POISONING MYSTERY.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 March 1923, Page 1

POISONING MYSTERY.

INVALID’S DEATH. VERDICT OF MURDER. AUSTRALIAN ANI) Nt.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION LONDON, March 10. At Newport, Monmouthshire, a coroner’s jury lias returned a verdict of wilful murder against William Morgan, the son of Mrs Jennie Morgan, who died under such mysterious circumstances that the doctor with-held a certificate. and ho reported the woman’s death to the coroner. It was stated in evidence tha. the woman had hetpieatljed her property to her children, including the son William, hut excluding her husband. The startling character of the case developed rapidly recalling many of the features of the Greenwood and Armstrong poisoning cases. The facts established were: Firstly, that the woman died of arsenical poisoning ; secondly, that she was too weak to feed herself; thirdly, that a mysterious box of arsenical weedkiller was found in an office where her son V illiam was employed.

The complications were increased by tlie extraordinary disappearance ol a 21-vear-old girl, Ethel Doris Andrew, who was Mrs Morgan's maid, and who was summoned as a witness.

Mrs Anthony, a neighbour of the Morgans, gave evidence of there being strained relations between the man and’ his wife, alleging that the former complained that he lued been treated like a dog. She said that the wife had wanted a separation, and she alleged further that the wife had complained that when her husband prepared her food it tasted salty and burned her mouth. The foreman of the jury intervened mid asked the witness if she were not drawing mi her imagination.

The husband was examined by the Coroner, lie said that there had been no occasion for anybody to take weedkiller home. It would not he brought home to kill weeds. Four ol their fowls which had been fed on the table scraps, died mysteriously. His wife's brother had informed him that his wife had made a will under which 1,0, property ecu,ld he sold after tier lh and that her husband could •>" turned out. He was entirely ignorant ~f ),is wife taking arsenic. He am, his wife were not estranged, but were on alfeefiouate terms. William Morgan gave evidence that ),«• had new r touched l-killor kept in Ids -dike He had noticed specks in i., : meet leer’s airowrool Hite did not t.,1,0 hoi eicirtoi’: advice lull.' H< |,: ut made n statement to the police 1 that lie 1„| I .yen worried because his mother had complain ■<! of the saltiness ol her He admitted throwing away a Dn niic! a bottle. Thu deceased's hrother-m-law sin tort in rvulm.ee that he, drew up the v.,11 . • (!■ . ivciilesi of the cl< ceased - sens. ' william Morgan collapsed cm hearing verdict.