A MEDICAL MAN COMMITTED FOR MANSLAUGHTER.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2286, 15 July 1880, Page 2

A MEDICAL MAN COMMITTED FOR MANSLAUGHTER.

[uv TKLEGi;.VI'J[.] I \'vi;i:cai:i;ii.l, July 14. j)r Moffat was prosecuted at the Police Court to-day on a charge of manslaughter, The evidence for the prosecution showed that the accused was called in (o attend the wife of a laborer named Cameron who was near her conlincrncnt. He remained with her from G p.m. till after midnight, when he left, declaring that'another doctor would have to ho called in. A nurse, who was in attendance, proved that he had used instruments, and that- his conduct and and language was both violent and and overbearing When he left, Mrs Cameron was suffering the most excruciating agony, but the accused refused to listen to the entreaties of the wife, husband, or nurse. He went away stating that lie must have sleep, that lie was not responsible for consequences as be had not been engaged previously, and that only for drink he would not have been at Wiuton. Cameron, the husband despatched a messenger to Invercargill on horseback, and called on Molfatt to sec what be could do for “ a dying woman,” but be refused to be disturbed. Another surgeon from Invercargill arrived by train at 8 o’clock next morning, and within half an hour delivered the woman of a child, which was still-born, one of its arms being black and discolored from the effects of Dr MoJfatt’s treatment. The mother appeared to rally at first, but bad symptoms followed. and she died next day. The post mortem showed that death was caused by rupture of the womb, but as to bow this arose the medical evidence was exceedingly indefinite. Dr Molfatt was committed for trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court, flail was allowed, the accused in <£2oo, and two sureties of £2OO each.