AN UNFOUNDED CHANGE.

West Coast Times, 25 June 1912, Page 1

AN UNFOUNDED CHANGE.

EXPERIENCE OF A NEW ZEALAND DOCTOR.

‘•ALL'S "'ELL THAT ENDS WELL.”

LONDON, May 15,

Dr. Robert Donald, a medical practitioner who came from New Zealand and whose name appears in the New Zealand division of the “ Medical Resistor,” had a most unpleasant experience. this week. He appeared in the dock at the Clerkenwell Court churned with “ burglariously breaking ami cntcrinj;” a flat at Seymou’/'Houso Compton Street, and stealing two rings valued, at £ls, the property of F.tliol Wigmore, who was described as a journalist on the stall' of the “Times.”

Dr. Donald and his wife, it appears occupied a Hat just below Miss Wigmore. The lady alleged that late ou Saturday night she took off the rings in her bedroom and laid them in a tray ou the dressing table. The window opened into the passage and was partly open. She wont into the kitchen, leaving the light burning. Hearing a noise sho returned to the bedroom. Tho window had been thrown open, the curtain pushed aside, and a man was leaning in at tho window taking the rings off the tray. She declared Dr. Donald to lie that man. As ho drew back Ids lint fell off and was left behind on tho dressing table. She ran dirt on tho balcony and called out, “Burglars!” Dr. Donald then came, out of Ids flat. She accused him and seat for a constable and had him arrested. She had never seen Dr. Donald before that day, but she was perfectly certain of ids identity. Tho rings had not been recovered.

In cross-examination "Miss Wigmore admitted that the passage, was accessible to anybody, even from the outside. Sho did not agree that accused appeared to bo one coining to hei- assistance. There was a lapse of tivo minutes before the burglary and her meeting tho doctor on tho stairs. He came almost directly adder she

screamed. Constable Lowry said that he was attracted by screams and the prosecutrix ran out and complained to him. Ho saw Dr. Donald, who said ho beard a scream, and Ms wife asked him to see what was the matter. Ho saw Miss Wigmore '‘either drunk or mad” and she said ho had stolon her rings. “ Do you think I would the first to nil’ up if J had committed burglary;'” ha asked.

inspector Gray said that-Dr Donald refused to try on the hut “on sanitary grounds,” and tho Magistrate’s comment ou that statement was, “Well, it is rather a dirty thing.” The inspector said ho, had not searched th.; prisoner’s rooms. Tho Magistrate: Is ho ou tho Register ?

Air. Harrison: Yes, sir. In the. Now Zealand Division. lie is highly qualified. 'The Magistrate said ho was prepared to discharge the accused, but would give him an opportunity of denying the charge in tho witness box, a privilege of which Dr. Donald gladly availed himself. He said ho had come to England for tho purpose of studying bacteriology at the London lies-, pital. He was with his wife and friends alter dinner on Saturday until after 11 p.m. After the friends left he prepared to go to bed, having seen his sister-in-law into an ad, joining Hat. Ho was partially undressed, when ho was disturbed by some one

above calling. He ran upstairs ami saw Miss Wigmoro in a very excited state. She at (nice accused him. She stood with howler bat in hand

and cigarette, and said “Yon’ro burglars !” Afterwards she added “You in the shirt-sleeves are a burglar,” He did at first think tho lady had been drinking, but now put it down to excitement. Ho had never been up tho staircase before ho savV the lady, and had not stolen anything. Ho had

moans. ( Tho Magistrate (laconically)Dis-

charged. On tho question of costs the Magistrate said ho would,give what he could hut was afraid that it would not bo much.

Dr. Donald stated that ho had been detained by the police, which led tho Magistrate to remark that when such a charge was made the police could not help themselves. Ho, however, told Dr. Dcnald that his sympathies were with him, for which assurance the doctor returned brief but grateful thanks.