POISON TRAGEDY

Hokitika Guardian, 26 November 1930, Page 3

POISON TRAGEDY

INQUEST PROCEEDINGS. ,

SENSATIONAL INTEREST.

Press Association. —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.]

LONDON November 24

Sensational evidence at the inquest to-day deepened the double mystery and intensified, the keen public interest in connection with the fortnight’s disappearance of Mrs Annie Hearn, following the death of her friend, Mrs Alice Thomas, a Cornish farmer’s wife, in whose organs an analysis disclosed a fatal quantity of arsenic. Mrs Hearn who described herself as a Sheffield doctor’s widow, hut the doctor with a name identical t«o the alleged husband, denies she is his wife.

The inquest is creating such excitement that the police had to regulate the qvieiies at the Plymouth Guildhall, the scene of the inquqiry. A letter was read at the inquest, posted by Mrs Hearn from Launceston (Cornwall) to Mrs Thomas’s husband on November 10th, the day she vanished. > Xt- ran—“ Goodbye, I am going out. I cannot forget that awful man and the. things lie said. I am innocent, i,but she is dead. It was my lunch -that she ate. - I cannot hear it. When I am dead they will he sure I am guilty. You at least will be clear. May your dear wife’s presenefe he an outward comfort to you still. My life isn’t a great thing and now that Minnie (Deceased, sister of Hearn) has gone, my conscience is .clear, so T am not afraid. lam giving my Instructions about jelling the things and hope you’ll be paid in full.” It is explained that the awful man was Percy Parsons, who said after the funeral—“ibis poisoning case must be cleared up. The Thomases and Hearn on an excui-sion to Bude on 18th October ate salmon sandwiches provided bv Hearn who apparently consumed one but was unaffected. A dose of whisky cured Mr Thomas of a slight subsequent illness. ,« '•"Mrs Henrn or Mrs Thomas usually -pfovided the sandwiches on yich occasions. The latter became ill when her husband was motoring her and Hearn homeward, and died in the Plymouth Hosnital on 3rd November, a few hours after admission.

A ehomist deposed that Hearn bought arsenical weed killer in 1926. Thomas in evidence, said he had been married twenty years. His wife and Hearn were good friends. Airs .Henm prepared food for the deceased on . eleven days on the last illness.

Mrs Parsons the patient’s mother, gave her gennspirin tablets from a bottle owned by Hearn. Witness’ on . 29th October told .Mrs Parsons.about the illness, after which she took charge with'apparent benefit, though Airs -Hearn still did some of the gooking. 1 Witness.. lent Mrs Hearn £3B sterling, jn’ ,1928, but did not give his wife cause for jealousy.

A. doctor diagnosed ptomaine, though he admitted the svmptons were eonisi stent with arsenical poisoning. He sent the patient to the hospital. Hearn behaved strangely and refrained from food during the latter portion of the stay nursing the patient. Thomas consulted the police after Hearn went to his own home. He alidvg police sergeant found that evening, she had decamped.

The police.have been incessantly, but unsuccessfully searching . for her throughout England.