AN AUCKLAND SENSATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10998, 30 December 1897, Page 2

AN AUCKLAND SENSATION.

ALLEGIDD ILL-GAL OPERATION.

■■" (PEk~n.S:iTED Tress Association.)

Auckland, December 29.

The inquest on the death of Susan ...Harriet] Campbell M'Callum, formerly of Dunedin, was commenced to-day. Mrs'Metcalfe deposed that the deceased took a room at her house under the name of Mrs Sparks early last September. She said her husband was away. She remained till last Wedne.day, when Dr Orpen sent a cab for 1-r nnd took b.r to a private bospital in Hepburn street. Mrs Sparks had previously been in bed 12 days, being attended by Dr Orpen all thattime. When she arrived at the hospital two nurses carried her in. Witness did uo; see her again until the day she died. D_ce:is*il told witness that her father was'Ciptain "M'C-llun., : harbourmaster at Port -Chalmers.- A fortnight ago, -when deceased wan ill, she mad. certain, statements to witness as to ber condition. Witness was in the room every time Dr Orpen called. Deceased said she also saw him at his office in1 town', and that her object in seeing him was to have an illegal operation performed. Nurse Ogilvie, employ, d at the private hospital, deposed that when Dr-Orpen' arranged for ad.missiOn of the deceased he said she was suffering fi-oni acute gustrid". Dr Orpsn saw her several; times'after her admission. Dr A. C. Purchas a _o saw her three times while io the hospital. She died ou Christmas Nicht. Mr A Horn," a justice' of tbe peace, was called in to take her dyingl- depositions. Witness called bim in becau:|- she .uspected 'something wrong. She said to the dec-ased, "If I bring- gentleman hereI'will you -tell him the whole story." She •r«mti<?& " Yes." Dr P.ircbas recommended Witness to send for Mr Allom, who came at 11 o'clock on the nigh.- of tbe 24th. She did not send for the poli.-e. The body was-removed by an undertaker at J2 o'clock on the night of the 25th upon witness., instructions. This was thn u.ual course in her house. Witness further stated that the deceased was conscious till the last. She had been dyinir for the previous 21 hours, vo'miti.ie incessantly! In reply to Inspector Hick-ion, ■witne-S said she thought she had done her duty in seudiug'for a justice of the peace when she suspected something wrong. Inspector Hickson said he did not hear about 'the affair until tbe body was about to be buried. The person implicated (Dr Orpeti) waß thrn clearof the-colony. .He.didn't blsin. the nurse, but thought that the police should have been informed earlier. Mrs Garrett, at whose place Dr Orpen lodged, deposed that the doctor left-about 1 o'clock on Christmas Day. He told her he was going a trip foV the benefit of his health. He did not say when he would be back. He ha. been talking some time about taking a-trip. flis d.paiture was very sudden. lie called witness and asked her if ber boy could take bis boxes to the outgoing mail boat. Dr Rope Lewis deposed that Dr A. Challinor Purchas, who bad. been called in for consultation hy Dr Orpen, had asked him (witne*s) to ex-mine thenatifiut and see whether an operation would be justified. They decided not to do it, as the woman was practically dying. Mrs Motcalf- (recalled) produced medicine and pills ami dfccrased's bank book. Dr Challinor Purchas deposed tbat he had several patients at a private hospital, Hepburn street. Dr Orpen nailed bim in in -consultation, statin'"- that a young woman was-suffering'from gastritis. Dr Orpen then called him on one sid., and said she had had a niisoarii-ige 10 days before and that he (Oroen) hud not teen her rill five days afterwards. Witness performed the flight operation of curetting. He afterward* had suspicions,. and asked the woman if she bud been tampered with. She made evasive" answer., but from her manner his .suspicions were strengthened. Still they were oniy suspicions. . The.nuttier weighed heavily oil his mind, and he took legal an vice as to what be should do. That advice wns that he was caut-ioued. against .making any statement, on the slight information that he had. Phufc. advice was f.iven as the only . m-ans _he had' i>f placing himself in' a light position, and of defending the nurse. He had frequent, report, as to the woman's condition from Nurse b.'ilvie. Ou tbe day of herdeith, ou Friday, lie told tlie nurse the woman's depositions -hnultUic taken. At 11 p.m., after being hours out looking for a justice of tha peace, she returned home heartbroken at'her non-succe.-," She telephoned' to witness, " A failure." Constable Hutchinson, of the 1 _vneU l Jolice Station, deposed that he received the depositions of a woman dated 24th December, about 5 p.m. on'D.'C'inber 2B from A. ,T. Allom, .IP-, and took a c»l) at one- and dvovo to In .p-c.nr Hickson's residence. He read the depositions, in winch tbe woman allesed an operation had be.n psriormed on her by Dr Oroen in hit office at the Victoria Areaile. In the deposition* she stated she was a smelt, woman passing under the name of Mrs ', "Albert .T. Allom, J.P., deposed that on the night of* the _.._ Decnuber he had been called to a private hospital,in', Hepburn street, aiid had taken the depositions of the woman M'Callum. He did not think it was necessary to at once communicate with the polic., a. lie did not wish to act hastily. _ I>r Bake well was detailing the results of the wost mortem when the inquiry was adjourned till to-morrow.