Justice Reed. The accused was released on bail, and had been on bail ever since. The Magistrate: Is she likely to get any better? Detective-Sergeant Doyle: Not while these proceedings are pending. The Magistrate: I suggest it is not going to help her condition to have this hanging over her for another three months. Detectivq-Sergeant Doyle said he doubted if his Worship had any power to grant a remand in the accused's abS6HCG. Mr. Ongley said that if the police doubted the correctness of the doctor's note they might send their own doctor to examine the accused. He did not see why the police should go to the expense of paying for an examination, said Detective-Sergeant Doyle. Mr. Ongley again referred to the doctor's note. The Magistrate: There is nothing very much in that. It only says she is in a nervous state. I suppose she will remain in a nervous state. Detective-Sergeant Doyle reiterated that if the accused were not tried now the matter would be hanging over her for another three months. The accused would have to face the matter sooner or later, said Mr. Stout. It was suggested that the police doctor, who was in court, should leave in a police car for the accused's residence and examine her, Mr. Ongley signifying that he would give an undertaking to pay the doctor's expenses. If it were found that the accused could not appear, said Mr. Ongley, bail might be irenewed. The case was stood down for some time and later the accused woman appeared, entered the dock, and was charged. The hearing of the case was then proceeded with, and evidence was still being heard when the Court adjourned for lunch.