POISON TRAGEDY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4521, 23 October 1930, Page 2

POISON TRAGEDY.

MOTHER AND 'SON DEAD.

DAUGHTER’S ESCAPE

Chrislchurih, October 21

By administering poison mixed in a cup of sulphur and golden syrup to her two ‘children, aged Hi and 17 years, Fanny Eliza Mary Hanford, a married woman, aged 4!), caused the death of her son, Frank!, and almost caused that of her daughter, Iris. Mrs. Dunford was found dead in a coal shed at the hack of the house, the door having to he broken open by the police engaged "in searching for her.

According to the information gained by the police, Mrs. Dunlord, who resided at 53 Salisbury Road, and whose husband is away working at Glen Wye, who was normally cheerful, behaved in a rather strange manner last, night and refused to speak to her daughter. 'Fairly this morning Mrs. Dunford fold her children that she wanted them to Like some sulphur and golden syrup, which she had mixed in a eup. The boy took his share, .hut the girl, after tasting it and complaining that, it was hitter, refused to finish it.

The girl then became alarmed and rushed from the house and round the corner to the residence of Dr. Arthur Thomson. She told him her brother was ill and that her mothelr had tried to poison him.

iDr. Thomson wont round with the girl to the house and there found the hoy in agony. He was taken to the Christchurch Hospital, hut died almost immediately. The girl, although suffering from the effects of the poison, made inquiries from some neig'hgours as to the whereabouts of her mother, hut no one had seen her. Then the poison took effect, and tin; girl herself collapsed and was taken to the hospital, where site remained in ;i critical state for some time, hut gradually made an improvement, and during the afternoon was allowed to see some of her relatives. Detective E. M. Thomas and Sergeant M. Hudgins took charge at the house in Salisbury Street, am! after searching for M f rs Dunford without success decided to ibrealc open the locked door of a coal shed in the yard. There they found the dead body of the unfortunate woman.

On searching the premises they found a bottle of poison from which some of the crystals had |ice ll taken and in the hoy’s bedroom a <mp containing some sulphur and golden syrup together with traces of the poison crystals. Inquiries were made for Mr. Dunford, and eventually he was located working at Glen Wye. A message was sent to him and he came to Christchurch by the train to-night. Tlic coronocr (Mr. E. D. Mosley) opened an inquest concerning the deaths of Mrs. Dunford and her non. Detective-Sergeant ,1. B. Young represented the police. John 'Leonard Bowers, an assistant slaughterman and a brother of Mrs Dunford, gave evidence of identification of the body of his sister. The inquest was adjourned sine die.

Miss X. Bain, daughter of Mr*. Bain, of Mnnawatu iTcads, was agaiu successful in exhibiting her Airedale dog, KutlitHi* (Men Box-ton, at tl)i“ Hastings Royal show yesterday. She won Ist, 2nd and 3rd. prizes.

Members of the general public who appreciate really smart footwear should inspect the latest importations at Mrs. Ball’s Boot Store, Main Street. These include both ladies’ and gents’ requirements, the most attractive on the market.*

To-night a deputation, representing a numiber of ratepayers will wait upon the Borough Council at a special meeting called for the purpose, and submit certain recommendations and reasons for deferring the Council’s policy regarding the installation of talkies and other suggestions for the reduction of administrated costs.

The Palmerston North City Council has decided to apply for sanction to raise a. loan of £2OOO for the construction of a road to the Tiritea reservoir, in order to find relief work for unemployed. An application is to he made to the Covernment for a £2 for £1 subsidy. The raising of the loan is contingent upon the Government granting the subsidy. At the inquest at Palmerston X. yesterday concerning' the death of Miss ,Sabina Violet Radford, whose body was found in the Mnnawatu River near Ashhurst on October Itltli, the ICoroner returned a verdict that deceased had met her death by drowning in the Manuwatu. “Tn view of all the circumstances one might conclude that deceased committed suicide, though the evidence is not conclusive,” added the Coroner.