TRANSFERRING A BABY

NZ Truth, Issue 998, 10 January 1925, Page 7

TRANSFERRING A BABY

A Perth Problem

Maternity Hospital Methods

The Perth Supreme Court has been occupied with a still unfinished case concerning the right of John W. N. Dewar, aged 13 years, to share m the estate of the late W. N. Dewar. The case turns on whether John W. N. Dewar is the son of W. N. Dewar. Some of the evidence tended to show that John W. N. Dewar was born not of Mrs. Dewar, and was transferred as a baby from his real mother to Mrs. Dewar, who had entered the maternity hospital when the transfer took place, but who was not confined there.

The most sensational evidence given m this remarkable case was that of Elizabeth Sandells.

She declared that prior to her marriage two years ago she had a maternity hospital, and was known as Nurse Street. Mrs. Dewar came to her hospital m 1911. She was not confined, and was put into a room known as No, 2. Witness declared that she went to room No 3, from which she took a baby. She gave the infant to Mrs. Dewar. She did not remember the name of the mother of the infant, which was a boy, about a fortnight old. Mrs. Sandells maintained that she reported all .the births, including the one m question, to the Health and State Children Departments. A great number of children were born at the hospital. "Mrs. Dewar came to you and said she wanted a baby. You put her m one room, went to another and got her one?" Mrs. Sandells was asked.

"Yes," she replied. 'To that often done?" asked his Honor.

"It was done m those times," was the reply. "It was not as strict as now. I have done it to give the child a home."

Would you say it is often done? — -I don't know about that.

Would you say it was not infrequent? — I could not say.

In reply to another question, witness stated that she did not make a practice of it.

Would you do that for any woman? — Not at all. I thought it was a good chance for the poor little child, and I gave it to her. ■ .

And for 13 years you have said nothing of this 'gross fraud?— l didn't think it was fraud.

Did it not strike you as being a wicked act? — No.

Perfectly honest for nurses to do it, is it? — I am speaking only for myself.

You thought it honest? — If you saw the poor, harmless baby you would have "done the same.

The case was adjourned, sine die, to p"ow of inquiries being made regarding the signing of the papers for the child's adoption at the State Children's Department.