GRAVE CHARGES.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 February 1923, Page 5

GRAVE CHARGES.

WELLINGTON SENSATION. SHOCKING REVELATIONS. COOPER SENT FOR TRIAL B* Telegraph.—Press Association Wellington, Last Night. Daniel Richard Cooper was committed for trial on seven charges of attempting to procure a miscarriage and two charges of attempting to supply women with noxious matter for the same purpose and Qf doing certain acts to achieve the same result. Evidence was called in connection with the death of a young woman in Wellington Hospital some weks ago. She was in a serious ctftidition on arrival, and died iHer an immediate operation. A brother relateo his sister’s refusal to see a. doctor. He identified a letter addressed to Cooper, asking what date would suit him. Tha letter added: “I am in trouble; I am just? a working girl.” There was no sign of an operation. EARLIER EVIDENCE. ALLEGED ILLEGAL OPERATIONS.'? MARRIED WOMEN’S EVIDENCE. Further evidence in this case given on Thursday. A married woman, residing with heij husband at JNewlands, said she first! met the accused about two years ago.. When he first came there she obtained! ointment for her baby’s arm from During a visit to the whare in which! he lived after his. house was burned—she thought it was in January, rJ22—• she told him of her condition and during an “examination” conducted theren by him—her husband being in the whara —metal instruments were nsed by the accused. A large number of gical instruments were produced in court, and witness said the instruments used on her were similar to some she pointed out. Two or three days afterward* she visited Cooper again on the same business, when the same instrument* were used by him. Shortly afterward her condition became normal. She wrote, acquainting him of the fact, and. asking for his bill, which (for £5) she received and paid. An entry in ft diary allegedly 1 kept by ( the accused read, “January, 1922: Went to NeWlands to give Mrs treatment,” and a later entry, “Mrs all right.” - The husband of the last witness stated that he was present at interviews between his wife and Cooper. Alter (he “examination” Cooper said, “She will be all right, now.” “HELPED OUT OF TROUBLE.” The next witness, who appeared almost quite nt her ease under examination, stated that she was a married woijan, living at Coromandel Street, Wellington; she had known Cooper for twelve months. In January .of last year she went to see him at his office because she had heard that he helped wofnen out of trouble. She told him of irregularities in her health, and that she had already had three children. Tn the course of an “examination” Cooper used an instrnment similar to one she pointed out • amongst a collection produecdShe again visited him by arrangement at his office, and the same instrument was used again, also another. She visited him again on several occasions, and he once gave her liquid medicine. As the result of the treatment her health became regiilar. Cooper’s feu was £l5 15,'but he accepted £8 10s for a prompt settlement. She could not recollect any of the dates, but *?o far aa she remembered, the entries in the alleged diary of the accused, road to coincided with her visits. CAME FROM SOUTH INLAND. A married woman, now resident at Borhampore, and formerly of near Timaru, next gave evidence. While she was living at Albury, her husband,* she stilted, communicated with the ac*‘ cased. She saw him writing a letter* but could not be certain of identifying* the letter. She learned that the accused was to pass through Timaru. met him, and xvent to Wellington with him. In Wellington she went to 'see Cooper at his office, where she told him she wrts suffering from nn internal displacement* and was not sure whether she was pregnant or not. He examined her with a. stethoscope, and said he could cure the displacement. He gave her pills, which she took, but they made'her vomit. Sulu sequently she met Cooper at Tomahawk, near Dunddin. Cooper had a house there, he said, and told her he was aa good as a doctor, ,?.nd that it would cost her les* to ,go to that house than a nursing home. She and her sister stayed in Lhi* house for a fortniglit, the only occupants, though the accused danift>to see her. Owing to her husband’s objections, she returned to Wellington, where she was confined. Cooper’s charges amounted to £3l 75.,' of' which £9 was for rent, and £]3 10* for “special expenses ” She had three children/ the youngest 12 months old. WORKED FOR COOPER. A young married woman, who gavci her address as Luxford Street, the sister of the last witness, stated that she had met Cooper casually, lie said be was a health specialist. Later he called at her house and she told him of her dition. Consequently she met him by appointment at his late house at Island. Bay, which was then unoccupied. Only the accused and herself, were present. Cooper had a bag with him. They proceeded to the bathroom where the accused used.ftn instrument on her, after! which the accused told her it would be all right, and so it proved the next day. She asked Cooper if he could do the same for a neighbour (one of th© witnesses), whom she introduced to him. Later she worked for Cooper at his office for two months. That was aboijt six months ago. Witness had lived at Cooper* Newlandshouse for five months, and left in September. As to entries in the diary found in Cooper’s possession—“ Went to Day’s Bay with Flo,” and '•Fio and I walked to Wellington”— - she could not verify the dates, but in regard to the entry on Scqitember 27 last “Dear Flo left me”—it was true , that she left Newlands at the end of September.