POISON IN AN EGG:

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9360, 1 February 1909, Page 2

POISON IN AN EGG:

amazing defence in a MURDER TRIAL.

One of the most extraordinary defences ever raised in a murder trial was successfully urged at Ulster. Assizes, when Elizabeth Kirkwood Docherfcy was acquitted on a charge of poisoning her husband near Ballymoney. County Antrim, last June. The Solicitor-General, prosecuting, said deceased, who was a farmer, died of strychnine poison administered to him at his supper, which was prepared by prisoner. He (counsel) would satisfy the jury that no human hand was laid upon an egg which contained the poison from the moment it was broken in the pan until it reached deceased, bat that of the accused. Death occurred the following morning. A week later one of prisoner s daughters, aged three years, also died from strychnine poison, which had been taken in milk. The husband’s remains were exhumed alter this second doath, and an analyst would give evidence that the stomachs of both deceased contained from half to a grain of strychnine. Accused had been in an asylum, but it was not contended she was insane at the time of the deaths. In concluding bis statement the Solicitor-General intimated that the defence could he that some strychnine placed on the door of the loft immediately above the kitchen for the purpose of destroying rats had fallen through the rafters on to the egg as it was being removed from the fire to the table. The Crown contended that this accident could not have occurred, but that prisoner’s hand had placed the poisonj in the egg. 1 ~ ' Counsel fdr prisoner said the aefOUC6 was as thQ Solicitor-CxOßßral had stated. The husband, before he died, had expressed this view, and as he had acquitted her he (counsel) was sure the jury would do likewise. As stated above, they did.