ALLEGED MALPRACTICE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3609, 15 May 1923, Page 30

ALLEGED MALPRACTICE.

A BLENHEIM CASE BLENHEIM, May 11. An inquest on Rita Violet Mien Nicoil, who died from the results of an alleged use of an instrument by Richard Hollis, was held this afternoon. The girl's depositions, taken shortly before her death, were read to the effect that one Thomas Viggers procured Hollis to use an instrument for the purpose of procuring abortion. The medical evidence of the post mortem proved that death was caused by the infection of the blood stream, caused by a punctured injury to the uterus. The injury found was one likely to be- found in the unskilled use of instruments, and a verdict was given in accordance with the medical testimony. May 12. The adjourned inquest concerning the death of Rita Violet Nicoil, aged 18 years, who, it is alleged, met her death as the result of an illegal operation, was resumed before Mr E. J. Hill, district coroner. Chief Detective Kemp represented the police, and Richard Hollis, who is under arrest on a charge of performing an alleged illegal operation, and Thomas Viggars, who was charged with procuring Hollis to perform the alleged operation, were present. The depositions of the deceased were taken on the 4th inst., and the Registrar of the Supreme Court was proceeding to read them when Mr F. F. Relling, for the accused, claimed the power of the coroner to prevent the publication of evidence when matters on which it touched were sub judice. This was an instance, said counsel, where publication should be prohibited. Two men were under arrest, and it was desirable that the depositions should not be made public. He did not object to them being read before the coroner’s court. The depositions were then read. The coroner stated that he could not prohibit publication. Had Mr Relling advanced reasons for opposing the reading of the depositions, he might have felt inclined to support his contentions, but, having been given in evidence in open court, ho could not see why publication should be prohibited. The Chief Detective said that it was the first instance he had ever known of a request of a similar nature being made The coroner said he would leave the matter to the discretion of the press. The coroner’s verdict w-as that death was duo to sejitic pneumonia, caused by infection of the blood stream, caused by injury to the uterus inflicted by a non-surgical instrument unskilfully used. There was no evidence, apart from the girl’s depositions, to show by whom ihe injury was caused, Both accused are now in custody on the major charge of murder, the hearing of which will come before the magistrate on Tuesday.