A SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST A DOCTOR. AN ATTEMPT TO COMMIT SUICIDE.

Otago Witness, Issue 1834, 14 January 1887, Page 22

A SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST A DOCTOR. AN ATTEMPT TO COMMIT SUICIDE.

Christchurch, January 10.

Last night, Mary Bowern, a married woman, whose husbaud is away from Christchurcb, was arrested on a charge of- procuring abortion- on herself in Jauuary 1886. At first she denied it, but she afterwards admitted having written to Dr Russell when she found she was erwiente. He wrote back on part of her own letter, baying he would not do what she wanted. She said she showed the letter to a woman named Mrs North, who read it. At a quarter past 12 last night she sent for Inspector Peuder, and confessed that Dr Russell had procured abortion. About 9 this morning Detectives O'Connor and R. Neill went to the retiidence of Dr Russell. On seeing them the doctor c«mo to meet them at the front door. When Detective O'Connor informed him they had come to arrest him on a charge of having procured abortion, he at once, asked permission to be allowed to go upstairs to arrange bis affairs and to write to some friends, especially to medical gentlemen whom- he • wished to take charge of his canes. Tho detectives made no objection, and accompanied Dr Ri.'ssell upstairs, where he has a small surgery. They remained with him while he busied himself in tho manner he had spoken of. Finding he was occupying rather much time, they began to hurry him. He was running to and fro, apparently greatly hurried, .when suddenly he snatched up a bottle of aconite 1 and swallowed the contents before he could be stopped. He then refused to leave the house, telling them he had taken poison, and declaring ho wished to die in his own house. The detectives handcuffed him, and placing him in a cab hurried him off to the hospital.- There he was attended to by Drs Stewart and Westenra, and the latter administered hypodermically a close of apomorphia, which effectually discharged from the stomach overy atom of poison. This treatment mado the patient vory weak, and when his presence was required at the Resident Magistrate's Court he was too prostrate. There in, however, no danger now of any fatal effect. Mrs Bowern was brought up and remanded to Friday. Dr Russell will be brought before the court to-morrow.