WITNESS REFUSES TO SIGN DEPOSITION

Chronicle (Levin), 1 August 1947, Page 3

WITNESS REFUSES TO SIGN DEPOSITION

. - Pr&ss Assocmtion

By Telegraph

July oi, A witness who refused to sign the deposition of his evidenco . at .an in* quest, was sentonced by the Coronet', Mr, Maunsell, 8.M., to seven days' LiiiprisQiuneut for contempt • of Court The witness was Tolif Arthur GabricJsen, Jorrv drivcr. Ho had 'earlier refused to anssver a que.sticm and. had been warned that he might be sent to gaol. * The inqucst was into the death of Alan Neil Quinnev, aged 29, who liad died at Gabrieisen's house as the rcsult of a tubereutar diseasO. Witness retused to say wlietlier tbe adherents of a religious sect to which he belonged believod in medical attention or not. Dr. F. Hudson said ho visited GabrieJsen 's lioine and found Quinney sufTering from an advanced stage of tubeivulosis. Witness advised tlio Gabrielsens that Quinney should be '■emoved to hospital immediately. He considcred Quinney 's condition infectious. Mr. and Mrs." Gabrielsen and Quinney, as far as lie was.able, would not agree to the suggestion. They said they did not bcUevo in medical treat - ment of any kind. Gabrielsen said the matter liad been one for Quinney to decide. Gabrielsen would not answcr a question concerning a religious sect. Read ing Ihe clejiosition Gabrielsen agreed il was correct but refused to sign after rcpeated requests. The Coroner said the evidence did not appear to diselose a criiue coinmitted. It looked as if Quinnev did not want a doctor and there was no doubt the Gabrielsens did not want one either.