Evening star., 1949-12-31
Doctor Delivers Baby
'0n Release from Jail
In Mercy Killing
By the Associated Press

BY the Associated Press
GOFFSTOWN, N. H, Dec. 81
A country doctor, out on bail on a
murder charge in the alleged
mercy killing" of a cancer pa
tient, delivered a baby last night
after his release from Hillsboro
County jail.
Dr.. Hermann N. Sander, 40.
former Dartmouth ski champion.
assisted at the birth of little
girl to Mrs. Louise Crocker. %, Of
Elliot Hospital.
And today he went about his
work as usual. treating four pa
tients who were waiting for him
at his office.
DR.. Sander, who was released
under $25, 900 bond late yesterday,
is charged with first degree mur-
der in the death of Mrs. Abbie
Borroto. SO, of Manchester. wife
of an oil salesman, on December
a. The State accuses the physi-
clan of injecting 10 cubic cent?
meters of air into the veins of the
cancer sufferer.
Experts explained that air bub-
bles in a blood vessel find their
way to the heart or some other
part of the system and stop circu-
lation-a fatal condition.
Il am not guilty of legal or
moral wrong" DR.. Sander told
newsmen after he was released.
ultimately. my position will be
indicated" he said.
Husband Supports Action.
The case which has stirred wide
spread discussion will be presented
to the January session Of the
grand jury scheduled to open next
Tuesday.
On DR.. Sanders decision to re-
sumo practice, DR.. John F.
Wheeler. secretary of the New
Hampshire State Board of Reg
istry in Medicine, said:
mo action is contemplated at
pureSent and none will be taken so
far as the board is concerned
unless the man is found guilty
following a trial"
Strong support for DR.. Sander
came from the dead woman's hus-
band, Reginald Borroto. Describ-
ing the doctor as wonderful
man." Mr.. Borroto declared:
II cannot believe that he is in
any way to be blamed fer my
wife's passing. He has my COM
plete confidence.
However. Mrs. Borrotos three
brothers were divided in their
opinions.
"As far as I am concerned" said
Thomas Constantine Of Bangor.
Me-, "it should have been left to
the will of God"
Bernard Constantine felt DR..
Sanders actions were wrong"
He added that he held mo malice"
toward the physician.
The third brother. Louis Con-
stantine. said he felt nov that
she is gone, she is better off,
Criticized in Massachusetts,.
The man who swore out the
murder warrant, County Prose-
cutor William H. Craig, praised
Dr.. Sander, one of the towns lead
ing practitioners, but added:
HE thought he was performing
an act of mercy but there is no
justification for committing mur-
der any circumstances"
DR.. John P. Bowler, president Of
the New Hampshire Medical So
+ciety refused to comment "at this
stage" He promised that when
the proper time comes" he would
make a statement for himself and
the society.
Sharp criticism of mercy kill
ings in all FORMS" came from DR..
John F. Conlin. director of med.
ical information and education
for the Massachusetts Medical So
ciety.
THE primary obligation of the
good physician" declared DR.. Con-
lin, lis to maintain and preserve
life, certainly not to destroy it.
"The law maintains that the
physician is not the final arbiter
TO the right of patient to live.
Circumstances do not alter this
situation, whether the request for
relief from life comes from the
patient or relative"
Called 'Idealistic."
The doctors wife, the former
Alice de Witt, 81, of Sussex, N. j.,
defended her husband, calling
him conscientious and idealistic.
ITO any one who knows my
husband" she said, "and knows
how conscientious and idealistic
he is. the very thought of any
such charge (murder) is just i'm
possible"
Three prominent Manchester
citizens posted the $4,000 bond
which gave DR.. Sander his free
dom. They were DR.. David w.
Parker of the Elliot Hospital.
where DR.. Sander is a staff mem
ber, and Rudolph Keller and Carl
Mute, insurance company execu-
tives.