POISONING ALLEGED

Chronicle (Levin), 23 February 1948, Page 4

POISONING ALLEGED

tpnauiwu Nurse. Faces Serious Charge „ . TAUMARANRh Feb. 20, In the Taumaranui court ' tpis morning, before J.P.'s, Fay Robefta Phillips, tjll lately a sister at the Taumarunui Hospital was charged - tliat at Taumarunui on January 9, 1948, she administefed, or caused to be iaken by Sister Elspeth Gwendolynne Denison, a poisoh knowh as Belladonna with intSnt to injure ^ and anhoy. _ _jt ] Detective-Sergeant W. H. mj Cromwell prpsecuted and Mr- A. K. Turner, oi Auckland, appeared .for accused. ' Elspeth" Gwendplyime Renispn • said in evidence that pii Qctpb.er 18, while 'ai dinner at 12.30 p.m.,, she drank- a glass of milk which tasted bitter. At some other time during the day, witness ate , dates in the eook's store. ..They had an unplegsant taste. About 1.30 p.m. she bei gan to. feel ill and beppme di?zy | ahd unable tp Walk and ask?d for Doctpf Welby Fisher.. Later witness Weht "to Palmerston* North Nurses' Convalescent Bfome in NQX^mher and on annual leaye in Recember.

"She returned to. duty On January 1 and the ma'tf on being- away, she tobk' charge at dinner at 12.30 p.m011 January 9. Witness took a mputbful from a glass of m;ilk i which tasted bitter. * Other- nur§es , i found nothing wrong With their, i milk. Sister Ann Forbes- sipped wi-t-jhess' milk' "and said it "tasted i awful." Sister Fay Phillips also sipped 1 the milk saying it was bad. Witness , then. beeame apprehensive, rememJ bering her illness on the previpus ! occasion when the milk had tasted j bitter!! Sister Dennison. said she left the ! dining room and put the glass pf ! milk on the table in the Matron's | office. Witness, at this stage, .was ! feeling very ill. Sister Ann Forbes, | who tasted the milk, said she felfe a t bit queer and stated that Phillips • had also complained of a dry jmouth. j Witness was. on friendly terms with" "Phillips. J Accused who helped the Matrpn. 1 in the dispensary while witness was ioff duty,- had acqess to au drugs. I Mr. Turner, cross examining: i "Dp. you believe Sister Phillips did rthis^" Witness: "Yes." 1 The case is pro'ceeding. - -