Mabel Smith

Mabel Smith died from septic meningitis following an illegal operation.

A doctor was tried for her manslaughter but acquitted.

He said that he had not done or assisted in doing anything illegal.

He said that he had prescribed her a certain drug because he had been taught, and had found by experience, that the drug was of great help in certain cases. He said that he had not mentioned the drug in his initial statement because it had been a general statement and did not think it necessary to mention all the things he had prescribed. At the Old Bailey, another doctor was called to give evidence and he said that thirty years earlier medical practitioners had regarded the drug of considerable advantage in certain cases.

After the doctor gave evidence the jury handed the judge a note saying that they were satisfied that the case need not proceed any further and said that they thought that a verdict of not guilty should be returned.

When the not guilty verdict was returned a woman at the back of the court shouted out 'Scandalous, scandalous. A poor girl. That's what it is'.

Mabel Smith was a waitress.