POISONED WINE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8354, 14 February 1913, Page 7

POISONED WINE

DEATH OF MRS MILLER LIVED HAPPILY. BUT TIRED OF LIFE. By Telegraph—Preee Association —Copyright (Received February 13, 9.55 p.m.) bXDiNEir, February 13. An open verdict was returned in the Miller poisoning case. The ouly fresh evidence whs that the ausbanil stated that after drinking tha Mine in the morning his wife took tho oottle away, saying she would put it .vhere the boys would be unable to get it. She bad strychnine locked in her drawer. They lived happily, though the wife often said she was tired c. life. On January 29th a mysterious poisoning case was reported from Wellington, 231 miles from Sydney. Mr St. George Miller and his wife were entertaining friends, and everything was going pleasantly. A bottle of wine was produced. Mrs Miller took a glass and collapsed within a few seconds, after exclaiming, “I’m . poisoned." Mr Miller, not believing such to bo tho case, tasted the wine, and began to feel bad. lie ran to summon a doctor, but was overcome. en route. His wife had meanwhile expired. Mr Miller was not expected to recover. An emptied wine bottle had been found refilled with sufficient strychnine to kill a dozen people. Later details stated that Miller, who was a rabbit-trapper, intended to enter a hospital for a slight operation. He purchased a small bottle of wine, and Miller and his wife each had a small glassful iu the daytime, and there were no ill-effects. Each dranh another glass on returning home, and tho wife was soon in agony. Miller‘went to summon a doctor, but collapsed on the way. Miller’s family was attending a dance next door at the time of the occurrence. They heard groans and came in, and then hoard Mrs Miller say: “i am dying." She also said: “I drank tho wine and it poisoned me." and she then expired. Miller had a small amount ot strychnine in his bedroom which he used for poisoning rabbits. The pair lived on tho nappiest terms. Miller said that his wife recently remarked that she was tired of life, but she did not threaten to commit suicide.