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._-The Abortion Cases. I

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The Abortion Cases. I [SPECIAL TKLEGBAM TO THE LICHO."] i The Glamorgan assizes were resumed to- day-before Mr Justice Charles. There was a large attendance owing to a belief that the judge would first pass sentence on the women ilees and Wilson, found guilty the previous day of attempting to procure the abortion in the case of Mrs Collier. His lordship, however, had decided to further reserve sentence til! he had heard the charge against Rees' husband. This charge was at once proceeded with. THE 8EISIQUS CHARGE AGAINST JOHN REES. John Reea, de.-criheu ;ts an agent, was indicted for usiug on Alice White, at Swanssa, certain instruments with the object of procuring a mis- carriage. Mr David Lewis, iii OPKNING THE CASK, said the ouly question t lie jury would have to consider was, did Reas use au instrument on Aiice White, his intent being to procure a mis- carriage? Whito was a young-woman employed at the steam laundry, and fearing she was enciente went to see a doctor, who told her she was not. She, however, with a young companion, went to see, Rees and he proceeded to commit the offence. She doubted whether it had been properly performed, and told prisoner so, whore- upon he reassured her by saying "the old man had taught him how to do it. Siie saw him again, and another operation was performed, but, as it was in White's opinion ineffective, she demanded the guinea she had paid prisoner back. After much difficulty the mouuy was obtained. The First Witness. Alice White was the first witness, Suo described the reason which first lad her to believe she was enciente, her visit to Dr Sibbering, the conversa- tion with him and his advice not to go to Rees, and her subsequent determination to do so. She went there with her landlady, and on the door being answered by Rees a conversation ensued. I sked, she said, to speak a few words with him, and we went into the front parlour. I told him I was in trouble, and asked if he could get me out of it—if he was capable of performing an operation. He said, "Yes." I asked ii he was quite sure he could do so, and he said, Yes, the cidman taught me everything; but," he added, you must keep it quiet for my poor wifes sakp." Mr YVoodfaii I propose to ask the question who did you understand by the old man ?" The Judge disallowed the question. EXAMINATION CONTINUED. The prisoner examined me, and said I was enciente. Ho asked me to stay with him that night. I refused, as my landlady was waiting for ma outside. lie asked me to send her Cway, but I refused. I promised to come back at ten o'clock at night, but did not do so. I returned Oil another day with a friend nnroed Polly Duustan. Rees let UJ in. He took me into a bedroom, Dunstau remaining dowustairs. He returned, with his hand partly behind his back and something Il1 it; (Witness here described the operation, and said that as she was not .satisfied that it had been properiy done, Rees repeated it.) Siiti said she would not pay him except in the presence of her friend. lie said that his missus never allowed her patients to pay money in the presence of anyone. He asked me for fi vo guineas, but I ,said I had only a guinea, and paid it him in the presence of Duustan. A few days later, believing that the operation had not been performed, I returned to get the money. He repeated that I need have no fear or anxiety, and showed me a lot of letters. He showed me one from Cowbriage and one from Llandilo. I don't know what was in them. I Cross-examined by Mr Rowlands. I I am a single woman, and was at work in the Swansea Laundry. I wa about six weeks pregnant when I went to Rees-I belie-ved I was. I saw a doctor, who said he did not think I was enciente. That was Dr Sibbering, but he did not say it was impossible to say. I was doubtful as to Rees's skill. I knew he was a commercial traveller. I wanted my money back because I did not think he had succeeded. I did not know what he meant by asking me to stay the night except for the purposes of the operation, but afterwards I thought he might have wanted me for another purpose. Nothing was said about a defenco fund for Mrs Rees. I had not heari that money was being collected to defend Mrs Rees. He solicited to make up £ 150 TO LIKTFKND HIS WLFH. He talked of sending for a policeman, and refused to return the money except iu the pre- sence of a witness, I do not get my living partly by immorality. I occasionally receive money. When the money was paid back Mrs Morris, j who was not ""¡th me on the first occasion, was present, and the money was handed to her when the operation was performed. Prisoner came into the room with his hand at his side. I suggest that he did that to hide his hand. I saw in- instrument, but I knew he had one. What right had you to say that he had the iustrmnent partly up his sleeve and partly in his hand ?