A DOCTOR IN TROUBLE AUCKLAND, August 22.

Otago Witness, Issue 2685, 30 August 1905, Page 34

A DOCTOR IN TROUBLE AUCKLAND, August 22.

The charges against Dr Orpen of per- , forming illegal operations on two women. i were heard in ihe Auckland Supreme Court | to-day. Dr Orpen, who was not represented, by counsel, pleaded " Not guilty." The two cases were taken together. The Crown Prosecutor said the woman on whom the 1 alleged operations were performed' wore Mrs Adela Katterns (of Northcote) arc! Miss Sarah Mason Linkhorn (Newton). In such cases a certain amount of sympathy j was always felt for a medical practitioner | upon the grounds of the woman's want of i gratitude in blurting it out when she found: ' herself in trouble. That, however, did not ; apply in either of these oases. The girl ; Linkhorn did not inform the police. She ' ta.'d. her medical practitioner, who ca public grounds, and also for his own pro1 tection, very properly reported it to the Xjolice. Mrs Katterns then gave evidence. Dr Garolan said when lie was called in , he consulted Dr Bull, and as a result of ' their treatment the woman made a good j recovery. There was nothing wrong with I the woman's health which would have> accounted for what load occurred. Dr Buli i corroborated tMs evidence. Sarah Mason 1 Linkhorn, an unmarried woman. 21 years of age, gave evidence, stating that Dr Orpen performed an operation on her. Sarah Mary Linkhorn. mother of the previous witness, gave brief evidence. Dr Inglis said the day after he saw the girl he formed an opinion that the occurrence was due to some outside agency. He questioned the girl, and in consequence of what she told him he informed Inspector Cullen. Chief Detective Marsack gave •evidence as ito arresting Dr Orpeu. Dr Lewis gave 1 evidence regaiding instruments found in ! Dr Orpen's rooms. In addressing the jury. I Dr Orp-en said he had no recollection of j having aeen Mrs Kattevns. If bo did what 1 she said was it likely he would allow her to go away with one of rhe instruments io be produced as evidence against him? She acfeed the jury to believe that hie. a stranger, operated on her and allowed her to take away one of his instruments. Dr Orpen then referred to the seriousness of the charge, and added: "I am an .old man, 73 years of age. and you are asked to believe that I, with only a few more years to live, took the risk of perpetual ruin and the spending of a few years in prison for a paltry five odd pounds." With regard toth© Linkhorn case, Dr Orpen said the girl came and told him she thought she was^ ia trouble, and asked if he could do anything for her. He told her perhaps she had caught cold or had some disease of the organs, which he could not discover withoxtfc examining her. He used a speculum. He then found her condition. Speaking of the doctors' evidence, ho asked why he, a medical man, should be charged with improper practices for liking instruments which other doctors possessed. If ths jury were to ccn\ict on this ease it would never do in future for any doclor to examine a. woman for any uterine trouble for fear of standing in the place he now occupied. His Honor, in summing up, pointed oub that there was corroboration in the instruments produced. Accused had not attempted to explain what theso were vise<J for. The matter, however, was -onfcir-ely ok© for their determination. If they had a. reasonable doubt; about the evidence of the women then they must acquit the prisoner, and if no*. th«n they irvst convict. Afterfive hours' retirement tho jury failed to agree. A new t-riah to commence tomorrow, was ordered. August 23. Dr Arthur Herbert Orpen was convicted al the •Supreme Court on Wednesday of performing an illegal operation and sentenced to three years'- imprisonment. The prisoner is 73 years of age. This was the second trial, the- jury on Tuesday having failed to agree.