FARMER POISONED

Hokitika Guardian, 12 February 1931, Page 1

FARMER POISONED

EMPLOYEE’S ADMISSION. (Bn Tdc.iiniii/i —Per Press Association) TE AW AM 111 - , February 11. I'klwiii'd Charles Walsh. single, of Auckland. aged fifty-two, pleaded guilty to a charge of injuring bis employer, -lames Allen burns, aged seventy, farmer of Mangapiko, by adminiscring poison <»• i January 27b. I)c----tcctive Sergeant Thompson said Walsh was employed by Burns since August in helping about the farm. Walsh bad an early breakfast including sago pudding left over from the previous meal. Then lie went to a cowshed, leaving Burns' hreakiast read\. Burns appeared later, and started to consume the pudding. He noticed a bitter taste. Pains followed. and Burns hurried across to a neighbour, who called a doctor. The latter diagnosed strychnine poisoning. and applied restoratives. Burns next day was out of danger. The doctor and a neighbour visited Burns’ home, and examined the pudding and plates. limling distinct traces of strychnine. W hen the police arrested Walsh later, the accused said lie resented Burns reticence, and sprinkled the contents of a bottle he found in the cowshed on the food, thinking to make him a bit sick. Accused averred he did not know tin 1 crystals were strychnine. Evidence in support of the police case was given by Burns, the neighbour Tail by. Dr Miskens. Constable Dimmer and Mr Griffon analyst. Walsh was committed to Auckland Supreme Court for sentence.