AN ABORTION CHARGE

Hokitika Guardian, 21 September 1929, Page 6

AN ABORTION CHARGE

ALLEGED ATTIIMPT TO PROCURE PERJURY. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Sept. 20. A letter alleged to have been written in connection with the charge against Jessie Morris, of unlawfully using an instrument, resulted in William Bobsett, aged 36 years, a labourer, being charged in the Police Court to-day with unlawfully attempting to obstruct, pervert, or defeat the course of justice, by •attempting to persuade Ivy Mary Moselen to give false evidence. The letter in question was received by the husband of Ivy Mary Moselen, who at the time was in Wliangarei Hospital, suffering from septicaemia, awaiting a charge to attend the Magistrate’s Court at Auckland to give evidence against Jessie Morris. The letter contained the following passage: “The lady (you know who I mean) is very worried. Of course, as she does not know what course of action you and Mrs Moselen are going to take—whether to help her, or against her I know her fairly well, and found her to be a good sort —always rea<% to give help in trouble. Well, Roy, the position is that, if you are going to try and help her, the best thing to do is for Ivy not to recognise her. In the course of proceedings the lady will be in the room with several women, and Ivy will be askeu to pick her out, and if she makes up her mind not to recognise her, it will squash the whole business, and end it as far as Ivy is concerned. On the other hand, it means seven years for the woman. The reason lam writing this is because I am sorry for her. She did not turn when I was in a mess.” The letter was signed “Bill.”

Detective Sergeant Doyle gave evidence that the accused admitted writing the letter, and made a statement in which he said that he wanted to make it clear that he had not been approached in the matter by Jean (the name by which Jessie Morris was Known).

Accused pleaded not guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial.