SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST A DOCTOR.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2264, 13 January 1887, Page 2

SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST A DOCTOR.

[BY TKI.KGKAPH, — I'KKKS ASSOCIATION.] Cll KirtTOH uHO 11, Tuesd ay. Last night Mary Bowren, a married woman, whoso husband is away from Christehureh, was arrested on a charge of procuring abortion on herself in January, 18815. At first she denied it, but she afterwards admitted having written to Dr. Rusnoll when she found she was enciente. Ho wrote back on a part of her own letter, .saying ho would not do what she wanted. She said she showed the letter to a woman named Mrs North, who road it. At a quarter-past twelve last nisht she sent for Inspector Pender, and confessed that Dr. Russell had procured abortion on her. About nine o'clock this morning Detectives O'Connor and R. Neil went to the residence of Dr. Russell. On seeing them the doctor came to meet them at the front door, when Detective O'Connor informed him they had come to arrest hiin on a charge of having procured abortion. Ho at once asked permission to be allowed to go upstairs to arrange his affairs, and to write to some friends, especially to a medical gentleman whom he wished to take charge of his cases. The detectives made no objection, and accompanied Dr. Russell upstairs, where he has a small surgery. They rem a; tied with him while he busied himself in the manner he had spoken of. He was running to and fro, apparently greatly hurried, when suddenly he snatched up a bottle of aconite, and swallowed its contents before he could be stopped. He then refused to leave the house, telling them he had taken poison, declaring he wished to die in his own house. The detectives handcuffed hitn and placed him him in a cab, and hurried him off to the hospital. He was attended to by Drs. Stewart and Westna, and the latter administered hypodermically a dose of apoinorphia, which effectually discharged from the stomach every atom of poison. This treatment made the patient very weak, and when his presence was required at the R.M. Court he was too prostrate. There is, however, no danger now of any fatal effect. Mrs Bowren was brought up and remanded to Friday. Chuistchurch, Wednesday. Dr. Russell was not well enough to appear at the Police Court this morning, and the case was remanded until to-morrow. A further case has been preferred against him, of procuring abortion on Kate lisher. A woman named Jane Richards, who has been arrested for abetting him has been remanded till Friday.