HEWER FOR TRIAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22205, 4 September 1935, Page 14

HEWER FOR TRIAL

NURSE ALSO COMMITTED TWO CHARGES DENIED WOMAN GRANTED BAIL REFUSED TO MALE ACCUSED At the conclusion of the hearing of evidence in the Police Court yesterday, George Frederick Hewer, aged 49, described as a medical practitioner, and Phyllis Shorter, aged 31, married, were both committed by Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., to the Supreme Court for trial on two charges. Detective-Sergeant J. Walsh represented the police and Mr. Singer and Mr. Robinson appeared for the accused. Both accused were charged that on July 18. 1935, with intent to procure a certain result, they unlawfully caused a girl to take a certain noxious thing containing drugs. The other charge was that on July 23, 1935, they unlawfully used an instrument or other means on a female with intent to procure a certain result. James Dinwoodio Jardine, in reply to Mr. Walsh, said he was a qualified chemist and manager of Eccles, chemist. Ho said that on Thursday, July 18, he was at the shop. He knew both accused, and on that afternoon he received a message from Hewer by telephone. Mr. Walsh: What did Hewer want? Details of- Sales Witness said he asked if witness would get a bottle of a certain mixture prepared. Witness then described the ingredients of the mixture. Ho said it was duly prepared and sold to a young woman who called at the shop. With each dose there would be consumed half a drachm of a certain drug. On one or two occasions Hewer or his employees had called for bottles of this mixture. When it was charged to Hewer, the price asked was 4s. Statements covering the period from January, 1935, to July 22, from the shop and made out to G. F. Hewer, were identified by witness. There were 26 entries of "mixture, 45," and nine out of 10 would be for the mixture witness described. A charge of 3s on January 26 referred to two certain implements and there was a similar entry relating to three such articles in March. Another set of invoices from May 22 to" December 10, 1934, between the shop and G. F. Hewer, showed 14 entries "mixture, 45." These referred to the mixture previously mentioned. Hewer also made extensive purchases of cotton-wool, quinino and capsules.

Witness said he had not labelled the bottle, under instructions. ■ The Magistrate: Was it usual to put labels on Hewer's prescriptions?— No. Detective-Sergeant John Walsh said that at 2.10 p.m. on July 23 he saw the two girl witnesses enter City Chambers and take the lift. With Detective Slater ho interviewed both girls early the same evening. One of them was admitted to the Auckland Hospital about 11 o'clock that night. Home and Rooms Searched

The arrest of Hewer and searches of his home and his city rooms were described by Mr. Walsh. Hewer said he purchased some of the instruments found at his house from an Indian doctor who had got into trouble. The premises in City Chambers consisted of a*suite of six rooms, including a waiting room, an office and a large room containing, he thought, six cubicles partitioned and curtained off. "While searching Hewer's office I asked him if he knew the second witness," Mr. Walsh continued. ."He said ' No.' I mentioned her Christian name, and he said he did not know anyone of that name. I then told him 1 had information that a girl of that name had been to his rooms the previous afternoon. Hewer then said that he had a girl of that name under his care. I told him that after the girl left his rooms the day before a certain change had taken place, and that she was then in hospital. Hewer became visibly affected when he heard this. He turned pale and left the room. He returned, bringing with him two cards, which he handed to me. Both bear the surname of the girl, and are dated July 16 1935. He then said that he had been treating her for an abcess. "I asked him if he knew sho was in a certain condition. He said he did. I asked what treatment she had received, and he said electrical treatment. He showed me an electric wave lamp standing outside the end cubicle and indicated that it was the machine he had used. Mention of Payment "He said he had last treated her about 2 p.m. the day before. I asked if he could account for her change in condition, and ho said she was quite all right when she left him the day before. He told me she had paid him either £5 to £5 os for her treatment. He said he had no record of this. Hewer stated that the two girls had visited him on several occasions." Witness produced five receipt books, two of which were found at Hewer's house, the other three being in his office. The last record in the current book showed the receipt of £3 3s from Miss on July 16, 1935. Witness asked Hewer if he had ever prescribed medicine for Miss and ho said he had not. Near the end cubicle he found a basin containing various instruments and vessels. A large number of surgical instruments was found in a case in the office. In a filing cabinet he found a large number of blank cards and 12 cards bearing the names of persons. When told that he would be charged, Hewer replied. "I see, sir." Witness said the female accused at that time was in the employ of Hewer as a nurse. Witness and Detective Murch interviewed her at Hewer's rooms on July 24. In reply to a question as to the nature - of the treatment for which she had quoted £ls 15s and £lO 10s, she said she would not answer, but said it was electrical treatment. Detective's Observations Detective William H. Slater said that on July 18. under instructions, he kept the entrance to the City j Chambers uuder observation. At 2 p.m. j he saw the sisters who gave evidence enter the building. Both went to a chemist's shop after they left tlio building. On July 19, 20 and 22 he watched the same building, and again saw the girls enter and leave. The accused, who entered pleas of not guilty and reserved their defence, j were committd to the Supreme Court for trial. Mr. Walsh said he did not oppose bail for Shorter, which was granted in two sureties of £250 each. Concerning Hewer, Mr. Singer said he had appeared in Court on three or four occasions on his bail. He had a wife and four children. The girl in the case was out of hospital. Mr. Walsh said he would opposo bail for Hewer, who had been committed for trial on two charges, the maximum penalty for which was imprisonment for life. Hewer had been described as a doctor, but had no right to that title. TII9 Magistrate: He is unregistered? Mr. Walsh: He has never been registered in this country. Mr. Singer: He is qualified, but not registered. "I am not going to grant him bail," the magistrate said. "He can apply to the Supreme Court, and if a Judge likes to grant him bail, all right."