A SENSATIONAL TRIAL

Hokitika Guardian, 5 November 1920, Page 2

A SENSATIONAL TRIAL

fAUSTRALIAN &. N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION] LONDON, November 4. The Greenwood murder trial is now in progress at Carmarthen. Greenwood is a solicitor who married a second time a few months after the mysterious death of his first wife. Arsenical poisoning has been suspected. This case is the most sensational murder trial since the Seddon case in 1914. The case took a startling turn during the examination of the deceased’s wife’s physician, who gave evidence at the Coroner’s inquest that he had administered two pills, each containing half a grain,' of morphia a few hours before her death. Tlie physician now corrected that evidence, saying that lie meant opium, not morphia. He . had only discovered his mistake yesterday. He admitted that a grain of morphia would probably cause death, but he insisted; thal> it was opium. Mr Marshall Hall, who is defending C-ireenwood, vehemently protested against such a surprise 'being sprung upon the defence, without warning. He stated it altered the whole case for the defence. Mr Marshall Hall hal£ hinted that wliat the defence intended to show was that an overdose of morphia had- caused death and not arsenic, as suspected. At. one moment, Hall threatened to withdraw from the case, but he continued after an adjournment. Tlie Doctor said he had his prescription at his surgery, but on returning to Court, he announced that he could not find the originals as his hook had been destroyed. He added that the police however, had a copy of original for some time, wherein the word was “opium,” when be gave up practice in December of 1918, but he admitted that a copy was made in June 1920. Mr Marshall Hall, cross-examined him and showed his second line of defence which was that the arsenic in the body might have beeti derived from glucose, which was extensively used during the war period for making Jam, owing to the shortage of sugar.

■ FURTHER EVIDENCE. (Received This Day at 10.40 a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 3. At the Greenwood trial, the Crown Counsel mentioned that Mrs Greenwood died after drinking from a bottle of wine, and the bottle disappeared without a trace. It was suggested that Greenwood put arsenic in the wine. Later in the day Mrs Greenwood was taken seriously ill, with symptoms of arsenic poisoning. Greenwood delayed going for a doctor and then talked so long to the doctor's sister that his daughter had to fetch him. A letter was read from Greenwood to the doctor’s sister J after his wife died, stating she was the one he loved most in the world and offering marriage,. Counsel suggested that this was not a genuine offer, as two days before he had notified the Registrar of his intention to marry Miss Jones, whom he married 3J months i after the death of his wife. LONDON, Nov. 3. Mary Griffiths, the doctor’s sister gave evidence that Greenwood proposed to her and she refused him. She denied that she detained' Greenwood on the night of his wife’s death. She knew of no differences between the Greenwoods on her account. She did not get Greenwood to write the letter regarding the proposal for tlie purpose of righting her before the world. She asked himSvhat he meant by writing the letter. He replied that there was-nothing in it.