SALAMAN’S TRIAL

Hokitika Guardian, 24 November 1930, Page 5

SALAMAN’S TRIAL

EVIDENCE CONCLUDED.

(By Telegraph—Press Association),.

NEW PLYMOUTH Nov. 22. The trial of. Salaman, the Indian herbalist, on the charge of. manslaughter was continued to-day.

Wm. Blair Robertson, sheep-farmer, of Eltham, gave evidence that he took insulin for diabetes for five years. 0n... June 10, he visited, the accused who’* examined him with a stethoscope. He was given medicine. Accused did not say anything about taking insulin. He returned later and mentioned the insulin. Salaman said it . did not matter as lie had not taken it 14 days before his visit. He received more medicine twice. It'did no good. He returned to. the .insulin. ,

Dr J. S. Church said he called to

see the child Christie after its death, <; « He concluded it died of diabetic “coma. ' 1

Examined by Mr Weston/’- withesA said that thirst was due to an excess of sugar in the blood. The stethoscope was‘. useless, in, the diagnoses of kidney trouble. Adults could leave of insulin with less bad effects than children.

> To Mr -O’Leary: —He did not see theboy alive. His opinions were 'based, on what he was told, i • *

Dr C. A. Taylor gave evidence .that he had, had considerable .experience with diabetes nt Dunedin, .Aiieklphdj and London. From the post morijem on the boy Christ!©..he considered that death was due to. diabetic coma,-' Had he received t treatment, on the Friday the child would ’probably have recovered, and; possibly if treated on ..the Saturday. The .child Maekley .was taken to the hospital with coma, and received 120 /'hnits ..of insulin in 12 and fluids and recovered;' : Detective P. 1 Kearney described his visit to accused’s house. _ ./• ; ! Mr O’Leary intimated that he would not call evidence for ..the defence. The-Court adjourned till Monday.

COUNSEL’S ADDRESS. NEW PLYMOUTH, Nov. 24

The charge, of > manslaughter against Wally Mahonwd Salaman was continued this morning., ;. v . The Crown Prosecutor, ■Mr C.. H. Weston, addressed the jury. He said the qualifications of , accused was not the issue. Anyone could not practice; could not charge for service \ and could not sue for fees., , The questions for the jury were; (1) Did the accused as Christie’s .medical adviser have conduct of the case of the boy

(2) Did hits conduct, of the ; case cause or accelerate the death of the hoy? •' . '. < (3) Did ftucli conduct show lack of - skill or knowledge, or lack of care or both? . , Counsel reviewed the evidence and dealt on the fact that when insulin had 1 been stopped, and the hoy brought to him evidently in a coma, Salaman took no action, when the case was evidently beyond him. Mr O’Leary, counsel-for accused, m; ibis »wldre*» *to the #ry submitted that the weakness of the Crown’s case lay in the-fact that It placed alternate charges. The evidence hod not shown that Salaman was responsible for the boy’s,death, -The child had been given till his sixth year to die and he had lived eight months beyond that. ' Concerning the medical evidence, O’liary said insulin had not been in U9e for more than seven yearß , and no system had been, treated longer than that. It was possible that, the child’s condition was the result of; insulin losing its power. _ Then again, the doctors: in Wanganui gave no hope for life for the 'boy, but the doctors at New Plymouth did not hold the same view. ‘ ' ' It was submitted that the child was starting on the last fatal onslaught which could not be averted The mother, not wanting the child to die without having done everything chat she could, took him to Salaman'. It was contended her evidence alone showed that the death of the boy was not hastened by the happenings at New Plymouth. Accused had said if there was insulin he would not treat the case. Accused had never advised stopping insulin.