DEATH LURKS IN BEER BOTTLE

NZ Truth, Issue 1151, 22 December 1927, Page 3

DEATH LURKS IN BEER BOTTLE

Who Is The Murderer Who May Yet Escape Unpunished? SOME GRIMLY SUSPICIOUS FACTS REVEALED AT INQUEST

ONE thing is clear, however, that Cheyne, who recovered, was the man for whom the fatal dose was meant. On the afternoon of Sunday, November 6, two married,men who, with their wives and families, lived together at Karamu, went out to Cheyne's. carshed to effect some repairs to the car. They were surprised to find m the bottom of the vehicle a bottle of ale wrapped m brown paper, and three bottle caps. They naturally concluded that somebody had been having a little spree m the car on the previous Friday night, when they attended a dance at the Te Pahu publio hall. After they had been working for a time, Cornall suggested that they should consume the beer and Cheyne brought a cup from the house. Cornall filled this up and Cheyne drank about half the cupful, when he commented that he did not like the taste of it — that it seemed rather "hoppy." Cornall then imbibed and sat down for a few minutes' rest beside the shed door, while Cheyne rolled a cigarette. Cheyne then noticed his companion m convulsions and immediately ran to the house and procured some salt and water. By the time he returned with the emetic and summoned the two women, Cornall was m the deadly grip of a virulent poison and suffering intense agony. Cheyne then became concerned 1 for his own condition, and thought he also had better take an emetic. He did so and also became violently ill. Cornall died the same night and Cheyne recovered after several days m hospital. i At the coronial inquiry at Hamilton, last week, some startling evidence was given, from which the following allegations stand out. Cheyne had been rendered violently ill on a previous occasion m February last, after taking a dose of medicine,

and the dootor, on; seeing his condition, diagnosed it as strychnine poisoning. That strychnine was kept m Cheyne's bouse. ». ■'■ ■ That Mrs. Cheyne had been carrying on an illicit friendship -with a man named Edwin Owen Hutt. That Hutt was a rabbiter, who uses strychnine m the course of his occupation. That Hutt had been warned to keep away from Cheyne's place. That Hutt allegedly offered Mrs. Cheyne £600 if she would desert her husband. That the question of getting a divorce from her husband had been discussed between Hutt and Mrs. Cheyne. That Hutt at the time of the tragedy was carrying about a letter which he was endeavoring to have delivered to Mrs. Cheyne. j That on the day after the poisoning Mrs. Cheyne told Mrs. Cornall that she thought the poison had been meant for Cheyne. That when Dr. Spencer arrived on the scene on the Sunday afternoon, Mrs. Cheyne remarked: "It's strychnine poisoning." That according: to the witness, Birch, when he took the bottle from Mrs. Cheyne, later, she drew her hand down it. That Mrs. Cheyne had previously remarked that a grain of strychnine was enough to kill any man. That a young: farmer friend of Hutt's named Len. Adams, knew more than he cared, to say. That the murdered man, so far as was known, had not an enemy m the world. The first witness was a youth named Harold Lang, who formerly worked at ;

WHO put the strychnine m the bottle of beer whioh killed Alan Cornall and which made James Cheyne violently ill? Although the police, and people living m the neighborhood of Karamu, have strong suspicions, the measure of proof necessary to arraign somebody on a charge of murder has not yet been obtained. iiiimtmiiiimimmmmmmmniMnmimiiimaiimimiiiiimiiiiimiimm

the Karamu Post Office. He stated that some time ago, Hutt asked him to telephone to a chemist at Frankton for two ounces of strychnine to be posted to him. The same night, a small packet arrived for and was delivered to Hutt. James Cheyne, one of the victims, detailed the story off the incidents leading to the fatal drink. He did not think the beer was left m the car on the night of the dance. Personally he had not had any beer m the house since last Christmas. When he asked his wife for salt and water, saying 1 that Cornall 'had been poisoned, his wife looked up the pathology book and said "It says baking soda and water" (the

antidote for stryohnine poisoning). The Coroner: Can you acoount for the bottle being m the car? — No. You had a similar experience some time ago, I believe? — Yes, m February last. To a series of further questions ! which followed, witness said it had come to his knowledg-e since . leaving hospital, that his wife had been m illicit relationship with Hutt. Hutt had previously boarded at his house for thirteen weeks m the winter of 1926. After Hutt was told to leave and was Subsequently sent to prison for failure to maintain his wife, Mrs. Cheyne told witness that Hutt had threatened to shoot and to poison her. ■ The Coroner: So that, right up to the time of the poisoning, your wife never told you of "her illicit relationship with Hutt?— No. She asked mo, however, when he was arrested, never to let him come near the place again. In further answer to the coroner, witness said there was strychnine m crystal form m the house. Nobody else m the house took, salts but he. His wife had told him that since Hutt had left she had his letters from him through Len Adams. Hutt and witness were not good friends m February. . Hutt owed him money and he had ordered him to keep away from the place. Witness was worth about £2000 and Cornall nothing. Witness had made a will and had left his money to his wife. She was aware of this will. Martha Ann Cornall, widow of deceased, the murdered man, said that so far as she knew, her husband had not an enemy m the world. She first learned of the intimacy between Mrs. Cheyne and Hutt on the day following the tragedy, when Mrs. Cheyne came into her room and said she had been a wicked woman and told her of her relationship with Hutt. She also said she thought the poison had been meant for Cheyne.

