POISONING MYSTERY

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 195, 7 November 1927, Page 1

POISONING MYSTERY

DEADLY LIQUID IN BEER BOTTLE ONE DEAD: ANOTHER IN DANGER (From Our Own Correspondent) HAMILTON, To-day. ANE man is dead, and another is in a critical condition, the result of drinking liquid which they mistook for beer from a bottle which had been placed in their car. The two men are farmers in the Karamu district, about 18 miles from Hamilton. Allen Cornall, aged 31, is dead. James Cheyne, aged 40, is still unconscious, and is in a serious condition in the Waikato Hospital. It appears that the two victims, who are well respected in the district, attended a dance a few miles away at Te Pahu, accompanied by their wives, on Friday evening, as they usually did. The function was well conducted, and no suggestion has been made of any trouble which might imply a motive for the placing of the bottle in the car. On Sunday afternoon the men decided to give the car a slight overhauling, and when they lifted the lid of the tool box found a large bottle of what looked like beer wrapped in paper. The seal was intact, and there was nothing to indicate that the contents were not what was specified on the label. After completing the work on the car, about two o’clock, they each consumed a glass of the liquor. Both immediately suffered great pain, and developed symptoms of poisoning. Mrs. Cornall ran to a neighbour's house for help, and Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Smith arrived quickly, and did all they could for the sufferers. Dr. F. M. Spencer and Constables Kirby and Neil, of Hamilton, were also summoned. Mr. Cornall died at five o’clock, after suffering great agony. Mr. Cornall leaves three children. Mr. Cheyne is married, and has five children.