CHARGE AGAINST DOCTOR.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 8 April 1927, Page 8

CHARGE AGAINST DOCTOR.

ALLEGED INFAMOUS CONDUCT,

By Telegraph—Press Association,

. WELLINGTON, April 7. An; action was heard in' tlie Supreme Court before Air Justice Reed in which tlie Aledieal Council sought to have Dr. Jacobson, Wellington, struck oil the register of medical practitioners, on. the ground of infamous conduct. The allegation is that Jacobson gave a child-bearing woman the name and address of Airs Nevill, and represented that- she was prepared to procure abortion.

Evidence was given by a woman as to receiving a scrap of paper with the name and address on it from Dr Jacobsen, but she admitted there was nothing on the paper to* indicate that it had come from him. She admitted alsij that she consulted Dr Jacobsen because she thought she might know of some such woman, and she. stated she was not disappointed that the doctor himself had not done anything for her, beyond giving her a prescription! for medicine, which detectives admitted was later proved to be a tonic. She admitted! in cross-examina-tion, tho word “abortion” was never used in the interview with tlie doctor, nor did lie say “go to Airs Nevill, she will put you right.” Witness said, however, that Jacobsen stated Airs Nevill might be able to do something for her.

Dr Jacobsen, in evidence, denied advising the first witness to go to a woman who might procure abortion. Or. the contrary, he advised against that when she suggested it. He denied, giving her Airs Nevull’s address, or that he had even acted in conjunction or concert with Airs Nevill, although he had attended professionally the daughter, son and grandchild of Airs Nevill.

In dismissing the application, the Judge said the question was one purely of fact. He did not think the Court would be justified in agreeing to the application, unless the evidence was clear and cogent. The onus was upon the Aledieal Council to prove it with all that particularity and certainty which must be required in a criminal charge. . Tho case, really resolved itself into the girl’s word against that of the doctor. .He could find no corroboration. .Suspicious circumstances had been answered by reasonable explanations, and outside these explanations there was absolutely no corroboration.