DOCTOR’S ECCENTRICIIY

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 407, 16 July 1928, Page 12

DOCTOR’S ECCENTRICIIY

£5.000 A YEAR TO THE DOCK MANIA FOR FOX-TROT A. remarkable story of a successful past was told in the case of George Henry Pooley (60), a distinguished ophthalmic surgeon, at one time earning £5,000 a year, who, at London sessions, pleaded guilty to obtaining credit by fraud aud with failing to disclose that he was an undischarged bankrupt. A married woman, Theresa Ritchie Irwin, 35, said to have been his secretary, also pleaded guilty to obtaining credit by fraud at the same time and place. It was stated that Pooley stayed at Artillery Mansions Hotel, and gave a worthless cheque in payment. Detective Salter said Pooley was a married man living apart from his wife, and that he was formerly in practice in Sheffield. He was made a bankrupt last October, and since then had been in the company of Irwin. They had stayed together at various London hotels and had not paid their bills. Sir Robert Wallace said he would postpone the case until next sessions, to see if any further proceedings were taken. Remarkable Past Dr. Gilbert Mould, of Rotherham, stated that Pooley was a B.A. of Cambridge and a member of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons and Physicians. He was a civil surgeon in the Boer War. Since then he had held various appointments under the Home Office, was .lecturer in ophthalmic surgery at Sheffield University, and afterwards ophthalmic surgeon to Sheffield Royal Infirmary. During the war he was constantly engaged in skin-grafting operations and attempting to restore sight to blinded men. He was highly esteemed in Sheffield, where he had performed countless operations in grafting new eyebrows, new eyelids, and the like. “He is suffering from hypermania, a state of unnatural excitement,” added Dr. Mould. “While in professional practice in Sheffield he was making £5,000 a year or more, but since he has become attached to Mrs. Irwin he has neglected his practice.” Describing eccentricities in Pooley’s conduct, he said that he would be examining a woman patient, and when it was over he would say, "Now, let us have a fox-trot,” and putting on his gramophone would dance round the room, either with her or by himself.