ABORTION EVIL

Evening Star, Issue 23744, 27 November 1940, Page 6

ABORTION EVIL

CONDUCT OF POLICE INVESTIGATIONS SHARP COMMENT BY GNEF JUSTICE STRICT INQUIRY CALLED FDR [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, November 27. Comment that the conduct of police investigations called for a strict inquiry by a tribunal of competent men versed in the process of justice in criminal cases was made by the Chief Justice in the Supreme Court before passing sentence on a young _ woman who pleaded guilty to permitting the unlawful use of an instrument and attempting to conceal a birth. Sir Michael Myers referred to the fact that the prisoner had been sul> jected to a five-hour examination by the police’ without' being given tha, customary warning prescribed by the law. He said he ventured to say that when the yar was over ong_of the most serious problems legislators and thinking persons would have to solve was the problem of interference with the birth of children and the slaughter of children prior to birth* It Was explained that a statement was obtained from the accused with the object of obtaining evidence against an abortionist who was not known at the time. The judge asked: Had she been promised by word' or otherwise that she would not be prosecuted? Where it was suspected that’ there had been a professional abortionist the practice was to let the woman know that she would not be prosecuted. If she gave information it was not customary to prosecute. He inquired from counsel if lie had asked ths woman if any promise were made. Counsel (Mr A. T. Young) said he asked under what circumstances the statement was taken. The prisoner was told all along, she said, that she had nothing to" worry about and if she toldi the truth she would come to no harm. ■ Apparently she was worried about the young man in the case, and they told" her it would he all right.

The judge said he had pointed ouS over and over_ again, sometimes in court and sometimes by sending for the Crown Prosecutor, that the procedure: was wrong. He had directed that the matter be brought before the authorities.