A SERIOUS CHARGE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LX, Issue 143786, 9 May 1912, Page 3

A SERIOUS CHARGE.

TRIAL OF SADLER. Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, May 8. Walter Richard Sadler appeared on remand at the Police Court this morning, charged with attempting to perform an illegal operation on a girl at Kaiapoi, on April 8. The accused seemed a little nervous, but apart from that showed no signs of distress. His cigar-ette-stained fingers drummed on the edge of the dock, but he smiled as he stared at the people filing out when the order was given, that tho court should be cleared. The woman in the case deposed that she was living with her parents at Kaiapoi. She would bo 19 years of age in June next. She had known a man named John Wilson for four years, and had kept company with him for about three years. Witness was three or four months pregnant. Witness knew tho accused Sadler, who was a hairdresser, working recently in Wellington. Sho had known Sadler about two years, having met him at a dance in Kaiapoi. Wilson saw Sadler and arranged for him to come'to Kaiapoi on Easter Monday. On that date witness saw Sadler in Kaiapoi about noon. Sadler was’ with Wilson, Wilson lived with his parents, who on that day were away from home. Tho three went to Wilson’s house, and witness then described what had occurred there. \ . Other evidence was also given. After the luncheon adjournment a further charge was preferred against Sadler, shat, on April 26 of the present year, at Wellington, he attempted to perform an illegal operation on the same girl. The girl gave evidence similar to that given by her in respect of the previous charge. She added that on April 25 she left Kaiapoi by the 1.40 p.m. train, travelling to Christchurch, where Wilson bought her a first-doss ticket to Wellington under the name of Miss Jones. Witness knew then that she was going to see Sadler. Her reason for going was to attempt to procure a miscarriage. Wilson left Lyttelton by the 4.30 train, witness seeing him off. She went to Wellington by the Maori. By arrangement with Wilson a young man named Warwick met her at the boat and they went to the Trocadero Hotel, where she had breakfast, dinner and tea. On the evening of tho 26th she left the Trocadero with Warwick ata little after six o’clock, and went up to the top of the Kelburne tramline. They got out then and stood _ about for a while, shortly after being joined by Sadler. Sadler and witness went into the gardens, leaving Warwick at the gate. It was fairly dark at the time, and they went to an open place. Witness described the' alleged operation. They returned to Warwick, and ho and Sadler spoke apart for a while, and then Sadler left them. Warwick got her baggage and she returned to the ship, and so back to Lyttelton. Accused reserved his defence and was committed for trial on both charges, bail being allowed -himself in £2OO undone surety of £2OO.