ABORTION CHARGE

Grey River Argus, 8 April 1943, Page 6

ABORTION CHARGE

WOMAN .COMMITTED FOR TRIAL, WELLINGTON, April 7. A plea of not guilty was entered in the Magistrate’s Court by Mary Ann Wearne, 61, a domestic, to a charge of unlawfully using an instrument on a 15-year-old girl with intent to procure a miscarriage. Evidence was given by a widow that she found that her two daughters, aged 15 and 17 years were pregnant. She took the 15-year-old girl to see Mrs. Wearne and an arrangement was made, witness paying 130 in a £2O note and two £5 notes. Th e two girls were to cost £6O and if nothing eventuated the money was to be refunded. She left the younger' daughter at Mrs. Wearne’s and saw her next at home that night. An appointment was made for the elder girl to go later that week. The older girl gave evidence that she took a note from her mother to Mrs. Wearne, who gave her four pills for the younger girl. That was the only time witness saw Mrs. Wearne. The younger girl described what Mrs. Wearne did to her. It was on Monday and she was to return on the Thursday. She was seen at her home on the Tuesday night by detectives and admitted to hospital Evidence was given b” Detective Smeaton that with Detective Hogan he called at Mrs. Wearne’s house. She denied knowledge of the affair and said she had no monev in the house. They made a search and found a £2O, two £5 notes and three other £5 notes and two £lO notes. Mrs. Wearne was arrested and had nothing to sav to the charge. The Magistrate (Mr, Stout) committed accused for trial at the Supreme Court. Bail was renewed