ABORTION'S ARTFUL AID.

NZ Truth, Issue 108, 13 July 1907, Page 5

ABORTION'S ARTFUL AID.

CURIOUS CASE AT CARTERTON.

An Incriminating Statement.

A YOUTH COMMiTTED FOR TRIAL.

Up Carterton way there is a pathetic \ case of a boy and a girl who loved not wisely but too well, and then sought the measures too oommonly known is this sinful world of ours to save the girl. The' first idea gleaned by the public was when the girl took ill seven weeks ago. Next the police got' wind of the matter, and, as subsequent events show, their task was a dead easy one. The ignorance and, perhaps, innocence of the youth, who is aged 19 years, may be gauged from the fact that. he made [ a full and unreserved incriminating statement to the arresting Detective, Rawle, and it would seem that Rawle, m taking this statement, failed to warn him of the consequence of a confession, a matter, of course, which must be a subject for comment at a later stage. George William Hulley, who is a butcher's assistant, was charged at Carterton, before Macristsate James, lasit Friday week, with procuring an

; illegal instrument, for the purpose of abortion- The astuteness of the police was further exemplified when they put the girl m the box and practically asked h&r to incriminate herself. The unfortunate youngster, when questioned by 'Tec Rawle, could scarcely speak, and little was> obtained m corroboration of Hulley's signed statement. The witness said she did not remember anything occurring m December, which appears to have been the period of love's young dream. She had told Hulley the state she was m. The Magistrate : What state was that? Solicitors Hollings (for Hulley) and' Pownall (for the girl) objected to leading questions, but were overruled. The girl said she had told Hulley she was "m for it." 'Tec Rawle : Did accused give anything to you ? Messrs Hollings and Pownall again objected, but without success. The gdrl said she got two bottles of medicine from him. He also gave her an instrument, which, she described, and next she refused to answer questions concerning the use of the instrument. 'Tec Rawle : Did Hulley tell you where he had procured it ? Objection was made to this question, and it was withdro/vvn. The girl said-i'this occurred before she went to ChristcJuirch. She did not ismeinbcj; when she went to

Ohxistohurch. The witness was evidently overwrought, and IT. WOULD HAVE BEEN BRUTALITY to proceed further with her. Dr. Johnston said he was called m and found the girl m a certain condition on May 22. The child was between 4f and 5 months old and had been dead a fortnight. He could give no opinion a s to how the miscarriage, came about. The girl was suffering from septic poisoning. A tent •» such as produced would effect the purpose, although there was no evidence of foul play. A "tent," if used, would cause a miscarriage within twenty-four hours, hut it was - absurd to say that one used m January would take effect m May. To Mr Hollings : A fall from a bicycle two or three weeks before might do it. He had been told -that tfids .had happened. It required considerable experience and a knowledge

of anatomy to use a "tent," but it was astonishing how often it was used. Detective Rawle stated that on May 29 Hulley had signed a statement. He is a butcher's assistant working for Frank Stempa at Carterfcon, and he that he first had something to do wiih the girl on or about December 15. Three weeks, later the girl found something the matter with her, and suggested a preventive. Hulley went to A. J. Lind-op, chemist, and remarked, "Arthur, the girl's pretty crook," and he described her' symptoms and gave the information that she was enceinte to him (Hulley). Lindop gave him some liquid, which had no effect, and a week later another bottle of the .stuff was produced. This was also unsuccessful, and Lindop then gave him an instrument described as "something like a, stick." Also he gave instructions how to use it. The girl appears to have had her doubts about it, however, for she refused to use it, and finally said she had thrown it away. She went to Christohurch for a week's holiday about 3-£ months ago. Hulley was m the habit of TAKING THE GIRL TO DANCES, and she had: a fall m the Clareville hall about five weeks previously. Hulley saw the girl nearly every night up to about May 7, and on the 18th the girl's mother reproached him with getting the girl into trouble and more particularly with failing

t« tell her about it. On the same day the girl's mother and another woman went m a gig 1o Masterton. Asked the girl where they were goiag, Sfce replied, "To Masterton." Hulley asked, "What for ?" She replied, "To see about me." Hulley said, "Who's she going to see ?" The girl replied, "I don't know." On June 10 saw the girl's mother, who said, "This affair is going to cost you £10,. George. I can't afford to pay for it myself. I expect the money by Monday." Told her that he hadn't the money. The instrument shown him by" 'Tec Rawle was exactly similar to ihc thins: obtained from Lindop, who charged £1 m all. Rawle deposed further thab bs went to Lindop, who gave him the box of "tents" produced. Solicitor Hollings protested that this was no evidence, as all chemists stocked "tents." Rawle said he did not warn Hulley against incriminating himself mvtil he had made a second statement. Did not tell him he was going to prosecute him. He was seeking evidence against other peonle. He had nothi»T; to do with the failure to serve a subpoena on Cons>table Griffiths. Mr Hollings : Did not Hulley tell Griffiths m your presence th-at he objected to an attempt at abortion being made on the girl ? — Witness believed that Hulley did object. To the Magistrate : Hulley objected to the girl going to Masterton with her mother a.nd another woman. Mr Hollinirs contended that there was no evidence against the youth. He did not know what was m the

bottles 'obtained, from the chemist, and the liquid might have been colored water. The boy did not even k*ow what a ''tent" was, and described it as being like a piece of wood. He failed to understand why tb.3 Inspector of Police should refuse to allow a subpoena to be served on Sergeant Griffiths, to whom Hulley had given information as to the intention of others to procure an abortion on the girl. Hulley had told Griffiths that he HAD OFFERED TO MARRY THE GIRL. and was sincerely attached to her. This was important evidence on his behalf and counsel resolved to find out why Griffiths had not been allowed to attend the Court. Evidence had been extracted from Hulley which bad served to implicate him, and the detective then told him he would be prosecuted. This was grossly unfair, and although it might be clever on the part of the detective, he thought a jury would take a different view. James, S.M., said there was sufficient evidence to warrant him m committing Hulley to stand his trial at the Mastertori District Court on August' 18. Bail was allowed, self m £50 and one surety of £50.