Charge Against a Christchurch Doctor.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2018, 17 January 1887, Page 2

Charge Against a Christchurch Doctor.

Cheistchcbch, Jan 11. Dr Bussell and Mrs Bowern were committed for trial this afternoon on the charge of procuring abortion on the latter. Not much ihat is new was elicited in evidence, except that Dr Russell in the Hospital said it was better for him to die than to disgrace a hundred families. Among bis pspers was found an anonymous letter, warning him that Mrs Bowern would doubtless visit him as she had done before. Farther evidence stated that about twelve months ago she got into trouble with a gentleman who had gone to England, that Dr Russell performed the operation on her, which resulted in abortion, aud-.obarged her LlO 10s. About five mouths ago she wrote to him to do a similar thing, but he refused. Mrs North, who gave evideuce with unwillingness, said that Mrs Bowern had told her ol her Rouble, saying that the child, or whatever had been taken from her, had been burnt, that another child the servant's, had also been burnt, amt that one of these was alive. Dr Russell was also committed for trial for procuring abor lion on Kale Fisher. Jane Richards, who was accused with .him, was discharged. It appears that Fisher went to be confined at Richards’, where Dr Russell became intimate with her. Finding she was pregnant again be performed the cperction on her, but hiohards knew nothing of it.

Tho case of Annie Connolly, upon whom Dr Russell also performed an operation, was Ueardou Saturday.