MURDER MYSTERY

Hokitika Guardian, 20 November 1930, Page 3

MURDER MYSTERY

WOMAN POISONED

l United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.)

LONDON, Nov. .19

A Cornish mystery has taken a startling turn with the announcement by the Chief Constable that Mrs Alice Thomas, a farmer’s wife, of Trenhorne, near Launceston, died of arsenical poisoning. Mrs Thomas was removed to the Plymouth Hospital on November 4th, and she died on November sth. A. post-mortem was held on November 7th, and her burial took place on November Bth.

The inquest was delayed, pending a medical report on organs that were removed from the fbodv. The next development was the disappearance of Mrs Annie Hearn, aged between 40 and 44 years. She is stated to he good looking, with bobbed hair. She is believed to be the widow of an Army surgeon. She was the neighbour and friend of Airs Thomas. She attended Mrs Thomas during her illness, and was present at her funeral on November Bth. She hired a motorcar on November 11th, and went to Eooe a coast resort. She lias not been seen since. A search of her house has revealed that she scribbled the form of a will. Tt was pencilled on a single sheet of note paner, and ninned to the kitchen table. Her letters include one from auctioneers /■oncoming the disposal of her pro^

pertv. . Tbe police were searching cliffs on November 17th. and they fo'Mid a eo'H resembling Mrs Hearn’s, but tW bos Here' that she is sH'l al-o. amp Gmv are anxious to inter ’>-'w b°r * n 0000 to Mrs Thomas’s ill"e«s, Mrs Hearn’s pfe appears to be M’ of traoodv. Her h" o, '° L have died tire- da vs a.ffer their Haw in 1920. She nursed cluvree tW-,-, last illnesses lmr mother, aunt sister, and one fn<md f* 1 ’" tlr " best part of her life in 1 eloiim others.