DOCTOR’S "MAXIMS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 685, 10 June 1929, Page 10

DOCTOR’S "MAXIMS

GIRL PATIENT WHO WAS AFRAID A Kensington doctor who gave mental patients "maxims” to suggest to them a better life lost his action at West London County Court. Dr. F. R. H. Meyrick sued Miss Ida Gahagan for £42 in respect of a stopped cheque. He said that Miss Gahagan and her sister came to him as patients, but caused so much trouble that he told them to go. The defence was that Dr. Meyrick, by creating a scene, frightened Miss Gahagan into signing the cheque. Mr. Henriques, for the defence, submitted that the cheque was signed by Miss Gahagan when in a state of fear induced by the conduct of Dr. Meyrick; that there was no contract for payment in. advance or a week’s notice; and that the treatment of the women was such as to entitle them to leave at a momen’s notice. Mr. Blagden, for Dr. Meyrick, referred to the maxim as "an eccentric but entirely harmless document,” and submitted that there was no evidence that the cheque was obtained by menaces. No threats could be read into the maxims unless the defence suggested that the maxim, "The woman who hath no satisfaction in her soul and is not moved by the concord of a contented mind is only fit for treason, stratagem and spoils,” was a, threat to prefer an unfounded charge of treason. Judge Hargreaves said that he was satisfied that Miss Gahagan was in fact in a state of mind of considerable fear of Dr. Meyrick at the time she signed the cheque. She would therefore, receive judgment with costs.