Girl's Death

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 168, 17 July 1937, Page 5

Girl's Death

Witnesses Refuse to Answer Questions POLICE EVIDENCE Per Press Association. AUCKLAND Last NWt. Inquiries have been continued i date but we have not been able to cor nect any person with causing th girl’s death," said Detective Alurch a cbo conclusion of the inquest into tin death of a young woman, aged 22, wh< had been employed as a cashier. The Coroner, Mr. F. K. Hunt, fount that death occurred at the Aucklanc Hospital on Alay 15 as the result of s septic abortion. When the inquest resumed to-day evidence was given by a chemist, Leslit Ward Mackie, and his wife, Yvonn* Mackie. Both refused to answer cer tain questions on tho«grounds of pos Bible incrimination. Their interest? were watched by Mr. M. Robinson while Detective-Sergeant Walsh ap peared for tho police. At the opening of the hearing earlio in the week, Dr. Gilmour, pathologic at tho Auckland hospital, had expresi ed an opinion that death was cause through septic abortion. Yvonne Mackie was the first witnes called to-day, Detective-Sergeant Walsh: Where 5 your husband in business? Witness: I refuse to answer. Why do you refuse to answer?—"Be cause it may incriminate me." Did you know a girl named Mia question. ’ * Why?—“Because it might incrire&a ate me." On May 19 Detective Murch saw yo* at your home and told you he had in formation that Miss , who dio<i iu hospital the previous Saturday haa been an inmate of your house fiv« weeks before. Do you agree with that! Witness declined to answer. Witness said that she did not remem ber Detective Murch telling her that a man had telephoned on two or three occasions about a girl’s condition. She refused to answer whether she told the detective that if any illegal operations took place at her house she had nothing to do with them, and whether she had told the detective that her husband sent girls to tho house and that whatever he did to them was none of he* business. Detective-Sergeant Walsh: Did yoft| tell Detective Alurch that girls had been to your house and you had looked after them and cooked for them? Witness: I refuse to answer more. Leslie Ward Mackie aged 40, said that he qualified as a cliemist at Auckland at the age of 22. He had no shop or place of business. He refused to answer on the grounds that it might incriminate a question as to whether he was employed by any chemist at the present time. He also refused to* answer tho question, “when had lie last seen the girl depicted in the photograph (produced). Detective-Sergeant Walsh: Did de-' ceased visit your house by appointment' in April? Witness: I refuse to answer. “You know this girl died at the public hospital ?...“I do not know.” The Coroner: But you have heard it? Witness: Yes. Replying to the coroner witness said he had never been known as Dr. Mackie. Witness said that he had never seen a letter dated may 17 addressed “Dear Les” which Detective-Sergeant Walsh stated had been found in the house. Tho letter, which was read to the Court, referred to tho condition of • girl. The coroner: How do you earn living? Witness: I refuse to answer that. Detective Alurch gave evidence that he visited the house on May 19. Airs Mackie told his that she was dominated by her husband and was nof> allowed to question anything he did. In the search of the house tho police had been unable to find any evidence relating to the death of deceased. In Airs Alackic’s handbag was found the letter already produced. Airs Alackie said that the girl had brought it to ihe house that day and she was going to give it to her husband. The Coroner found that the cause of deatti was septic abortion.