-No answer. I Medical Evidence. George Sibbering, surgeon, said Alice White came to see him twice-He thought in the month of November. He could not say whether she was in the family way. He could not form an opinion. I Alice White's Companion. Maiy Ann Alonis, wife ot John Morris, said I know Alice White. I went with her un a. Monday Rees's house. She asked him if ho would pay her, and he aid" Ye," They went in 'and another man, who did Hot speak a word, put the money in my hand. CROSS-EXAMINATION. Ryes knew me. I ust*d t>> was!) for his wife. I Detective-Inspector Jones Haid he arrested prisoner under a warrant on December 3rd. In reply to the charge, which was of attempting to procure a miscarriage on Alice White he said, Do you think I should be such a Íoül?" imd on the way to the police-station Reas nsked who the girl was. The same night witness searched the house where Rees lived, and found the instruments produced. CUOSS-KXAUINKO. Rees lived at that house. Her father was a medical man. When 1 handed the warrant to Rees, he said, "Yes, a bastardy warrant." Richard Nelson Jones, Physician and I Surgeon, said the instruments produced could be used for the purpose ofprocurntgau abortion, but they were not generally so used. If so used they would produce a miscarriage. Witness: May I compare them with later instruments? It is au intererstirig matter. The Judge No; certainly not. I CROSS-EXAMINED BY MR ROWLANDS. I don't say they are old-fashioned instruments. They represeut things made for sounding the bladder, but I believe they are made for a purpose. I said before the magistrates that they could be used for the legitimato procuration of premature labour. They could not be introduced without force, and that would cause pain. A Witness Faints. Mary Duustan, who wheu first called to give evidence faipted, aijd after sho bad recovered was at once accommodated with a seat in the box, said -1 went with Alice White to Trafalgar terrace. Rees let us in. and Alice White went with him upstairs. When they came down Alice White said, "I am sille you have uot done it proper." Rees said, "I am sUre I ha ve," and added, "I did the same to a young womau not 20 yards from here," CUOSS-EXAMINED- -r T 1 am a friend ot Alice White. 1 thought Kees meant the operation when he spoke of having done it properly. I have known Alice White about six weeks. I am 20 years of age. The Defence. Mr D. Lewis addressed the jury for the prosecution, and was followed by Mr W. B. Rowlands for the defence. Mr Rowlands contended that the conduct might have been disgusting, in- decent, apd fraudulent. The prisoner might have attempted to obtain money by pretending to perform some operation, but he warned the jury egaii)*t being led by their loathing towards such thipga to pronounce definitely on a particular act. Hecoqteoded that tl^eglib and ready manner in which the testimony of the girl White was given was without a parallel in the history of such cases. They would recollect how it was rolled off without a hitch as to time, the place, or date, and the evident animus of the witness, He contended it was the duty of the Crown to brin forward witnesses in whom they poult) eonftde — witnesses who would speak not of suspicidus circumstances, or of disgusting circumstances, of immoral thoughts and acts, but that the man did really I attempt to procure a miscarriage. The Judge's Summing-up. ) The judge, in summing-up, said that the charge I was one of using an instrument .with intent, and that was the gist of the whole matter—whether an instrument was used with intent. The principal witness was a woman of undoubted bad character, and it had been urged that she was, therefore, not to be relied upon. That was a question which they must decide. There were plenty of virtuous people who were not veracious, and pleuty of uavirtuous people who were veracious. The question of the reliability of the witness they must decide for themselves. Iu putting the must decide for themselves. In putting the question to the jury, the itidga said that if they thought the prisoner inserted the instrument with a view of procuring a miscarriage they would tind him guilty, but if thay thought he merely did something to fraudulently obtain the guinea, they would find him not guilty. THE VERDICT. The jury retired at 12'3 and returned at 12.20 with a verdict of "NOT GUILTY" against John Recs. The prisoner was then discharged.

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