FURTHER PARTICULARS.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 373, 24 March 1902, Page 3

FURTHER PARTICULARS.

The following roport is from Saturday’s Auckland Her.aJd : A mysterious case of wholesale poisoning occurrod on Tuesday night at Okoroire, a favourite health resort in the neighbourhood of Kotorua, resulting in the death of Mrs Court, wife of Mr John Court (of the firm of Court Brothers, Auckland, and a momber of the City Council), and in the illness of sixteen other persons. It appears that on Tuesday evening last the guests at the Okoroire Hotel dined at the usual hour, 6 p.m. At about midnight, Mrs Court, who was in excellent health previously and who had oaten heartily and with enjoyment at the meal in question, complained of pains in the stomach, accompanied by violent purging and vomiting. Other guests in the hotel were also seized with similar symptoms of more or less serious degree during the night. Mrs Court was, from the outset, however, the worst sufferer. She remained conscious, but felt extremely cold, and complained of cramps in the legs. Hot water bottles wore applied, and gave somo relief. Mustard and water wore administered, and this stopped the sickness. . In the morning, Mrs Court felt much bettor, but atr 5 o’clock on Wednesday evening she took a change for the worse, and steps were immediately taken to procure the services of a doctor. There was some delay in the transit of the message which was sent to Dr Roberts, of Cambridge, and it was ten minutes to ten p.m. before he received it, and he did not in consequence arrive until about a quarter-past three on Thursday morning. Mrs Court was then, it is believed, unconscious'. Dr Roberts did all he could for her, but informed her husband from tho first that her condition was serious. Thereupon Dr Brewis, of Hamilton, was wired for, but when he arrived the unfortunate lady had succumbed, never having rallied after Dr Roberts’ arrival, her death taking place at half-past one p.m. on Thursday. It is stated that on Wednesday morning, in view of tho sickness of so many of the guests, it was urged that medical assistance should be procured, but the matter was not regarded as so serious as it eventually turned out. The sixteen persons who, in addition to Mrs Court, felt iii-resulta from the poisoning were partly guests ; the landlord’s daughter, some of the servants, and a Maori boy being also taken sick. The doctors attended all the sufferers, some of whom complained of considerable pain. The hotel clerk, Mr Blake, was amongst the worst of those taken ill. Amongst the guests were Mr and Mrs G. E. Bloomfield and their little daughter, Phyllis, of Auckland. MiBS Phyllis was seized with siokness, and suffered from severe pains in the legs, but after treatment she recovered, and a telegram received from her father by Mr E. R. Bloomfield yesterday, stated that she was all right again, and had gone with her parents to Hamilton. A Miss Barnett, another of the guests who was taken ill, also made a good recovery. The coots (a Japanese) and the gardener were amongst the servants who were affected by the poison. No names but those given, are as yet available. A peculiar feature about the affair, which is wrapped up in mystery, was that guests at different tables were attacked, others escaping soot free. Mr J. Court, his brother, and the latter’s wife (both of the Thames) dined at the same table as Mrs Court, who died, and none of them felt any ill effects. The doctors examined the food left over from the dinner of Tuesday evening, and could find no trace of poison. They also examined all the kitchen utensils used in the preparation of the meal, and found everything absolutely clean. It is stated that the only thing in the nature of sealed or potted stuff opened at the hotel lately was a bottle of table salt, and this the doctors took away for analysis. The symptoms developed by the patients caused the doctors. to conclude that they had been poisoned by a strong irritant, but whether a mineral or vegetable poison was not definitely ascertainable. There is a theory that in the absence of any other known cause the mischief lay in the milk, but this is not by any means certain.

An inquest was held upon the body of Mrs Court on Thursday night, when tho jury returned a verdict of death from an irritant poison, there being no evidenoe to show how the same was administered. Inspector Cullen last night received a telegram from Constable McGilp, of Cambridge, whom ho had instructed to prooeed to Okoroire, giving the bare facts of the case, and adding that the patients were now all supposed to be convalescent. Telegrams from Okoroire have to be transmitted through Morrinsville, where the telegraph Office closes at five p.m., and consequently Constable McGilp was unable to telegraph fuller particulars through. Mr L. D. Nathan, whose firm owns the Okoroire Hotel, also received telegraphic intimation last night that tho patients were getting oetter. The blow inflicted upon Mr John Court and his family, by tho sudden demise of his wife evoked the deepest sym-

pathy in the city when the news became known yesterday. Mr Court himself wont to Te Aroha some two weeks ago for the benefit of his health, proceeding from there to the Thames in order to meet the Ponsonby bowlers. Whilst at the Thames, he was taken ill with inflammation of the bowels, whereupon Mrs Court joined him. When ho was bettor, they returned to Auckland, but Mr George Court, brother and partner of the bereaved gentleman, finding him too weak to carry on business, persuaded him to go away again. Thus it was that Mr and Mrs John Court went to Dkoroire last Tuesday week. They intended leaving there on Thursdav last for Oxford, and thence for Cambridge. Mrs Court was in the enjoyment of excellent health up to the time of her unfortunate seizure. The deceased lady who was 54 years of age, and a Native of Birmingham, England, leaves four sons and firar daughters to mourn their loss. Her remains will be brought to Auckland today (Saturday).