CHARGE AGAINST A NURSE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10972, 28 January 1899, Page 2 (Supplement)

CHARGE AGAINST A NURSE.

ALLEGED ILLEGAL OPERATIONS AT

KINGSLAND.

Jake White, 65, described as a nurse, of 322, Kingsland Road, was charged at North London Police Court, lately, with causing the death of Mrs. Alice Ann Angellinetta, wife of a restaurant keeper, of Oxfordstreet.

Detective • inspector Edward Drew, of Scotland Yard, said the previous night he went to the prisoner's house accompanied by Detective-sergeants Fuller and itnucane. He told the prisoner they were police officers, and that he was going to arrest her on a charge of having performed an illegal operation upon Mrs. Alice Ann Angellinetta, wife of a restaurant keeper, of 526, Oxford-street, at this house, on November last, and thereby causing the death of that person. She said, "It is unfounded." He cautioned her that anything she might say would be written down and might be used against her. She then continued to speak, and he wrote it down in his pocket-book. She said, "I do not know the woman. She has had some pills of me. I had an unexpected message from her to go and see her at her house. I went and saw her. There is no harm whatever in the pills I gave her. She had been taking something, she told me, but I forget what it was. It is hard lines to be locked up for doing a kindness when you are asked to do one. Witness then told her he was going to search her rooms—back and front—on the ground floor for an instrument which lie had been told she had used. She said she only had one instrument, and she went and fumbled in a drawer amongst some linen and clothing. She said she could not find it, but amongst the tilings which had 'been turned out of the drawer on to the floor he found two instruments, one of which had evidently been recently used by reason of the wet blood upon it, and this she admitted having used upon a woman who visited heron the previous day. There was also a third instrument upon which there were bloodstains. Witness made furtiter search, and found a quantity of pills, some forceps, and several bottles containing medicines and drugs. In a basket in the coal cellar he found more medicine battles and two more instruments. Detective Drew added that he had ascertained that Mrs. Angellinetta died on November 25, and was buried at Kensal Green Cemetery on December 1. She was attended during lice illness by a medical gentleman, who gave a certificate that the death was due to peritonitis, he having no suspicion of an illegal operation.

Mr. Paul Taylor: I suppose the coroner will have the body exhumed ? Inspector Drew: Yes.

Mr. Paul Taylor: What is this woman? Is she a midwife ? Inspector Drew: No, she never leaves her house, but is visited extensively by women. 1 should add. on the question of bail, that she has already been charged with performing an illegal operation. The prisoner, on being invited to question the witness, said he had omitted to say that the deceased told her she had visited Madame Somebody in Holborn, and had used certain things, ami had only sent for her (prisoner) to consult her on her condition. She prescribed some harmless remedies.

Inspector Drew said the prisoner did not tell him this, but he would add it to his notes.

The prisoner was remanded in custody.