ALLEGED NOXIOUS THINGS

Taranaki Daily News, 16 October 1931, Page 8

ALLEGED NOXIOUS THINGS

CHARGES AGAINST GARDINER. HIS COMMITTAL FOR TRIAL. I Charles Gardiner, otherwise Ernest Fredric Lehndorf, appeared, at the Stratford. Court yesterday in the continuation of the case in which he was charged that at Tangarakau in January, 1931, he attempted to supply unlawfully a noxious thing to a woman knowing that it was intended, to be unlawfully used with intent to procure miscarriage. There were three other similar charges in respect of other women of' Te Wera and Tangarakau. He was also charged, that at Tangarakau on or about January 29 he unlawfully supplied a noxious thing to a woman knowing that it was intended to procure miscarriage. The case was partly heard on July 30 but on the application of the police remands were granted as the witness for the prosecution in respect of the last charge was unable to attend owing to illness.

Gardiner was committed to the Supreme Court for trial, bail being renewed on his own bond of £2OO and one surety of £2OO.

A married woman residing at Tangarakau said she remembered that about the end of January a traveller called on her :with a representative collection of chemist’s goods. He said he was a travelling chemist for a mail order druggist and but for lack of funds would have been a doctor. Witness asked him inside and he showed her several packets of female medicines (produced). No business was done in respect of them. Then he showed her some other boxes containing brown, egg-shaped pills. She assumed that as he had said he would have been a doctor but for lack of funds he was able to diagnose a woman’s condition, even though at that time she was not sure herself! She asked if the pills would serve her case and he said they were good, but he could hot guarantee anything. Witness bought the pills and he told her that four were a dose. No mention was made of abortion, though he said an operation was the “surest way.” He suggested an operation, but witness replied that she was confident about the pills. He mentioned that he performed operations practically every day. The man was not persistent as she was as eager to buy the pills as he was to sell them. He offered no receipt for the £l Is she paid him, nor did he enter the sale. He told her that the pills would have to be taken within three months, and she assumed that if they did not succeed they would not harm. No indication was given of what the pills contained. To” Mr. O’Dea, counsel for accused, ■-witness said ehe gave birth to a child, and the doctor had said that the premature birth was not caused by the pills, which had no effect on her. Constable A. Johnston, Feilding, said that on July 20 he arrested Gardiner. Accused had been some , three months at Feilding at that date and had a small boot-repairing business. Certain papers were found on Gardiner but no pills. Mr. O’Dea submitted that no prima facie case had been established. There had been nothing extraordinary about the pills, which had had no effect. The case should be dismissed for want of sufficient evidence, he contended. “We consider there is sufficient evidence to justify the case being heard by the Supreme Court,” said Mr. W. L. Kennedy, J.P,, who, together with Mr. G. E. Wilson, J.P., heard the case. ELTHAM THEATRE. “AFRICA SPEAKS.” “Africa Speaks” will be the great atI traction at Eltham to-night. The pic- . ture offers one of the best combinations of entertainment and education seen for a considerable time. Among other things it gives an amazingly realistic idea of the life of the pigmies and their strange and efficient use of the bow and arrow. It depicts the lake of the beautiful flamingoes and the -flight of a herd of wild beasts, while one of the most wonderful scenes of all is that which shows a huge swarm, of locusts alighting on the veldt. Another scene shows a lion hunt, and the attack of an infuriated lioness on the native hearers. Another 'scene dealing with a lion hunt shows the warriors of Masai “on the job” and depicts how they scour the country in a wide circle, gradually closing on the animal, until each hunter’s shield is touching the one next to him, when begins the real fight between man and beast. It would seem that the lion really has little chance of escaping for each warrior crouches with his spear poised, and as the lion springs and attempts to break through it is impaled on a dozen weapons. The supporting programme is well in keeping with the main attraction and includes a sound novelty, comedy, a horoscope and a news.