A MYSTEISY.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 July 1919, Page 1

A MYSTEISY.

A PECULIAR AFFAIR

(PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. —COPYRIGHT WELLINGTON, July 23.

Shortly after the Prinzcssen arrived in Wellington from Sydney on Monday night, two passengers, one of them a young lady, were found to be in rather a critical condition, suffering, it is believed from a overdose of some drug. The lady was removed to the Wellington Hospital, and is now out of danger. Tlie male passenger soon and is still aboard tlie ship. The police have the matter in hand.

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE,

WELLTGTON, July 23.

Some particulars of a mysterious happening on the steamer Prinzesscn were told at the Magistrate’s Court this afternoon, when Dr G. S. Aspinall and Miss Bessie Bates were charged before Mr E. Page, S-M. with having attempted to commit suicide. The male accused showed some hesitation when asked to plead. Finally he said : “I will plead guilty. I was sorry for another person. I did it on accouul of sorrow.”

The female defendant also admitted the charge against her. Chief Detective Boddam asid Aspinall was tlie doctor of the Prinzesseu, the female accused being a passenger. The latter had informed witness and Constable Burnett that on Monday afternoon she found some phials containing “poison”. Obtaining possession of one phial she took the contents about 10 o’clock at night, blit she refused to state her reasons for having done so. Early the following morning she was found in a state of collapse. Two other medical men were travelling oil the vessel and they saved the woman’s life by applying restoratives. She was now out of danger. When the male accused was charged aboard the vessel lie stated that on hearing of Miss Bates’ condition as the result of taking the drug that he felt he was to blame for carelessly leaving the tabloids in his cabin. He said that the responsibility was so great that lie had taken fourteen grains himself. Tlie two other doctors saved his life. The Chief Detective continued; “There is not the slightest doubt that, i.f these two doctors had not been aboard, the ship would have berthed with two corpses. T know nothing about the doctor and in his case, I ask you to defer passing sentence for a week. Ho is not in a fit state to ho at large. Tie threatened not only to the captain, hut to other people lie would commit suicide. Tlie female accused is the daughter of respectable people who live near Waverley. We know nothing at all about the girl, mnl liav, not had time to see her parents. The Chief Detective suggested that ponding sentence, the female accused might lie placed in the care of the Salvation Army authorities, and reiterated that it was not safe to let the male accused go out.

His Worship remanded Dr Aspinall for a. week’s medical treatment, and ordered that the defendant, Miss Bates should he brought up again on Saturday-. Meanwhile she was to bo placed in the care of the Salvation Army.