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A PROCURER

EX-POLICE SERGEANT GAOLED. AN ITALIAN. PRINCESS! AND MISSING MAJOR. LONDON, December 3. A former Metropolitan Police surgeon, Richard William Starkie, who was struck off the register in lfj'22 was sentenced at Maidenhead yesterday to 12 months’ imprisonment in the second division for procuring a prohibited drug to a woman described as an Italian princess and a mail who has fled the country.

Starkie, who lives at Oakley-square Camden Town, N.W., was summoned under the Dangerous Drags Act for offering on July 22 to procure for Geoffrey Bradford Vihner otherwise Melville, and for Phoebe Georgina Frances Althera. Ruby - Aldo-Nordi, otherwise Melville, described as of Mill House, Hurley, a certain dangerous ,-„y drag, namely heroin. There was other summonses for procuring heroin. . Mr Sefton Cohen, for the Public Prosecutor, said it was illegal to offer to procure dangerous drags unless the person was authorised-to do so through being either a medical practitioner, a dental surgeon, or a registered veterinary surgeon. ' '

The prescriptions which were the sub•joct of •the proceedings' were handed to Mr Westall by a man who called himself Major Melville, but whose name was Geoffrey Bradford Vilmor. In each case the prescription was signed I ‘p Starkie,” and there were letters after the name which the chemist took to l;e M.D. The chemist inquired about the identity of R. Starkie from Melville, who handed him a card with the name “R, W. Starkie” upon it.

BLANK PRESCRIPTIONS

The chemist also took the^ precaution of telephoning to Starkie, and whn h? was given to understand that the prescriptions were in order the drugs were handed to Melville. Starkie was in the habit of signing blank sheets of paper and giving them to Melville. On the door of Starkie’s house was a brass plate- with name “Di* Starkie ]mt in 1922 his name was removed from the medical register and the only qualification he now possessed was that of a Licentiate of Midwifery in Dublin. Melville who was a man of no occupation, was in the habit' of taking heroin, and Starkie had admitted that he was aware of, this. ( Mrs Melville’s correct name was Mrs Aldo-Nordi,- and she was now undergoing treatment at a nursing home.

“ITALIAN PRINCESS.”

When the matter came to the knowledge of the Home Office Starkie was interviewed by Chiyfrlnspector Prothero of Scotland Yard ,who later received a. letter from Starkie, in which he wrote: ' -

I met Mrs Melville first at a country house. I felt sorry for her and expressed my sympathy She is now an Italian princess. I met, her since in a friendly way and gave her professional advice.

She had had abdominal operations and is very desirous of having a child. She wished to make this possible by an operation or otherwise. In the beginning of July I casually met Vilmer (Melville), whom I • had known about 15 years. He was in the theatrical profession and became a film artist, producer and owner. He told me he was -staying with Mrs Melville and said that as a result of nursing home treatment 12 months before they had both been taking dings he for his old leg injuries and Mrs Melville for her abdominal trouble. He said that both had tried to break off what had become a habit.

LEGACY AT STAKE

I reminded him that I was no longer ou the register. He said he could arrange things, and Mrs Melville pressed me also. An appointment was made and I gave them a sedative prescription telling them that it would cure them of the heroin habit. On July 15 I saw Vilmer, who said lie had had been to Scotland Yard, and had informed them that I would undertake the cure of both if allowed to pre-

scribe heroin. • • • • Subsequently I was, as I understood telephoned to by Scotland Yard. I thought Vilmer had fixed up everything. On July 16 I presscribed one tube of heroin — one-sixth of a grain. I was promised by both Vilmer and- Mrs Melville that they would faithfully carry out a progressive reduction of heroin.

Mrs Melville was in obvious pain, and I did not think it wise immediately to stop the heroin. She again stated her great desire to have a child. One reason was a personal one, and secondly she said there was a legacy at stake. Vilmer said he would write out the prescription, as the chemist desired land after much argument I signed a prescription for heroin. . Vilmer was obviously in charge of Airs Melville’s affairs and had a domin coring manner, so 1 let him write out the prescription. TRUST ABUSED. I saw Mrs Melville and Vilmer on August 1 because my suspicions weie aroused. I noticed that instead of . a small quantity of heroin the amount which had been dispensed was large. I was very annoyed and said I would not assist them any more, and that: they must carry on with the alternative treatment, - « •• - I told them that my trust had been ‘abused.

Mr Cohen, continuing, said from July 18 to October 14, 26 prescriptions | all for heroin had been dispensed by a Maidenhead chemist, and two further ones for heroin in Henley .The amount of heroin obtained on the 28 prescriptions was 2,150 tablets, containing 358 grains working out at about three grains a day. VILMER MISSING. ! Chief-Inspector Prothero said Vilmer was now abroad. He disappeared immediately inquiries were instituted. He I had obtained drugs from two sources 'in London and two persons had been fined for supplying him. Mr J. D. Casswell, defending, said Starkie was working hard to rehabilit- ! ate himself. Starkie gave these prei seriptions in good faith, and he had 1 been tricked by Vilner. Chief Inspector Protthero said that on. September 6, 1921, Starkie was sentenced at the Old Bailey to nine month hard labour for administering a noxunns drug to a woman. Since then nothing was known to his detriment. Starkie as stated above, was sentenced to twelve, months’ imprisonment in the second division, and a wart vont was issued for the arrest of Vilmer.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/HOG19300125.2.13

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Hokitika Guardian, 25 January 1930, Page 3

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,013

A PROCURER Hokitika Guardian, 25 January 1930, Page 3

A PROCURER Hokitika Guardian, 25 January 1930, Page 3

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