THE KIDWELLY CASE

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 35, 5 November 1920, Page 7

THE KIDWELLY CASE

TRIAL OF HAROLD GREENWOOD

PHYSICIAN'S STRANGE MISTAKE Br Telegraph— Props Association—Copyright London, November 3. The newspapers givo great prominence to tho sensational poison trial at Carmarthen known as the Kidwelly caso. Harpld Greenwood, a prominent solicitor, is charged with poisoning his wife. Shortly after her death ho married a Miss Gladys Jones, with whom, the prosecution alleges, ho had relations prior to his ill-it wife's death. The court was densely crowded, and tho greatest criminal _ lawyers are engaged in the case. Iriuns brought great crowds to witness tne trial, the scenes round the'courthouse resembling those at a national eisteddfod.—Reuter. (Rec November 4, 5.5 p.m.) London, November 3. •v.- i V reenwoot l trial at Carmarthen, which is regarded as the most sensnpional murder trial since the Seddon.caso ill I'JU, took a startling turn during the examination of deceased's physician, who Kave evidence at the Coroner's inquest that lie administered ttwo pills, each containing half a grain of morphia, a tew hours before death. Ho now corrected that evidence, saying lie meant opium, not morphia. He only discovered tha mistako yesterday. He admitted that a gram of morphia would probably cause death, but insisted M was opium. Mr. Marshall Hall, who was defending Greenwood, vehemontly protested against such a sill-prise being sprung upon tho defence without warning, and stated that it altered the whole case for the de-fence.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

(Eec. November i, 8 p.m.) London, November 3 Mr. Marshall Hall half hinted that the defence intended to show that an overdose of morphia was the cause, of death, not arsenic.- At one moment ho threatened to withdraw from the case, but con-, tinued after an adjournment. The doctor said lie had uhe pietcription at his surgery, but on returning to court announced that ho could not lind the originals, as tho 'book had been destroyed. Ho added that the police had had a copy of tho origiiinl for some months, and in it ißie word was opium, not morphia. Tho book was destroyed when he gave up praetico in December, 1919, but he admitted that a copy was made in June, 1920. Mr. Hall cross-examined the witness, and showed that tho second line cf defence was that the arsenic in the body JnigliK have beon derived from glucose, which was extensively used durijjg tho war period for making jam, owing to tho ; shortage of sugar.—Aus.-N.Z.'Cubic Assn. fA remarkable murder mystery developed in July last, as ilhe result of tho exhumation of the body of Mabol Greenwood,, who died in Juno of last year Deceased' was the wife of Harold Greenwood, solicitor, of tvidwelly, Wales, and sister of Sir Vansdttart Bowater, who was Lord t Mayor of London in 1913-14. Evidence at the inquest showed that there was arsenic in the body, though n dootor at: tho time of death, certified to heart disease. A sensation was caused when a chemist gave evidence that vho husband purchased two quarts of weedkillor in 1917, containing 3G per cent, of arsenious oxide. Greenwoods .gardener deposed that weed-killer was not used in the garden. Tho Coroner summoned the husband .to give evidence. As there 'was no response the husband was arrested, and charged with murder. A verdict of wilful murder against Greenwood was returned at tho inquest. There was no suggestion of foul play at tho time of death, 'but the husband in September, 1919, unexpectedly married a Miss Jones. Gossip was started in the village, owing ho l!hc short time tho .first wife had beon dead, and culminated in a general dc- s maud for exhumation.']