KARAMU TRAGEDY

Hokitika Guardian, 17 December 1927, Page 2

KARAMU TRAGEDY

BY TELEGB iPH— PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT. HAMILTON. Dec. 1(1. An inquest concerning the death of Allan Cornall. from poisoning by drinking beer at Karamu, in which startling evidence was given in the opening stages, was resumed before Mr AA'vvern Wilson, S.M., this afternoon. Doris Cheyne. wife of James Cheviie, who was also poisoned but recovered, said that Hutt had threatened to poison her about nine months ago. There had boon no intimacy between, them since Mutt left prison where lie was sent for wife desertion. Hutt had tried to poison her in the kitchen with strychnine, and as a reason told her that if he could not have her lie would not let Jim Cheviie keep her. She quarrelled with Hutt because " she found out he was married, and had deceived her so much.

Witness denied telling Hutt he was the only man in the world she loved. She had no idea how the bottle came to he in the car. Hutt was her only enemy in the Karamu District. She knew of no enemies that Cornall had. Witness denied saying she did not care whether her husband lived or died. Detective Sweeney was the next witness. In reply to the Coroner, Detective Sweeney said the bottle was not sulimitted to expert examination for finger prints, but was scanned and none were found. The capsules found in the car had been examined for finger prints also. The detective said he did not examine the ear’s windscreen with powder to find finger prints as he had none.

Witness said he had not found who put the bottle in the car. Mrs Cheyne never refused to answer any questions be asked. Hutt had detailed his movements from the Friday till the Sunday night of the tragedy. With -egnrd tn Friday night, Hutt said be was alone at Inline. Witness was unable to verify bis statements on that night. Hutt had refused to answer the allegations made by -Mrs Cheviie regarding illicit relationship, or that he tried to induce her to desert her family. Referring to the possession of poison fiy Hutt, the Coroner remarked that there was nothing unusual in that, as lie was a rabbit poisoner by occupation. This concluded the evidence.

In giving bis verdict, tbe Coroner said lie had gone fully into the matter because of the very strong suspicion that crime had been committed. That suspicion (fill remained. “I am quite satisfied,” lie said, ” that this is not anything occidental. There is in doubt that the beer contained strychnine, and there was nothing to lead one to suppose that was accidental. The evidence of the car occupants was that when the car broke down and tlie spotlight was turned on, on returning from the dance, there were no bottles there. It is a pity the empty wine bottle with the beer bottle was not examined for finger prints. The poisoner may have touched that bottle. There is no direct evidence that anyone placed the bottle there. The circumstances raise a very strong suspicion because there was one person if not two who had a strong motive, for getting rid of Cheyne , and if Mrs Chevne’s story is to lie believed, Hutt made an attempt to poison her a few days before lie went to prison for wife desertion nine months previously. The Coroner added that the police inquiries had not enabled him to find anything definite against any person. He could only find that Cornell had been poisoned from drinking beer to which strychnine had been added, and, lie was sure, with felonious intent.