TIN OF POISON

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 38, 15 February 1937, Page 10

TIN OF POISON

MAN CHARGED WITH INTENT TO MURDER. SYDNEY, Jan. 9. A young woman gave evidence at the North Sydney Police Court yesterday that she and a young man, whose parents had refused them permission to marry, had taken to Roseville Park a tin that she knew contained poison, and some cups. She had decided to take her life. Colin McAulay, 23, duco sprayer, was committed for trial on a charge that at Roseville on December 24 he caused a poison, known as weedicide, to be taken by Doris Barbara Gee, with intent to murder her. Doris Barbara Gee said that she had been keeping company with the defendant for about three years. They wanted to get married, but his parents objected. On Christmas Eve they went by taxi to Burwood station, where they took a train to Roseville. The defendant had a tin and she was carrying some cups. She knew there was poison in the tin. Earlier in the week, when he told her his family objected to their marriage, sLe said she would not marry him because of this. He said: “It is not worth while living if we can’t get married.” He told her he did not want her to go with him to take the poison. She replied: “I will take it anyhow, so I might as well go with you.” Continuing her evidence, the girl said they went to Roseville Park, where they talked for some time. Eventually she said they had “better get it over and done with. 77 Defendant opened the tin, and poured some of the contents Into the cups. She took a mouthful and spat it out. After he drank some, she said she was not taking any more and she emptied out the contents of the cups and tin. H e became ill and asked her to go for an ambulance. She telephoned and they were taken to the Royal North Shore Hospital. “NO INDUCEMENT.” Witness, replying to questions by Mr. Penny (for the defendant), said that when defendant's parents objected to their marriage, she decided to take her life. At no time did the defendant induce her to take poison. Detective-sergeant Barber produced a statement which he said was made by defendant. In this, McAulay was alleged to have stated that he was very downhearted because his parents were against the marriage. He suggested to the girl that h© would drink some of what he had in the tin to keep his spirits up a bit. At that time he had a tin of poison with him. He filled up both cups. “Doris sipped hers," the statement alleged, “and immediately threw cup and contents away, saying, ‘lt that is what beer is like I do not know how you can ever take a drink of it. She snatched the cup out of my hands and threw it away.” Detective Barber stated that defendant told him he was under the influence of liquor. Defendant also had said ho believed he gave the girl to understand that the tin contained beer.