DEATH OF GIRL

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20782, 17 July 1937, Page 18 (Supplement)

DEATH OF GIRL

POLICE INQUIRIES FAIL WITNESSES REFUSE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS By. Telegraph—Press Association AUCKLAND, July 16. “Inquiries have been continued to date, but we have not been able to connect any person with causing the girl’s death,” said Detective Murch, at the conclusion of the inquest into the death of a young woman (22), who had been employed as a cashier. The Coroner. Mr F. K. Hunt, found that deatli occurred in the Auckland Hospital on May 15, as a result of septic abortion. When the inquest was resumed to-day, evidence was given by a chemist, Leslie Ward Mackie, and his wife, Yvonne Mackie. Both refused to answer certain questions on the grounds of possible incrimination. Their interests were watched by Mr M. Robinson, while Detective-Sergeant Walsh appeared for the police. At the opening of the hearing earlier in the week, Dr. Gilmour, pathologist at the Auckland Hospital, had expressed the opinion that death was caused through septic abortion. Yvonne Mackie was the first witness called to-day. Detective-Sergeant Walsh: Where is your husband in business? Witness—l refuse to answer. Detective Walsh: Why do you refuse to answer? Witness: Because it may incriminate me. Detective Walsh: Did you know a girl named Miss ? Witness: I refuse to answer that question. Detective Walsh: Why? Witness: Because it might incriminate me. Detective Walsh: On May 19 Detective Murch saw you at your home. He told you he had information that Miss who died in hospital the previous Saturday had been an inmate of your house five weeks before. Do you agree with that? Witness declined to answer. Witness said she did not remember Detective Murch telling her that a man had telephoned on two or three occasions about a girl's condition.

She refused to answer whether she told the detective that if any illegal operations took place at her house she had nothing to do with them, and whether she had told the detective that her husband sent girls to the house, and that whatever he did to them was none of her business. Detective Walsh: Did you tell Detective Murch that the girls had been to your house, and you had looked after them and cooked for them? Witness: I refuse to answer more. Leslie Ward Mackie (40) said he was a qualified chemist at Auckland. He had no shop or place of business. He refused to answer on. the grounds that it might incrUnin ite him, whether he was employed by any chemist at the present time. He also refused to answer a question when he had last seen the girl depicted in a photograph produced. Detective Walsh: Did deceased visit your house by appointment in April? Witness: I refuse to answer. Detective Walsh: You know this girl died at the Public Hospital? Witness: I do not know. The Coroner: But you have heard it? Witness: Yes. Replying to the Coroner witness said he had never been known as Dr. Mackie. Witness said he had never seen a letter dated May 17, addressed to “Dear Les,” which Detective Walsh stated had been found in the house. The letter read to the Court referred to the condition of a girl. The Coroner: How do you earn your living? Witness: I refuse to answer that. Detective Murch in evidence said that he visited the house on May 19. Mrs Mackie told him she was dominated by her husband, and not allowed to question anything he did. In the search of the house the police had been unable to find any evidence relating to the death of the deceased. In Mrs Mackie’s handbag was found the letter already produced. Mrs Mackie said the girl had brought it to the house that day, and she was going to give it to her husband. The Coroner found the cause of death to have been septic abortion.