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A CORNISH MYSTERY.

EVIDENCE AT INQUEST. LETTER PROM MISSING WOMAN. 'UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION —ET ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH —COPYRIQHT.) LONDON, November 24. Sensational evidence at the inquest to-day deepened the double mystery, iiml intensified the keen public interest in connexion with the disappearance of Mrs Annie Hearn, following the death a fortnight ago. of her friend, Mrs Alic<» Thomas, a Cornish farmer's wife, in whose organs an analysis disclosed at fatal quantity of arsenic. Mrs Hearn described herself as a Sheffield doctor's widow, but a doctor witll a name identical with that of the alleged husband denies that she is his wife. Tho inquest is creating such excitement that the police had to regulate the queues at the Plymouth Guildhall, tin' sceim of the enquiry. A letter read at the inquest, posted by Mrs Hearn from Launceston, Cornwell. to Mrs Thomas's husband 011 November 10th, the day she disappeared, ran • "Good-bye. lam going out if I can. I cannot forget that awful man, and the things he said. I am innocent; but she's dead. It was my Innch she ate. T cannot bear it. When I am dead they will be sure I am guilty. You at least will be clear. May your dear wife's presence guard and comfort you still. My life isn't a great thing now Minnie ("the deceased sister of Mrs Hearn) has gone. My conscience is clear, so lam not afraid. lam giving instructions about selling my things, and hope you'll be paid in full.'* It was explained that "the "awful man'' was Percy Parsons, who laid after the funeral on November Btb: '•This poisoning case must be cleared up." -

The Thomases and Mrs Hearn. on an excursion to Bude on October 18th, alp salmon sandwiches provided by Mrs Hearn, who apparently consumed one but was not affected. A dose of wbiskv cured Mr Thomas's slight subsequent illness. Either Mrs Hearn' op Mrs Tliomas usually provided the sandwiches on such occasions. The. latter liecamp ill when her husband vraa motoring her and Mrs Hearn homeward. and died in Plymouth Hospital °'J November 3rd. a few hoars after an mission. A chemist deposed that Mrs Hearn honght an arsenical weedkiller in 1926.

Thomas. 7n evidence, said he had been married 20 years. His wife and Mrs Hearn were good friends. Mrs Hearn prepared food for Mrs Thomas ■or 11 days of her last illness Mrs Parsons., the patient's mother, gave ner 10 aspirin tablets from a bottle owned by Mrs Hearn; ' Witness on October 29th told Mrs Parsons about the illness, after . which she took charge, with apparent benefit, though? Mrs Hearn still did some cooking. Witness lent Mrs Hearn £3B in 1928, but did not give his wife cause for jealousy. A doctor diagnosed the illness as ptomaine poisoning, though he admitted that the symptoms were consistent with arsenical poisoning, and sent the patient to hospital. Mrs Hoprn behaved strangely, and refrained from food for the latter portion of her stay nursing the patient. Thomas consulted the police after Mrs Hearn went to her own home. H* and a police sergeant found that eTftnin<r thnt she had decamped, and the police have been incessantly and nnsuccessfully searching for her throughout England.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19301126.2.90

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20095, 26 November 1930, Page 11

Word count
Tapeke kupu
533

A CORNISH MYSTERY. Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20095, 26 November 1930, Page 11

A CORNISH MYSTERY. Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20095, 26 November 1930, Page 11

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