SERIOUS CHARGE.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20277, 20 August 1937, Page 8

SERIOUS CHARGE.

TRIAL OF CHEMIST.

EVIDENCE FOR THE CROWN. A FRUSTRATED MARRIAGE. At the Supreme Court this morning Kenneth Patrick Blair, chemist, Hamilton. was charged with supplying pills on June 1 with intent to procure abortion. The case was heard by Mr Justice Callan. Mr 11. T. Gillies conducted the prosecution, and Mr N. S. Johnson appeared for accused. Dr. A. G. Waddell, medical practitioner, of Hamilton, said that when he first saw the girl she had been pregnant for about three months. He examined the pills which the girl had been taking and found that they might produce abortion. In medical science it was acknowledged that the result would be very uncertain. The pills could be used for normal purposes. Cross-examined, witness said it was unlikely that the pills would be selected if it were desired to produce •’ abortion. He acknowledged that the ’ dose ordered was in agreement with that which would usually he ordered e for normal purposes. Witness detailed 1_ the composition of the pills supplied by accused, n d y Analyst's Evidence. *, The acting-Government analyst, Gordon Walter Stace, detailed his anjs alysis of the pills, and said that a ‘ combination nf them was used for normal corrective purposes. The dose ordered by accused would be harmless to a normal woman but to a pregnant woman, if the pills were taken at an early stage, they might cause abortion. Cross-examined, witness said that t _ the pills were part of the stock of any chemist, who could sell them to any- ] one for a proper purpose, e -s ster of the girl said that . following a conversation with her step- . mother regarding the girl, she went to " accused’s shop. Accused was out. The assistant went to witness’ home that evening, and as a result of a conveFre sation witness visited the shop and Lr saw* accused. The girl was taken to IS accused and informed him that irregularities has been occurring for 10 d weeks. Accused said that, he would ■ v prepare a prescription. "It has been 11 left rather a long; time. There will be J no guarantee with the pills,” accused 1_ had said. n Cross-examined, witness said her sole reason for going to accused's shop 5 - was that there was a young lady as- -- sistant. The assistant had told wit•i' ness that she was not allowed to sell c Ihe pills asked for. Witness did not n know her step-sister’s condition when she asked the chemist for the pills. Tried to Elope. When witness returned to the shop for the pills accused asked if there was a young mau in the case. Witness replied that there was and the pair had tried to elope. Accused said tint it was a pity not to allow them to he married. Witness told accused that the girl had assured her father and mother that she was not in trouble. Witness at that time knew the young man had said that the girl was, tint s | this was not believed as it was cone ! sidered that lie was trying to get away _ ; with the girl. Witness did not inform j ! accused of this. j Jean Poynton, employed as assistant e I in t lie shop of accused, described Ihe L ] first visit of the step-sister to the shop, u 1 Sli e had not served her with the pills e jas she was not allowed by accused uj ,n sell them. Witness staled that she r had reported the matter to Blair. s I Following instructions from Blair g | witness had seen the step-sister that „ I evening. Witness had been told bv - i Blair not to sell certain pills. Blair had told witness to tell the step-sister to conic back the following afternoon and bring Hie girl with her. Cross-examined, witness said the step-sister lived only a few minues’ walk away. Blair, however, would not let witness lake the pills along but insisted that Hie woman and the girl ( should see him first. Witness had received no indication from the woman _ of tlic girl’s condition. Girl’s Version, Called to give testimony, the giri 11 for whom it is alleged that the pills - j were supplied said that she was 18 I years of age. She had been keeping 1 company with a young man for some I into and sin* desired to marry him. 1 liter parents would not consent. On ' j "i"’ occasion the pair tried to elope i hut were slopped by witness’ parents ; «ui the Frank lon railway station. She ■ I tlion recalled her conversation with ’ i the chemist. ! Cross-examined witness said for | some, time sin* had led her mother to believe lliat she was in a normal slate. ! 'l'he girl’s mother said she knew ■ that her daughter had been keeping 1 company with a young man. Molh i witness and her husband objected t-* Hi- lii-n-lsliip rt’fusi’ti ,-i.i,sent lo "1111T, 9*0. I'l’l'vioiis to Mia ' l '- 1 to Mia dicinisl. Mia iinm visit,ol ! "ilticss’s SO anil informed her of ' , "' l ’ d.iwlil-r’s condition. Witness - '■’ ■•'i'’ d Imr slop dailjditor - I I’olllo of pills, which wen- for - normal I purpose. \ work before the visit to 1118 -’ 1 1 nti sI. witness’s daiiuliter had I mimilkol her oondilion hut witness *" * l! ' ■lolmson witness said tlud H-O ,'oim.K peoples’ -hilenu’iils I-Cfrard-"W ll|p I’ondiMon of I tie sir! went Ninn-ht to be merely a ruse to force Youno Man In Box. j file youiiK man In the ease, a panelt>nalC1 ’ ° r Kill—idon. said he knew of lu '.'l-t y ""'| h l ’"" ,lil '""’ desired lo !•: v I-- -1 w lien witness 1,1,1 n "’ - lrl 's luother of lhe tirl’s " ;, e si-1, I in Ihe face rebuked and H— mother li.nl replied: ) -I eivon witness information re -r-i . ”l- tile visit lo lllair’s shop and'vvit--1 I"’'* ( VjjT":, t died nrj . "If you have sold pills for abortion I 11 eel ,1 „f a mess ” , " I ' l heniisl as ~ ruse l„ ' '' 1 ’-' '' u I'll ill - ■ answer. Aeons, ,| '" lllNllr ' 1 !l -V"- Sllpplind the hills. |„ i I , replied : "I wish you 1,1,1 111,1 dime it." Aroused had t'olil wiHie-s that the pills were 1ev.,1. Wit I l’ l,ls S" Hi i! lie in —lit gel them bank. | iLuatiuucd m next cuiainii j

Accused answered: "You needn't worry about those pills; they may r.ot work." Witness then threatened to ask the police to get the pills bark, to which the chemist answered. ••Whatever# you do. don’t bring the police into this.” When witness told aeeused that he really desired to marry tlm girl, accused had expressed regret that lie had ever supplied the pills. Alleged Promise. Cross-examined, witness said lie had promised accused not to inform the police, hut Ik* admitted that he was then telling a falsehood. He denied concoct ing a false story of the interview with Hie chemist so as to make ' II"* position harder for accused. When witness had lol.j the chemist of the girl’s condition and they desired to '"•"''■'■''L ■'"■-•u»-1 li-i-i’ I’i'j-li— i: "li | I i-il known Hi,-I. I would i-ov-t li-v----su|q,liv'd lliu.se i-ills.’’