PRINZESSIN MYSTERY

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 2006, 24 July 1919, Page 3

PRINZESSIN MYSTERY

DOCTOR AND GIRL TAKE POISON. Wellington, Last Night. Some particulars of a mysterious happening on the Prinzessin were told at Iho Magistrate’s Court this afternoon, when C. S. Aspinall and Bessie Bates wore charged before Mr E. Page, S.M., with having attempted to commit suicide. The male accused showed some hesitation when ashed to plead, hut (inally he said: “I will plead guilty. I was sorry for another person. I did it on accoutn of sorrow.” The female defendant also admitted the charge against her. Chief Detective Boddam ‘■mid that Aspinall was the doctor of the Prinr.essin, the female accused being it passenger. The latter had informed witness and Constable Burnell that on Monday afternoon she was in the doctor’s cabin, where she found some phials containing a drug in a tabloid form, and marked “poison.” Obtaining possession of one phial, she took (he contents about 10 o’clock at night, but she refused to slate her reasons for having done so. Early the following morning she was found in a state of collapse. Two other medical men wore travelling on (he vessel, and they saved the woman’s life by applying restoratives. She is now out of danger. "When the male accused was charged aboard the vessel, he stated on hearing of Miss Bates’ condition as the result of taking the drug, that •he felt ho was to blame for carelessly leaving the tabloids in his cabin. He said the responsibility was so great that he had taken 14 grains himself. The two other doctors saved his life. The Chief Detective continued: ‘‘There is not the slightest doubt that it these two doctors had not been on board the ship would have berthed with two corpses. I know nothing about the doctor, and in his case I ask you to defer passing sentence for a week. He is not in a tit state to be at large. He threatened not only to the captain, but to oher people that he would commit suicide. The female accused is a daughter of respectable people who live near Waverley. We know nothing at all about the girl, and have not had time to sec her parents.” The Chief Detective suggested, pending sentence, that the female accused might, be placed in the care, of the Salvation Army authorities, and he reiterated that it -was not safe to let the male accused go out.

His Worship remanded Aspinall for a week’s medical treatment, and ordered the defendant Bates to he brought np again on Saturday. Meanwhile she was to lie placed in the earo'df the Salvation Army.