WOMAN FOUND GUILTY

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 894, 11 February 1930, Page 1

WOMAN FOUND GUILTY

MAUD HERBERT’S CRIME

“NO OTHER CONCLUSION”

An hour and a-half was taken by ft jury in the Supreme Court yesterday afternoon to decide the guilt of Maud Herbert on a charge of unlawfully using an instrument on a woman on December 22 last. The operation was performed at accused’s house in Denbeigh Avenue, Mount Roskill, the young woman subsequently dying in the Auckland Hospital.

Mr. Justice Herdman, in a strong summing-up, described the case as curious, the Crown evidence being unchallenged except in one statement. The evidence was clear and definite »nd he imagined it would lead the jury to one conclusion and, if it did. 'hen the jury’s duty was to And the accused guilty. The judge said he had tried many cases in many courts in New Zealand, but he doubted if such shocking and extraordinary evidence as had been '■ailed in this case had ever been heard before. One did not know how to describe the conduct of the accused while the detectives were searching •he house.

When the jury announced its verdict, his Honour announced he enfirely concurred in the decision. He could not see that the jury could have come to any other conclusion, he said.