A WOMAN COMPELLED BY HER HUSBAND TO TAKE POISON.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1279, 3 September 1886, Page 3

A WOMAN COMPELLED BY HER HUSBAND TO TAKE POISON.

Khoda Caroline Reynolds, the wife of . Alfred Reynolds, a stonemason, living at Newtown, near Sydney, was found last week in a state of unconsciousness. When brought to, she stated that her husband had compelled her to drink opium under a threat that he would cut her throat. She died early this morning from the effects of the poison.

It appears that. Reynolds, who boars the character of a drunken and cruel husband, has been in the habit of illtreating his wife, who was a respectable woman and a good housewife. She stated that Reynolds had threatened her life of late,, and that a few days ago he compelled her to write a letter confessing that she had done, great wrong, deceived her husband, and made a great deal of trouble, and stating her intention to commit suicide as she was very miserable, did not wish to cause further trouble, and would be better dead. She was further obliged to mention that her husband was in no way responsible for. her death. This letter, which was signed by Mrs Reynolds, and addressed to her mother was found by the police, -who were directed where to find it by the unfortunate woman. Mrs Reynolds stated that last evening her husband mixed some opium in a cup of water, stood over her with a carving-knife, and compelled her to drink the opium under threats that he would cut her bead off She drank the poison, and Reynolds sat by and watched the effect of the di ng until his wife was becoming stupefied. He then rushed out. The woman, however, by a strong effort, got up, took her bady in her arms, and dragged herself to her mother’s house, a few doors awav. She soon lapsed into a state of stupor, but medical assistance was obtained, and the woman restored to consciousness It was expected that she would recover; but she succumbed to the poison. At about half past four this ruovuin" Reynolds, who returned to the house shortly after the police arrived, was arrested, and, as bis manner was strange, he was sent to the hospilal. He is now supposed to be dying from the effects of a narcotic recently taken. He is only twenty-six years old, his wife being two years younger. They had been married seven years, and had three children, the youngest being a baby eight weeks old.

August 15. The inquest in connection -with the Newtown poisoning case was opened yesterday. Evidence was given by the mother of Mis Reynolds to the effect that her daughter, when she reached her house, stated that her husband had poisoned her, and she displayed the utmost terror of his return, and asked that a policeman might bo sent for to prevent her husband from using any violence towards her. Mr and Mrs Reynolds had never lived happily together, the deceased having always been afraid of her husband, who was intemperate, while his wife was a total abstainer. A mystery appears to surround the letter, which the den ceased stated she had written under compulsion, so that her husband might not get into trouble over her death. The witness declared that the writing was not her daughter’s. The cup from which the opium was drunk by the deceased, and the knife with which Reynolds had threatened to cut his wife’s throat if she did not take the poison, were found on the kitchen table as indicated by the deceased in her statement. A medical man deposed to death having resulted from opium poisoning, and the inquest was ad» journed till Thursday. It is reported that Reynolds has made a statement to the effect that he compelled his wife to take poison.