MURDERED WIFE

Hokitika Guardian, 29 February 1928, Page 2

MURDERED WIFE

arsenic found in body. (Australian A X.Z. Cable Association.) MELBOURNE, Fob. 28. The inquest on Mrs Griggs was resumed at Omen. The husband is at present in custody, on a charge of murdering his wife. The evidence showed that the relations between Griggs and his wife were strained owing to his relations with another young woman. The wile went away for three months’ holiday. Ihe night she returned she was taken sick after eating a meal prepared by her husband, who also supplied her with other food, and gave her medicine which the doctor prescribed, hut she gradually grew worse and died the next day. A doctor gave a certificate of death from heart failure, hut owing to rumours, the body was exhumed and found to contain a fatal quantity of arsenic, of which Griggs had a quantity in his possession when arrested. . In a lengthy statement made to the police after he was arrested, which was read in Court, Griggs admitted having strained relations with his wife over a woman named, and that he had been guilty of misconduct with her; also that he had promised to marry her when his wife got a separation. Griggs denied giving his wife poiTlie case is causing tremendous local interest. Mistress Grigg’s illness was accompanied hv severe vomiting and other indications of poisoning. These at the Hme were attributed to a recurrence of sen sickness, from which she suffered on the voyage home from Tasmania. On Sunday, the day of the fatal seizure, Griggs conducted a service at two local churches. In his statement he declared that if his wife died of poison. she must have taken it lierselt. A statement made to the police h\ the woman, aged 20. who caused trouble between the couple, was read in Court. She admitted frequent misconduct between her and Giiggs at the parsonage, and elsewhere. Giiggs l„l«l |u?r his wife was coming hack only to get: her things and then they were going to gel a separation, and when tilings' were fixed up, lie would marry her. .Medical evidence showed that more than a fatal (lose of arsenic was found hi Airs Griggs’ intestines. Apparently she had more than one dose, and the last one, not long heloro death. The doctor who attended deceased in the fatal illness gave evidence that he had formed the opinion that the vomiting was due to a rough trip from Tasmania. Under this belief, he gave a certificate of death due to heart failure, following on exhaustion. When informed that his wife was dead. Griggs asked for whisky, adding that her death had shaken him up a good deal.