WOMAN ON TRIAL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 275, 19 November 1937, Page 8

WOMAN ON TRIAL

ALLEGED ILLEGAL ACT CASE AT AUCKLAND [ Per Press Association. ] d AUCKLAND, Nov. 18. A dressmaker, Olive Marie Murfitt, married, aged 37 (Mr Aekins) was charged before Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M., in the Police Court with counselling or procuring a woman to unlawfully use an instrument on a girl aged 19, on or about August 19. The girl concerned gave evidence that in August she visited the accused’s home with a young man with whom she had been keeping company. He gave some money to the accused, who said that she would get a woman to perform an operation on witness, and that she would lend witness her wedding ring so that the cost woule be £l2 instead of £2O. The operatic): was performed in the house by a woman, but when it did not prove successful tha accused told witness to see a doctor, who gave her a prescription which had the desired effect. Witness said that she left the accused’s house about September 3. Her health was not gdod and when she collapsed at work on October 11 she was taken to the Auckland Hospital, being discharged in a few days. Similar evidence was given by tht. young man who was keeping company with the previous witness He said the accused gave him a wedding ring for the girl to wear while she was in hospital. Cross-examined, witness said the police told him that both the girl and he were liable to prosecution, but that they would not be prosecuted.

Detective Brown said that he interviewed the accused on October 12. when she made a statement which she would not sign. She would not give particulars of the woman who performed the operation, saying she would not be so despicable as to give anyone away, and that she could stand it herself. Accused denied that the operation was performed in her house, witness added. She had said that the man and girl stayed at the house as man and wife.

Accused pleaded not guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. When Mr Aekins applied for bail, Detective-Sergeant J. Walsh said that bail had been refused in recent cases, even when application was made to the Supreme Court. In view of the next Supreme Court sessions not being until February, the magistrate granted bail of £250.

The accused left the Courtroom screaming loudly.