The weekly echo., 1933-07-07
SECOND DEGREE MUIR
DER is VERDICT IN DIR.
MARMILLION CASE

Friends of Dr. M. J. Marmillion were
shocked last Tuesday when a hung
jury decided upon second degree MUIR
der because of the death of Margaret
Scott at his office.
The verdict closed dramatic trial
that lasted more than week. Battlin5
for his freedom and his professional
reputation was IS year old physician,
highly respected in the community
and father of two sons. And arrayed
against him was sentiment generated
among the church friends of an Is
year old high school senior.
Chief witness for the prosecution was
q years old Archie Harriston, expelled
student of Iona Linda Medical college
who told the court that he had procur-
ed the physician to perform an illegal
operation last February and that ha
took Margaret Scott, the girl to the
doctors office for that purpose Febru-
airy IL. With Harriston on that first
visit went the mother of the dead girl.
Other witnesses for prosecution were
the girls mother and sister whose
stories Of going to the office and seeing
their daughter and sister lying dead
on DIR. Marmillions operating table
carried drama with the telling.
On the other hand. DIR. Marmillion
took the stand last Wednesday to claim
that he knew nothing of an illegal O.
peration and that he had merely pre-
pared to perform a tonsiliectomy. An
array of expert opinion on technical
procedure went into action to hack up
his claims.
A moment of drama came late Fri
day afternoon just as Judge Scott pre-
pared to dismiss the jurors until Mon
day morning. Hardly had defense and
prosecution lawyers told the courts
that their respective cases were rested
than historical screams drifted in from
the hall way.
AS spectators and court room attend
ants hurried to the door and Judge
Scott continued his methodical in
structions with Jurors straining slightly
to hear them above the screams.
Outside, Mrs. Violet Scott, mother
Of Margaret Scott, was writing in
mental and physical agony on the
floor as she shouted:
"Oh, Margaret they say had you
killed. Oh, Margaret, my Margaret" II
required the services of city nurse
to quiet her.
The theory of the defense as de-
veloped in the dramatic and moving
plea of Chief Defense Counsel Tyler
was that on February 8, Margaret Scott
in company with her mother and A
richie Harriston went to DR.. Marmill-
ions office where they procured him
to perform tonsilectomy.
The doctor told the patient to re-
turn the following Monday, the de-
day with HARRISON. DR.. Marmillion, il
is alleged, then ave her an anaesthetic
preparatory to performing the tonsil
operation. All parties agree that she
died within an hour of the administra-
ton of the anesthetic.
Meanwhile, Defense Counsel Tyler
charged in his closing argument, A
richie Harristop had been the girls
lover for some months and was re-
sponsible for her pregnancy, a fact un-
known to Dr. Marmillion.
TT is not the theory of the defense
that there had been no illegal opera
ton" Tyler said Monday, I'VE know
that such an operation had been per-
formed, but we do charge that it hac
been performed prior to the time thai
she came to DR.. Marmillion's office anc
| believe that Archie Harriston know.
all about it."