U.S. HEIRESS’ ORDEAL

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 18954, 3 March 1936, Page 2

U.S. HEIRESS’ ORDEAL

RELUCTANT TO PROSECUTF,

TALK OF CRIMINAL CASE

SAX FJIANCISCO, Jan. M

It was learned this evening that the authorities are prepared to initiate criminal proceedings against Mrs. McCarter if her daughter, Miss Ann Cooper Hewitt, the heiress, will sign a complaint charging her with assault. .Miss Hewitt, is suing her mother and three doctors for £IOO,OOO damages, alleging that an operation was performed upon her to prevent her from bearing children. Miss Hewitt; is represented as being extremely reluctant, to bring a charge of assault.

Following a conference with the police the district, attorney, Mr. Matthew Bradv, stated this afternoon: “This office and the police will approve and favourably reply to an application for warrants charging Dr. Samuel Boyd, Dr. Tilton Tillman, and Mrs. McCarter. The girl, however, is the injured party, and she is the one to sign the complaints.”

Miss Hewitt’s counsel insists that prosecution is the duty of the authorities, and while he has not definitely refused to ask his client to sign a complaint, lie states; “I do nor think it is fair to leave the choice of n prosecution in a matter of this gravity to a 21-year-old girl whose mother claims that she is mentally incompetent. “The authorities began this investigation, and it is for them to continue with it if they are convieed a crime has been committed.” TAPPED WIRES CHARGE Miss Hewitt, exhausted by hor ordeal during the past week, has been placed in seclusion outside the city. Her lawyer, Mr. Russell Tyler, complained to the telephone company today that his wires had been tapped. He alleged that the other side had answered certain statements before lie had made them public.

To-morrow lie will confer with Mr. Brady on the course to be taken about a criminal prosecution. He asserted today that a Scottish nurse named Oliphant, who at, one time attended Miss Hewitt, had refused to make an affidavit in the civil action because site had been threatened with deportation if she did.

He declared that Miss Oliphnnt, who has taken out first papers for naturalisation, has valuable information. Mr. Tyler made the following accusation: “Mrs. McCarter warned her never to reveal what, she observed during her employment, and that if she took Miss Hewitt's side her deportation would be sought.” Miss Hewitt has received four proposals of marriage since her suit was filed, hut does not lake them seriously. “I intend to marry and marry young,” she declares, “but if I cannot have children I shall never adopt them. I am afraid they might treat me as mv mother lias treated me.”

Mr. Aaron Sapiro, the lawyer who Inis been representing Mrs. McCarter on the west coast, has left for New York to confer with his client, following a transcontinental telephone talk. He intends to interview several witnesses in Los Angeles on route.

An affidavit lias been filed in the Chancery court in which Mr. Richard Brugiere, 31, Miss Hewitt's stepbrother, states that she had a dozen evening gowns, 40 pairs of shoes and .‘hi hats. She twice made journeys in railway compartments which were specially reserved so as to insure privacy for her and her pet dog. One of Mrs. McCarter's lawyers, Mr. William Breslin, explains that, tlic object, of the affidavit is to support Mrs. McCarter's contention that she always treated her daughter .well. Mr. Breslin declared that the suggestion reported from San Francisco that Mrs. McCarter might bo prosecuted for assault is “preposterous."