CHARGE AGAINST DOCTOR

Evening Star, Issue 19351, 10 September 1926, Page 10

CHARGE AGAINST DOCTOR

•• inciting commission of offence " [Pan United Press Assocmiov.] WELLINGTON, September 9. Oscar Jacobsen, aged sixty, a doctor, in practice at Wellington for many years, was charged to-day with inciting Rena Brown to commit tho offence of permitting the use of an unlawful instrument or other means to procure a miscarriage. ... Evidence was given by Prank Albert Maher, who stated that lie was responsible for Brown’s condition, and approached accused regarding the matter. Rena Brown, a domestic servant, aged eighteen years, described various medicines given her by Maher. one stated that she went, to see Dr Jacobsen at his house. After questioning and examining her, Dr Jacobsen told her that medicine would not do her any good. If she had come earlier _he might have been able to do something for her, but ho knew of a woman who might do something for her, and _ ho wrote Mrs Nevili’s address on a piece of paper. As witness was going out, she asked what it would cost to go to Mrs Nevill, and he said £5 to £2t). That night, on June 30. witness wont to Mrs Nevill. After t’-n she wmit several times to Mrs Nevill, and was eventually caught there- by toe ilei.eetives. Her reason for going to Mrs Nevill was to see if she could do anyfor her. Mrs Nevill sajd she could, and that it would cost £25. Mr Treadwell objected to the relevancy of this to a phnrgo of inciting, but His Worship considered that if tne convensatmii ...... ■ ><» the crime incited to, it was relevant. Mr Cornish said that nfi an instrument was not used on this girl, turn; was no question of accused being implicated in the actual commission of that offence. Mr Page said that tho charge wan inciting, and the subsequent actions of the girl, tending towards the commission of tho crime incited to, and her conversations were relevant to tho charge of inciting. Witness, when questioned by Mr Macaesey, said that Mrs Nevill agreed to perform an operation as toon as witness had tho money. Witness eventually got the money, but forgot _to take it to Mrs Nevill on the occasion on which she was caught by the detectives. Cross-examined by Mr Cornish, witness said she was really under the impression that the doctor would bo able to do something for her. When told that he could not, she asked if it were too late for anything to bo done. He had told her that it was too late for medicine to do any good, so she had concluded that something could still be done. Mr Cornish: Did you know that what you wore going to do was criminally wrong?—-No. Mr Cornish: Are you one of those covered by indemnity from proceedings?—No. Mr Cornish: Do you know that no proceedings arc to bo brought against you ?—No. Mr Cornish said that in cases such as this the fact that an indemnity had been given should he stated. Mr Macassey said that an application had been made to tm; iVu.. l .n,or ) but tho witness was not aware of it. Mr Cornish: Dr Jacobsen never told yon to go to Mrs Nevill? Witness: No; hut the doctor gave mo her address, and asked me if I know Lyall Bay at all. He told me how to get there. After further evidence the magistrate (Mr E. Page) said ho would give his decision next week. Accused was liberated on bail.