THE NEWLANDS SENSATION

Otago Witness, Issue 3595, 6 February 1923, Page 30

THE NEWLANDS SENSATION

MURDER CHARGE PENDING. THE ABORTION CHARGES. WELLINGTON, January 31. When Daniel Cooper and Martha Elizabeth Cooper appeared in the Magistrate’s Court on (barges of unlawfully detaining infant children at Newlands, Johnsonville, the Crown Prosecutor asked for a remand until Wednesday next., when a charge of murder would be made. The remand was granted. The court then proceeded with the abortion charges against the male accused, the first witness being a married woman from Mataura. A young woman gave evidence that accused gave her pills, and later used an instrument, a miscarriage following. She intended to pay accused £5 later on. A married woman gave evidence that her husband paid Cooper 15 guineas for performing an illegal operation. Dr E. W. Giesen said the instruments produced were what one would expect to be used for the purposes of abortion. Further evidence was given by former clients of accused with reference to treatment received. One witness related how on two distinct occasions on finding herself in difficulty she went to Cooper for assistance. On each occasion operations were performed. The husband of , the previous witness stated he was acquainted with accused, through having visited him in company with his wife, who had submitted to an operation at the hands of Cooper at his office in Lambton quay, Wellington. Questioned by the police as to the reasons for the visit, he replied: "It was not my reason at all. I went with my wife because she wanted to go. Cooper told me that t.he fee would be 15 guineas, or twice that if I did not pay cash down.” A second visit was made to the premises, when the operation was successfully repeated, and the money paid over. A young married woman furnished several painful interludes, on one occasion almost swooning, and she was continually weeping when giving evidence. When Cooper called to see her on the next occasion he had certain instruments, but the operation was performed at his office, as was the case with the last female witness. A second visit resulted in a further operation. Payment was made for the treatment at a weekly, rate. The hearing was adjourned until tomorrow. February 1. In the series of charges of performing illegal operations against Daniel Cooper, who, with his wife, is also to be charged with the murder of an infant, further evidence was given by women witnesses, detailed accounts of their transactions with accused Cooper being related. When certain instruments were placed before witnesses for the purpose of identification Cooper manifested keen interest. One witness stated that Cooper had given her a certain liquid, but it made her ill when she took it. She paid him £8 10s for treatment, but was informed that the total cost would be 15 guineas. That was the usual charge. Certain entries made by the accused in a diary, now in the possession of the police, were consistent with statements made by several witneses as to the date of the transactions. The male accused was formally identified as having been seen on his premises by one of the witnesses. This girl had also subjected herself to an operation at Island Bay. She had lived with the Coopers at Nowlands for a time, as well as working for the male accused at his office in Wellington. There were again several exceedingly painful scenes with witnesses, several of whom entered the box weeping, and gave their evidence with difficulty, and in certain instances with evident reluctance. Other evidence was tendered as to operations performed by the accused, also concerning his visit to Dunedin in the vicinity of which he rented a house for a time, in which one cf his patients stayed for a period, but later went to Wellington, where a child was horn. Cooper informed her that it was a nursing home, but this did not prove to be the case. Certain entries made in a ledger were recognised as in Cooper’s handwriting. This document was obtained by the police with other exhibits when they raided the premises at Lambton quay. February 2. Daniel Richard Cooper was committed for trial to-night on seven charges of attempting to procure miscarriage, two of attempting to supply women with certain noxious matter for the same purpose, and of doing certain acts to achieve the same result. The hearing of the evidence occupied three days Cooper bore himself with an air of self-possession throughout, but evinced surprise when evidence was called in connection with the death of a young woman in Wellington Hospital some weeks ago.

Witnesses to-day gave evidence with regard to negotiations and operations, similar to those described earlier. One married woman related that she introduced a young woman friend to Cooper, who said lie thought he would be able to help the girl, but must first have a letter from witness, taking all responsibility. He always got such letters in case of trouble. Cooper dictated a letter, and witness signed it. The girl signed another similar letter. Later, gfter her marriage, her husband fruitlessly sought to secure, the return of the letters. Dr Harrison, house surgeon at Wellington Hospital, remembered a certain girl's admission when in a serious condition. In October, 1922, she died after an immediate operation. There was no indication of an instrument having been used, nor anything to show that a miscarriage had been obtained. The girl’s brother stated that his sister refused to see a doctor. He identified a letter-card addressed "Cooper, health spewhich read as follows:—“Just a few lines to see what date will shit you. I am in trouble, and just a working girl.” Witness admitted that his sister had been in trouble twice before. Police evidence was then given. Detective Harold said Cooper asked him to take care of some correspondence, and not hand it to the detectives, as if they got hold of it "he would fall, and so would a good many other good people in Wellington.” The letters were handed to witness’s superior officers. Other detectives related observations on visits to Cooper’s house, and the happenings at the police station. When asked about the girl’s death, Cooper said: “When I received letters like that I took no notice of them.” Cooper’s statement was also produced stating that he was 39 years of age and had practised for the last five years as a health specialist. He had given advice to clients along certain lines. Mr E. Page, S.M., refused counsel’s application that Cooper be committed to the May sessions of the Supreme Court, and committed him for trial at next week’s session. «-