ILLEGAL OPERATION.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 7 June 1923, Page 5

ILLEGAL OPERATION.

TWO MEN SENTENCED.

(by telegraph—press association.)

BLENHEIM, June 6. Alter the trial, extending over two days, of Richard Arthur Thomas Hollis and Thomas AVhiston Viggars on charges arising out of the recent death of Rita Violet Ellen Nicoll a young woman, who died at the Wairau hospital from the effects of an illegal operation,;the jury returned a verdict of guilty in the cases of both accused, with, a recommendation to leniency in the case of A'iolet Viggars. Hollis, who had a previous conviction for a similar offence, was sentenced to seven years' hard labour, and Viggais to 18 months' hard labour. The two accused were' committed from the lower court on a charge of murde,r, but the grand jury threw put the bill and returned a bill charging the accused with manslaughter. Mr Justice Salmond said he could not accept the plea of Vigor's counsel for probation, and he must impose imprisonment as a salutory warnnicr to young men. However, he iiepK-tly agreed with the recommendation of the jury regarding leniency, and he thought 18 months' imprisonment would meet the ease.