GIRL'S DEATH

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 153, 16 July 1937, Page 5

GIRL'S DEATH

— Presa Association.)

Witnesses Refuse to Answer Questions POLICE EVIDENCE

By Telegraph-

AUCKLAND, This Day. "Inquiries have been continued to date but we have not been able to conneet any person with causing the girl's death," said Deteetive Murch at ihe conelusion of the inquest into the death of a young woman, aged 22, who nad been employed as a cashier. The Coroner, Mr. F. K. Hunt, found that death oeeurred at the Auckland Hospital on May 15 as the result of a «eptie abortion. When the inquest resumed to-day ovidence was. given by a chemist, Leslie Ward Mackie, and his wife, Yvonne Maekie. Both refused, to answer certain questions on the grounds of possible incrimination. Their interests were watched by Mr, M. Eobinson, while Detective-Sergeant Waish appeared for the police. At the opening of the hearing earlier iu the week, Dr. Gilmour, pathologist at the Auckland hospital, had expressed an opinion that death was ceused through septic abortion. Yvonne Mackie was the first witness called to-day, Detective-Sergeant Walsh: Where is your husband in business? Witness: I refuse to answer. Why do you refuse to answer?— "Because it may incrirninate me." Did you know a girl named Miss ? — "I refuse to answer that question. ' ' Why? — "Because it might incrirninate me." On May 19 Deteetive Murch saw you at your home and 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 that she did not remember Deteetive 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 deteetive that if any illegal operatioas took plaee at her house she had nothing to do with them. and whether she had told the deteetive that her husband sent girls to the house and that whatever he did to them was none of her business. Detective-Sergeant Walsh: Did you tell Deteetive Murch that 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, aged 40, said that 'he qualified as a chemist at Auckland at the age of 22. He had no shop or place of business. He refused to answer on the grounds that it might incrirninate a question as to whether he was employed by any chemist at the present time. He also refused to answer the question, "when had he last seen the girl depicted in the photograpk (produced). Detective-Sergeant Walsh: Did deceased visit your house by appointment in April? Witness : I refuse to answer. "You know this girl died at the public hospital ?..."I do not know." The Coroner: But you have heard it? Witness : Yes. Rejplying to the coroner witness said he had never been known as Dr. Mackie. Witness said that he had never seen a letter dated may 17 addressed "Dear Les" which Detective-Sergeant Walsh stated had been found in the house. The letter, which was read to the Court, referred to the condition of a girl. Th© coroner: How do you earn living? Witness: I refuse to answer that. Deteetive Murch gave evide'nce that he visited th© house on May 19. Mrs Mackie told his that she was dominated by her husband and was not allowed to question. anything he did. In the search of the hous© the police had been unable to find any evidence relating to the death of deceased. In Mrs Mackie' s handbag was found the letter already produced. Mrs Maclrie said that the girl had brought it to the hous© that day and she was going to give it to her husband. The Coroner found that the cause of death was septic abortion,