PONSONBY POISONING CASE.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 108, 27 June 1885, Page 3

PONSONBY POISONING CASE.

No light has yet been thrown upon the j poisoning of the girl Margaret O'Brien* who died suddenly at Mr Courtneys residence, l*onsonby, on Saturday night. Mr Pond has completed his analysis, with the result that arsenic was found in both the stomach and vomit. Immediately upon the discovery of the presenoe of arsenic, the matter was placed in the hands of the detectives, and they have been diligently prosecuting their inquiries ever since. They kaye, however, not been abl« to ascertain where the arsenic was purchased, and indeed tho result of their investigations so far amounts to nil. Mr Courtney took over the house from Mr Linabury about a fort night ago, and he is positive that he did not leave any arsenic behind. Mr Courtney, too, is equally certain that he had no arsenic in his possession, although there were phials containing other mixtures about the house. No motive can be assigned for the girl purchasing and taking poison intentionally. She was in the best of spirits the day before her death, and was j romping with the children, and working energetically all day. She was engaged to be married, and her betrothed, j who is naturally distressed by the shocking occurrence, intended that they should be married at Christmas. The whole affair is mysterious in the highest degree.

Adjourned Inquest. The inquent o» the body of deceased was resumed at the Fonsonby Club Hotel before Dr. Philson and the jury, of whom Henry Woodruffe was foreman, this afternoon Sergeant Pratt and Detective Twohey represented the police. The following addi* tional evidence was adduced :—: — Sergeant Pratt said that since the adjournment the police had handed the vomit and contents of the stomaoh to Mr Pond for analysis. From information since received from Mr Pond, the police had inquired at the various chemists' shops, but could not ascertain whether poison had been supplied to the deceased at any of them. Mr Courtney had assisted the police in their enquirfj^ in every possible way. The evidence previously taken having been read over, Dr. Knight was recalled, and deposed : On Monday evening last I handed over the contents of the stomach to the constable for analysis, and he gave thotn to Mr Pond next morning Next day I examined the brain. I found it to be perfectly healthy and thtra was no moibid appearance whatever. On cksjr examination of the stomach next day, I found an ulcer oa the greater curvature of recent formation. It was as large as a threepenny piece It did not perforate. There were also some white spects or deposit about themucousmembrance of thestomach. 1 have this day obtained from Mr Pond the result of hi* analysis. It is as follows :- On the 16th inst. I received from Constable Collis one bottle and one jar, with instructions to examine the contents. The bottle was corked, and contained about half-an-ounce of fluid, and a small amount cf white sediment On examination, I found this* percipitate to be nrsenious acid, weighing l'S grain. Tho label on the bottle was as follows :—": — " No. I— Fluid and sediment found in chamber at Mr Courtneys house, after the vomit of Maggie O'Brien. Saturday, 13th June, 18S5, 11.30 p.m. Tho jar contained about 14 cunce? of thick fluid af a reddish brown colour, w ith floculeut matter through out. Tho (loculi I found to be ptincipally mucoua octahedral crystals, entaugled in places. Some portions of the floculi were of a bright yellow green, and contained granular matter, probably chlorophyll, from vegatablo matter eaten. The tests -were in accordance with this supposition by decanting the fluid, I obtained crystals, which have proved to bo arsenious acid. The weight thus collected being one seventh of a grain. From the fluid and floculeut matter. I have obtained a further amount of arsenical salts equal to arsenious acid 2 817 grains. From the insoluble material 1 have found a few epicula of g)«?s or silicious matter, but much less in weight than the arsenic obtained. The label on the jar was as follows:— "No. 2. contents of stomich of Maggie OBrien, Monday, Jwno 15th. ISSS, for analysis. (Signed) A. 0. Knight —l am, &c, J. A. Pond. Detective Twohey said he had a list of all arsenic sold in the chemist's shops in town lately, but no suspicion attached to any of the purchasers. Dr, Philson said this proves nothing, as a chemist said lately at an inquest, that they sold '* Rough on Eats" without restriction to anyone. Detective Twohey produced some powders found in a chest in the girls room. Mr Pond examined these powders, and said they either contained arsenic or antimony. It was stated that they were horse powders, and a juryman explained that arsenic was sometimes given to horses to improve their coats. Mr Courtney said the powders were condition powders for horees, and contained black antimony, aloes, nitre, and camphor They had no arsenic in them. Mr Pond said antimony was sometimes partly composed ot atfeemc He then pro ceeded to a neighbouring chemist to make an examination. Mr Courtney said that he would do all in his power to assist the police. The doath of this girl was a great cloud over him, and made him feel uncomfortable. He felt it so much that he would give a reward to anyone who cleared up the mystery. Mr Pond says the oondition powders which he had j.ist examined apparently contained s large amount of canth&ride3 but no arsenic The Coroner : Did you find any trace of the poison known as "Rough on rats? Mr Pond : There was some seditious matter, but 1 think it was part ot the food. I do not believe the arsenic was contained in tho ' Rough on Rats " mixture, but was part of the commercial article arsenio The foreman enquired the probable time in which the poison would cause death if a large quantity of arsenic were taken. The coroner replied that it might be from two to ten hours. Constable Collis deposed that he handed ovei the bottle and jars referred to in the previous evidence, to Mr Pond,, on Tuesday morning. They were in the same state as when given to him by Dr. Knight. Since the adjournment he had inquired at the chemists' shops in Ponsonby and Newton and had been unable to find out whether deceased obtained any poison from them. Mr Courtneys closot had been searched to see if there were any bottles about. No bottle 3 were found