WAR-WEARY SOLDIER

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume XLV, Issue XLV, 7 September 1917, Page 1

WAR-WEARY SOLDIER

AND UNSCRUPULOUS DOCTOR. ATTEMPT TO CONVEY DISEASE. A peculiar case occupied the attention of a London Magistrate during June. John Henderson Bell, 40. a medical practitioner, of Chelsea, was charged on remand witk attempting on January 24 to produce u disease or infirmity in Sergeant Albert Cyril Oit, of the Australian Imperial Forces; and Mordecai Levi Markham, 34, a tailor, was charged with aiding and abetl ting Dr Bell. The disease was stated to, be synovitis.

Dr Bell was further charged with committing on May 22 an act preparatory to the wilful production of a disease or inrhmity in Howard Hawkins, a soldier belonging to His Majesty's Forces, and Markham with aiding and" abetting in tile alleged offence. Mi- Travers Humphreys, in opening the case for the prosecution, said it appeared that Albert Cyril Orr arrived, from France . on January 10. He was anxious not to go back, and wanted to get a position on tjie Staff in England. He met a woman of the streets, and through her became acquainted with. Markham, a ladies' tailor in Great Portland street. Markham suggested that for the payment of £25 an operation could be performed on him which would get him into hospital. On January 24 he went to Markham's premises, where Dr Bell injected something into one of his knees, and was paid by Orr £25 in the presence of Mavkham. Subsequently Orr went into a hospital, where he remained for some time. When Orr came out of hospital he made a confession wliich caused Major Brown, Assistant Provost Marshal of the Australian Forces, to make inquiries. He instructed Warrant Officer Hawkins to get into touch with Markham through Orr, - and on May 17 the same woman intro-" duced them. Markham said: " Yes, I can introduce a doctor, but he will have to be a different one, because the one who did the operation in the case of Orr has been called up." Whatever that statement meant, commented counsel, the doctor was the same doctor. The price was agreed at £SO, and it was stated that Hawkins would be unfit for two or tore* months. On May 18 Hawkins went to. a workroom in Cbiswell street, and £lO was paid on account, and the time and place for the operation were arranged. Next day Markham went to the Regent Palace Hotel, where Hawkins was staying. After dinner they went up to a bedroom ■u->ipr«. snid Mr Travel's l-fiiirmhvevS I"U>-

wnere, saia jix rravers juumpnreys, ue-tective-sergeant Brewer, who was concealed wider a bed, took down in shorthand all the conversation. Arrangements for the operation were made, and as the result of a discussion about money £lO was handed over. Markham said: "' You will be in hospital for four months." Hawkins, who was known as Burgess, subsequently paid £3O, and it was decided that the operation should take place at Great Woodstock street, where the woman lived, Dr Bell not caring to perform it at the hotel. On May 22 Hawkins went to the house, and onc3 more Brewer was concealed under the bed. Brewer heard everything Bell said that there was some objection to the operation taking place on 'the knee, and thought that the nose would be a tender spot, as Burgess was suffering from a cold. While making preparations Bell said that Burgess would be ill for at least two months, and added: " When I have finished with, you you will not be able to do any more military service." Brewer then left his concealment, and the defendants were arrested. Sergeant Orr, aged 21, said that ho joined the array at Adelaide in 1914, and had seen service in the Sinai Peninsula and France. Speaking of the operation, he said: " I was told that it would cost me a penny or twopence to get fixed up. 1 got on the table, and iodine was rubbed on my knee, and a- hypodermic injection made on the inside of the left knee. Bell said tluit probably in a day or so my knee woidd swelL and that inflammation would set in. I was to give it exercise, and if the desired end had not been attained I was to see him again. I paid him five 'fivers,' and he afterwards got me some sal volatile. My knee got worse and became very painful." Successive remands followed this hearing of the case.