THE SKIN-GRAFTING CASE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 10697, 10 March 1898, Page 3

THE SKIN-GRAFTING CASE.

TO TOE EDITOR. Sir, What is wanted in this case is a new trial. Who that has followed the case from day to day but must feel strongly that justice has not been done. When the case began the counsel said that a gross outrage had been perpetrated. Before the case was closed ho and the public witnessed several. To begin with, who was responsible for the conformation or constitution of tho jury'/ Was it not, I ask, a gross outrage that a chemist should be on the jury at all, and, another, that he should act as foreman? I do not think Miss Baker had a fair trial at the hands of the Judge. I do not know the plaintiff, but I read the evidence very carefully, and I say emphatically that I do not find that she perverted the truth. But lam also satisfied that there was considerable evasion and shuffling on the part of certain witnesses for tho defence. I feel strongly that Miss Baker went into this matter in a Christian spirit, all too rare, determined that no one should know of her sacrificial act; also, that she was as plucky a girl in her way as, say, Grace Darling, in that she stuck to her magnanimous purpose when she saw Mr. McPherson carried past her on a stretcher. The stigma which emanated from the Judge impugning Miss Baker's veracity would most certainly influence the jury. Now, had she a fair and impartial trial? I say distinctly no. If a subscription is started with the object of devoting the funds to the obtaining and prosecuting a new trial, I will subscribe, and will collect assiduously. I enclose my card.— I am, etc., Knight Errant.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—ln looking over the Herald this morning I was glad to see that one medical gentleman had the courage to express his convictions on that miscarriage of justice, the skingrafting case. I have assisted at, and performed over 5000 major and minor operations, including numerous cases of skin-grafting, during the past ten years, of my medical and surgical practice in America, and ought to be able to say a little on this head. 1 challenge any medical man or anyone else to produce a case where the traces of such an operation, no matter how slight, ever disappear. There is always a certain amount of contraction and scar, according to the size of skin removed; and in the case of Miss Baker there ought to he a very serious contraction and scar, which will never disappear during her lifetime. I state this as a fact incapable of disproof. It is about tho most painful operation known to surgery, and consists in dividing the skin in half, and thereby cutting in two parts the millions of fine nerves, which hurt so much when pricked with a pin, and there is also a considerable loss of blood. Thus it can easily be seen that tho removal of such a large quantity of skin from Miss Baker could not do otherwise than affect her health seriously, no matter what certain physicians, in endeavouring to shield a brother doctor, may say to the contrary. Who, among the thousands in Auckland, when they saw the names of the jury, did not say, " Oh! she'll lose that care?" lam not practicing in Auckland, and have no intention of doing so, so this letter cannot bo put down to professional jealousy; and I do not know Dr. Purchas, or anyone connected with the case. ' In conclusion, I will say that when I saw the amount Miss Baker was suing for, I wondered why she did not sue for £5000 instead of £500. When I return to America I can tell them that the United States is not the only place where people that are not rich in this world's goods don get justice.—l am. etc., A. O. Place, M.D., D. Sc. Auckland, March 10, 1898.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—lt will bo a sorry day for Now Zealand when the people are too stupid or indolent to criticise their public men, whatever their position. Public opinion is a very high tribunal, and no man should be so high as to be above its censure, be he judge or any other official. For this case a very large portion of the public are naturally indignant mure at the partial and unfair summing-up of the •fudge than at the actual finding of the jury. If such an attack on the character of the plaintiff had come from the defendant's counsel, people would have considered it uncalled for. But coining from the Judge, whoso position should ever be evenlianded and fair, it becomes much more serious. am, etc., j J.T.P.

TO Tire EDITOR. Sir,—l was very glad to see your article in the paper this morning. 1 have read His Honor's remarks about Miss Baker, and was struck with their calmness (!) and strict impartiality (!) which one always looks for from an English Judge. Please accept the enclosed pound (which I am sorry to say is all I can afford) towards a mark of public sympathy for the poor mutilated, deluded martyr. —I am, etc., JUSTICE ' Auckland, March 5, 1893.

[We have received a number of letters on the same subject besides those printed above, but as they do not bring out anything new it is unnecessary to publish them. The- writers express their •willingness to aid in expressing the public sentiment to Miss Baker on the unjustifiable way in which she has been treated.—Ed.]