The highlight of the second day of the Stopes v Sutherland libel trial was the appearance of Dr. Marie Stopes in the witness box. Her testimony lasted for over three hours, during which she revealed the wider racial (eugenic) and social program behind her clinic. Stopes’ testimony damaged her case. When questioning his client, Mr Patrick…

The pleadings were read aloud to the Court, following which Mr Patrick Hastings K.C. opened the trial for the plaintiff. He portrayed Dr Stopes as a charitable scientist who, motivated by the public good, gave poor women access to knowledge of contraception. She had set up a society to support the clinic which attracted the…

On 21st February 1923, the Stopes v Sutherland libel trial opened in the High Court in London. While the case is cited in libel battles today, it has greater significance than as a legal precedent to win a legal argument. The battle between Stopes and Sutherland arose from the rift between eugenicists who wanted to…

What was the Gold Pin? The “Gold Pin” (also called the “Gold Spring” and “Wishbone Pessary”) was a device promoted by Dr Marie Stopes. While she believed that it was a contraceptive, others said that the Pin would promote conception and yet others that it was an abortifacient. How did it work? A flyer produced…