The Coroner: Did you ask her why she thought that? — She said she thought there was only one person who could have done it and that it must have been Hutt.

AVitness added that Mrs. Cheyne went into Hamilton on the Monday saying that if it was Hutt, she intended to give the police every assistance. She said that Hutt had previously threatened her life, and added that they could not hang her for what she had done. Harry Birch, a neighbor, who was called to the scene shortly after the tragedy, said that when he asked Mrs. Cheyne for the bottle she drew her hand down it before handing it over. Next day, on the way into Hamilton, Mrs. Cheyne told him that Hutt had offered her £600 if she would leave Jim (her husband). He also told her that he had property at Opotlki. After Cheyne's illness m February, he had a conversation with Mrs. Cheyne when she said she did not

A Similar Experience Before

Hutt In The Witness Box

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know how her husband got the etryohnine, unless it was m some tobaooo which he bought, m whioh, she said, there was a white powder. She passed the remark on that occasion that she thought one grain of stryohnlne would kill any man. After he had heard that Hutt had been ordered to keep away from the place, he had seen him approaching the house In a rather sneaking- manner. A young farmer named Leonard Adams, said Hutt was at his plaoe several times, during that week-end. He was present when newß was brought to the house on the Sunday night, that the two men had been

poisoned. Both witness and Hutt expressed surprise. The Coroner: Do you remember anything else that was said? — No. The Coroner: That evening, I believe, you had a conversation about a letter? — Tea. j What was that? — It was about a letter written by Hutt to Mrs. Cheyne. Had you delivered letters to Mrs. Cheyne before? — Yes, he sent me two while he was m prison to deliver to her. Why didn't you deliver this one? — Because whenever I delivered one to Mrs. Cheyne she seemed terribly out up. And what happened about the letter on this Sunday? — Hutt said: "Now this terrible thing has happened, I had better destroy it." And did he destroy it? — Yes. Was anything: else said?— Not that I know of. The Coroner: Let me refresh your memory. Did Hutt not say: "If you are asked anything about it by the police don't say anything about this letter"?— Yes. And what did you say? — I said "all right." Was anything more said about interviews with the police? — -I cannot remember, j The Coroner: Again let me refresh your lagging memory. Did not, Hutt remark: "I suppose they will interview you about it on account of me being seen going about with Mrs. Gheyne so much?" — Yes. Witness went on to state under examination that one night, subsequent to the tragedy, Hutt called him out of his bed late and when witness told him that he had heard that M!rs. Cheyne had been arrested, Hutt stated that if Mrs. Cheyne were locked up she would go mad. Did he say anything about being arrested himself? — He said that if he was arrested I could tell them everything. " " • To what did he refer? — To his carryings on with Mrs. Cheyne. Did you see him on the Monday? — Yes. And what did he say? — He show-

Ed me a photograph of Mrs. Cheyne and hep baby and told me to look after them. He also said: "You stick to me Len, and {'II stick to you, and when it's all over you'll lose nothing by it." The Coroner: You remember Cheyne's former illness? — Yes, Did he refer to that?— He said 1 it was a good thing he was away m Auckland at the time or he would have been blamed for that also. Witness also stated that after Hutt had been released from gaol he rei marked that Mrs. Cheyne apparently had been trying to get rid of her husband and that if, he had been out of gaol he would have been blamed for it. Edwin Owen Hutt, rabbiter, said that at one time he had boarded with the dieynes. The Coroner: Did Oheyne ask youito leave? — Not directly. Did he indirectly? — Yes. The Coroner: When you stayed there you passed yourself off as a single man didn't you? — I may have said I was jokingly. Did you once take a lady there and introduce her as your sister? — She was my wife and I introduced her as Miss Thompson. Witness admitted misconduct with Mrs. Cheyne. The Coroner: When you went to gaol m February you were on good terms with Mrs. Cheyne? — Yes, with both of them. Have you bean back to their, place since? — No. Why not? — Because Len Adams told me that Mrs. Cheyne had said she never wanted to see me again. When did you first hear of the tragedy? — On the Sunday night. Why did you tell young- Adams to keep his mouth shut if the police came to him? — I had no particular motive. Detective Sweeney: Have you threatened to shoot Mrs. Cheyne? — Absolutely no. 'Or poison her? — No. Have you tried to induce Mrs. Cheyne to desert her husband and family?— No. Have you sent letters to her? — Yes, one. What was m that letter? — A photograph of Mrs. Cheyne and a red handkerchief that she gave me. Did you ever suggest to Mrs. Cheyne that she should get a divorce? — On several occasions when she asked me about it, I told her that the way she was going on, she would be better to g-et a divorce. Have you seen them quarrelling at all? — Several times. At this stage the proceedings were adjourned. Doris Bindley Cheyne, wife of James Cheyne, one of the victims, said she married her husband m England nine years ago. She' had not been m the car-shed since the night of the dance. The Coroner: Before he went to gaol Hutt used to visit you frequently? — Yes. . Did he come by road or across country? — Across country until about three weeks before he went to gaol. He used to come sneaking across. Had Hutt threatened you? — He tried to poison me two days before he Tras arrested and threatened to shoot me a few days before that. Witness denied that there had been any intimaoy between herself and Hutt since he came out of prison. Have you told your husband ot your

