CHARGE OF MURDER

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 70, 13 September 1911, Page 3

CHARGE OF MURDER

CHARGE OP MURDER, MELBOURNE DOCTOR UNDER ARREST. YOUNG WOMAN MISSING. Allegations by a young man, Clifford Poke; regarding the fate of a young woman. Mary Margaret Davies, led to the arrest in Melbourne last week of Samuel M. P. Peacock, surgeon, aged 71 years, on a charge of murder. It is alleged that Dr. Peacock performed an illegal operation on the young woman,, and that death followed. The body has not yet been discovered.

A man called upon Sub-Inspector Detective O'Donnell and informed him that Miss Davies, who was a single woman, ■2O years of age, was missing from her home at 23, Howe Crescent, South Melbourtie. He then made a statement which brought into the case Clifford Poke, who was at once communicated with. Poke boarded with Miss Davies' parents. He confessed that improper conduct had occurred, and ho declared that the young woman had died in Dr. Peacock's private hospital at East Mcl- [ bourne after an illegal operation had been performed. Poke added that he had paid several visits to Dr. Peacock, and had had a number of conversations with him. and that the latter had linally told him that Miss Davies had died, and that he (Dr. Peacock) intended to secretly dispose of the body. Eight detectives proceeded in a body to Dr. Peacock's house and surrounded it. Poke, who was with them, was sent in, and a little later he. emerged and said Dr. Peacock had informed him that he had got rid of the body. The detectives then entered the house. Dr. Peacock was told that Miss Davies was missing and that Poke had made a statement of a grave character against him.

Dr. Peacock denied directly and emphatically to the detectives that anyone of tlie njune of Ditvies had been in his house, and said he did not know who had last occupied room five, where Poke hud told them lie had several times visited the woman while she was in the hospital. He was shown a photograph of the missing woman, but he said he had never had anyone in his house of her appearance. He further stated that lie had had no deaths in his house, and was emphatic that there had been none within the last three weeks.

Accused was charged with the offence, and remanded.