ATE POISONED RAISINS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1042, 5 August 1930, Page 10

ATE POISONED RAISINS

MARRIED WOMAN’S DEATH WITNESS CROSS-EXAMINED Press Association GISBORNE, Monday. An unusually long and searching inquiry was held today by Mr. P. H. Harper, S.M., coroner, at an inquest concerning the death of Mrs. Christina Sutherland McMahon, aged 31, who died on July 24 from the effects of poison. Medical evidence was given to the effect that deceased told a doctor, and also a house surgeon, at the Cook Hospital, that she had tilled some raisins with poison to kill ,t ats, and had eaten the raisins by mistake. The principal witness was Robert Milton Bell. He said he went to deceased’s home in response to a telephone message from her. On arrival, she offered him a ring as security for a loan of £25 he had made her two months previously. He refused to accept the ring, and then left, saying he did not want either the money or the ring. When he got home he found the ring in his overcoat pocket IVitness he had previously lent deceased sums up to £25 to assist her in her business as a dressmaker. She had helped to keep his books. He had known her for three years, and formerly hoarded with her and her husband. Witness was then subjected to a searching cross-examina-tion by the police and the coroner. In giving his verdict, the coroner said it was quite evident that death was the result of poisoning. The question was whether it was taken intentionally or accidentally. The evidence of two doctors showed that deceased had said the poison was taken accidentally, in raisins. Deceased also told other witnesses that she took the poison accidentally. “It is quite evident 'that the poison was taken by deceased after Bell called on her that afternoon,” said the coroner. “She said she took the poison in raisins, but it seems strange that she should have taken it by accident. Only one person can throw light on the whole matter, and that is the witness Bell. lam quite sure he is not telling us all, and I am not satisfied with the manner in which he gave his evidence. He appears to be keeping something concealed. “There seems no reason why she should have taken her own life, ■ the loan from Bell was not by any means a sufficient reason. There must have been some other motive if she took the poison intentionally, and Bell appears to be the only one who can give any indication of that.” The coroner said the evidence must be regarded as a whole. In view of the fact that deceased said she took the poison accidentally, his finding would be that she died as the result of poison accidentally taken by her.