intimaoy between yourself and Hutt? —I told him m Bell and Johnson's office the day he came out of hospital. Did Hutt offer you £600 if you would leave your husband and tell you he had a lot of property at Opotlkl?— "?es. Why did you oak Biroh if he thought Hutt had property?— l thought he ha.d, perhaps, told me ließ. Detective Bweeneyi Where did Hutt try to poison you? — In my' kitchen. What happened? — He came to the baok door and when I opened it he pußhed me inside and came m after me. fie tried to foroe me into the bedroom and 1 picked up a stick and hit him over the head. He told me if I did not submit to him he would ses that we both died together. He then I took a blue bottle out of hiß pocket and poured the white contents into a i cup into -which he also poured some | water. I then ran out of the house and !he followed me. He caught hold of me and said he was going 1 to foroe me to take it. .1 said: "Don't be a fool, Ted," and he said: "All right" and poured the stuff on to the grass. Detective Sweeney: Did he give any reason for wanting to poison you? — He said if he could not have me he would see -that Jim Cheyne did not keep me. Hie worship . questioned witness about Hutt's . statements about her husband. She stated that he told her she was a fool to tnißt Jim so muoh, as he had been carrying on with other women ever since 1925. These statements set her against (her husband. Did you tell Hutt that your husband had left a will solely m your favor?— Yes. Did Hutt ask you to desert your b.uaband and family? — Several times. Did he suggest that you should get a divorce? — Yes, he eaid Jim had oarrled on with other women and that he would take me himself.

Have you any idea as to how this bottle came to be m the car? — No. Have you any enemies m Karamu?--Only Hutt; Charlotte Rose Birch, -wife of Harry Birch,,," said that after tlie'- ifo'lsoning and -while Cheyne still -'in-: hospital she had a conversation with Mrs. Cheyne. "She told me that on one oacasion Hutfc told her he loved her like anything. She also told me that she would have opened her body and given her heart to Hutt. She added that she never thought Hutt would have done what he had done." Detective J. Sweeney said that m consequence of instructions he went to Karamu on the evening of the tragedy. He was accompanied by Constables Kirby and Neil. Witness told of how he recovered the beer bottle and a wine bottle. Witness went on to detail his interview with Hutt. A thorough search was made of his hut. No trace of strychnine was found, nor was there any trace of beer or beer bottles m the whare. or m the vicinity. An appointment was made for a meeting at the detective office, Hamilton. Hutt did not, however, keep the appointment. Witness aaw Hutt on November 19. when he (witness) told him that his statement had been read to Mrs. Cheyne and that she denied certain statements made by him. He made no I reply other than to say he -would make no further statement. j He saw Hutt again on November 26. Hutt had previously stated that he could not show them where he had destroyed certain poison when he was at Wright's place, as the place was flooded over. He later showed them where he had burned the poison and there -were traces of glass there. The Coroner: The man wa6 a poisoner by occupation, so there would be nothing unusual m him possessing poison. ■ Witness again interviewed Hutt, after interviewing Adams. Hutt, on that occasion refused to answer any more questions. The coroner said he had gone fully into the matter because of the very strong suspicion that a crime had been committed. That suspicion still remained. "I am quite satisfied," he said, "that this is not anything accidental. There waa no doubt the beer contained' strychnine, and there is nothing to lead one to suppose that It was accidental. The evidence of the car occupants was that when the oar broke down and the spotlight was turned on upon returning from a dance there were no bottles there. It is a pity the empty wine bottle : with the beer bottle was not examined for finger prints. The poisoner may have touohed that bottle. There is no direct evidence that anyone placed the bottle there. "*The circumstances raise a very strong suspicion, because there is one person, if not two, who had a strong motive fop getting rid of Cheyne., And, if Mrs. Cheyne's story is to be believed, Hutt made an attempt to poison her ' a few days before he went to prison for wife desertion nine months previously." The coroner added that the police inquiries had not enabled him to find anything definite against any person. He could only find that Cornall had been poisoned from drinking beer to which strychnine had been added, and •he was sure with felonious intent.