THE CHRISTCHURCH MALPRACTICE CASES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 7923, 15 April 1887, Page 5

THE CHRISTCHURCH MALPRACTICE CASES.

SENTENCE ON THE PRISONERS. - [BY TELEGRAPH— PRESS ASSOCIATION,] Christohurch, Thursday. In summing up to-day Mr, Justice Johnstc advised the jury that there was hard! sufficient evidence to oonviot Isabella Wilsoi The jury after twenty minutes' retiremei found Mrs. Bowern guilty, and Isabel Wilson not guilty, Mr. Martin did ni offer evidence in the case against D Russell of procuration of Kate Fisher. 1 reply |to (Mr. Justice Johnston, Inspeoti Pender said Dr. Russell had never been cot victed before, but he was bound to say thi i there was talk that he had to do with oth< cases of a similar kind. Nothing was know against Bowern, whose family were raapec able. In reply to the usual questions, D Russoll said that 50 years ago it was tl custom of the medical profession to allow woman to come near death's door befoi taking action. Now, however, eminei writers laid it down that action should 1 taken earlier. This was all he had done i the present case. He had acted for the benef of others and not for himself. He woul be thankful to His Honor to consider h: case as mercifully as possible. He ha suffered beyond the power of language 1 describe since his arrest. He had lived si years in Christohurch, had worked hard, an had now lost everything, his diplomas it eluded. He was 56 years of age. His wil and family woro left destitute, and he coul -not see what they were to do as long as li remained in confinement. Mrs. Bowern had nothing to say. Mr. Justice Johnston said that he coul not accept Dr. Russell's statement that h acted merely according to the dictates ( modern science to save life. There was n doubt that he had made a practice of pet forming such operations and thus placin before young people great inducement t sexual immorality. Kuasoll had rendere himself liable to penal servitude for life, an though he would not sentence him to tha extreme penalty he must pass a sentonc that would be a warning to members of hi profession and the rest of the community The sentence would be penal servitud of seven years on each charge, th sentences to run concurrently. Mrs Bower's case was different. She ha been tempted by fear of Shaw, and not b the desire of gain, such as was the case witi Kussall, Still, here, the case. could not b treated as he might have done had she beei a young girl who had yieldod to temptatio: ouce. For the sake of deterring others wli might be temptad to commit a simila crime, as much as for the sake of punishinj her, he must inflict a subtautial sentenoe She would be imprisoned and kept to hart labour for 12 months.