ABDUCTION CASE.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 October 1920, Page 3

ABDUCTION CASE.

[PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.—COPYRIGHT.] WELLINGON, October 12. Tlio medical case was continued before the Full Court. Francis Wallace MacKenzie gave evidence that lie graduated at the University of Edinburgh in 1885, and commenced practice in Wei ling tori in ■IBB7, as a specialism in nose, ear and thyoat. He voluntarily seceded from the British Medical Association. He first examined Miss Strangeman oi. 26 February for adenoids. While examining her heart he had suspicons that she was pregnant, On the second | visit lie told the girls’ mother these susj picions and examined her in the mother’s presence. There was a wound on the body and he thought the girl had been interfering with the wound whir’i might be caused by disease. Hi said he would like to get a second opinion as ho was not an expert in the treatment of women. 'He proposed Dr. Claridge. The mother consented to an operation for adenoids. The mother asked witness if anything could be done to relieve the girl’s condition. He pave tjie- opinibn that interference might ruin the girl’s health and that she had better let things take their course. The same night the father called and said he wanted abortion procured on his daughter. He offered £SO. He advised the father not to have anything of tho kind done. Several times Strangeman called for the same purpose with a like result. Nattrass called and warned him against having anything to do with the parents scheme. Witness had been very ill and his memory was not good. Nattrass showed witness a letter containing an appeal to Nattrass to have the impending operation prevented and requesting him to ask witness to help. Witness deprecated Nattrass’ idea of going to the police. The witness previously frightened the girl alxuit the idea of an operation for abortion. On the day of the abduction witness and Nattrass planned to’ take the girl from the hospital and hide her for a few days and then send her to friends at Nelson. Witness made all the arrangements and discussed them with Nattrass and Claridge at the latter’s house that night. Nattrass suggested that Claridge should accompany them. Witness went into the hospital and found the girl asleep. He sent the nurse away and then wakened the girl and told her that Nattrass was waiting outside. The girl did not comprehend what was wanted of her. Witness went outside and asked Claridge to see what lie could do while witness had tea with th e informed later by the nurse that she had gone, lie went to tell her parents. He did not say she had been abducted. Witness did not run away when the police were mentioned. Replying to Justice Edwards, witness said he regarded the girl as his employer, not her parents. Witness did not tell Detective Ra-wle that the girl consulted him on February sth. He did not decide not to operate on the girl for adenoids until he spoke to her on the day of the abduction. Had witness consulted Nurse Vickers he was sure she would have helped him to save the girl. The happenings at the hospital wrire not pre-arranged. There was no plan that the girl he driven to Claridge’s house. Witness had not considered the question of clothes for the trirl. Claridge came in accidentally and acted the part of the good Samaritan. Justice Edwards said lie was afraid “movies” had ns corrupt an effect on old people, ns on the young. The case is proceeding.