WOMAN ACQUITTED

Evening Star, Issue 22718, 4 August 1937, Page 5

WOMAN ACQUITTED

CHARGED AS SECONDARY OFFENDER IN ABORTION CASE COLLAPSE ON HEARING VERDICT [Per United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, August 3. ' The retrial of Dorothy Baker, a married woman, aged 33, was concluded before Mr Justice, Fair in the Supreme Court. The two charges against her were of counselling or procuring Raymond Grigg to use unlawfully an instrument on a girl, aged 19, at Panmure, and ori her own daughter, aged 14, on August 25. The jury failed to agree on the case about 10 days ago. After hearing the, evidence His Honour directed the jury that on the second count, relating to the accused’s daughter, there was no evidence to justify the jury in finding the charge true, and they must find a verdict of not guilty. With regard to the first charge, they! must not allow themselves to' be influenced by. the fafct that the chief offender was not being prosecuted, as they had been told that the police had been unable to find him. His Honour said he thought that the evidence of the mother and girl on this count might be accepted as reliable in everv respect. The accused’s statement admitted the fact relied upon by the Crown to establish the offence. After a retirement of two hours and a-half the jury returned with a verdict of not guilty and the accused was discharged. , On hearing the verdict the accused collapsed in the dock and . had to be .carried .screaming -from-the court*