A STRANGE CASE. CHARGE OF WIFE- POISONING. FORCING PRUSSIC ACID DOWN A WIFE'S THROAT.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 267, 26 May 1888, Page 6

A STRANGE CASE. CHARGE OF WIFE- POISONING. FORCING PR US SIC ACID DOWN A WIFE'S THROAT.

At the Police Court, Newcastle, <'a->. W. Poiter, alias. W, 11. Dare, recently ot the police forco here, w:h charged with mahcioiu-ly administering a eor*ain poi-on, to wit, }>rufchie acul, to hi- wife, JMai) Poiler, at Bondi, near Sydney, on Apiil Bth last, with intent to injiue her. Maty Jane Poiter, wito oi the accused, said that she married Porter on .'nine 2, 1880, at Port Adelaide. The issue ot the mauiage w<b tlnee ehildteu —two <j,u 1-- and a boy. She lhed with her husband up fdl March 2'Jiul, 1887, at which time thes weie in business in an hotel at Weniliee, \ letoiia. On Maich 2lst she took In i little daughter hack to school at St. Kilda. On the 22nd she letuined and lournl hei husband was not at home Kind ing he did not letuin (he ne\t da),-he made uiquuics. foi him and shoith attei lett toi Sjdne). Whilst, thcio -hewtni to the olhee ot the ln-poetor-(ienoial ot Police ami elicited that her husband was m (lie police force at Newcastle. OuJanuaiy 7 last -lie came to Newcastle and went to the police station, w heie she met her husband, who was then in chaise ot Ihe lock up. lie appealed Miroi lsrd when he-aw hci, and said, " Old lady, w hat has (nought yuiidou n here v< But betore saving this he said, '• Hu.-h, don't speak ; 1 m not known by my light- name dow n heie." ile made-i>ni<_ explanation and ugi eed to meet hci oul-idt in halt an horn. They met. at cording to up pointment, and he began inking hci to keep quiet and letuin to Adel.udc, and he would follow hn at a latei peuod. lletoldhei he had joined thetoice a- a single man, and thiil it would nun him it it became known that he was a mariied man, and that ho could be pio-eeuted toi pei]m\. The it suit of the con\ei-ation was that -he le tinned to Adtlaide. Whilst tin ie -heie eened social let tens from him, tin last dated horn the Public Lduai), S\due\, wliich stated that he intended kawng loi ban Franei-eo, wiicie lie had an ollei ot employment, and he e\pie--ed a hope in the concluding poition that he had (ho coinage to make hei a widow. Sin did not belie\e the content-ot the lettei and \\ ioti to the jiolice at i\e\\ca-tle. I'pou leceiwng a iepl) she came to Newca-tle avails on Match 28th,made uiquuie- and went lo tlu Newcastle Club 'it about h a m., uheic -Ik saw hei husband, who na> emplo\ed a- a stewaid. He a-ked hei what -hewa-.iiiii and whs -k hail not u tit ten. Mie asked him whj he had wiitten thelettu, and he lephed beeau-e he did not want to go back. She leuiained at N\ v. ca-tle toi -ome time, although he tmd haul to per-iuule hei to go awa\ She at lcuirth told him -lie would intot tv t he uhiiii; lad} he w a-com Ling m Newea-ik ih.it he wa- a mained man. He u.gc 1 hei not, to '•-how him up. but to wute to liv paienttoi moncN to enable them both to leave Newci-tle and begin lite again togethei e!-euheie. Shoiliyaftci tin-sh< ma Mi--Laxton, whom the aeeu-ed wa- cum ting, and whil-t talking to hei, aceu-id c ime tiom La\ton& hou-e He took hci a\\a\ and piomi-eel to bieak otl the intimacy wuh the gal b} deiriee-. He atteiwaid- agieed that aceu-ed and uitue-s should go to S\dne\ b\ tiam on Fuday night, Apnl bth. He told her on Fuda\ to get hei luggage leads, -a\ ing that it would be awell it she hid any clothes whielt ueie not maiUed to w eai the.n. She asked him toi w hai leason, and lie replied that it is» S\dnc> tb.e\ had to send out. clothe- to get wa-hed with tv o name- on t hem it wmdd look bad The\ vent to Sjdiie} and put up at No. 1 t otlee Palace, whe>e liny h<v\ bieakfast and -l"pt until 230 p m W hen die—ing md putting on hti biooeh w nh the n.iine "^Minnie on, ho-.aid, " I>o \ou want to ucai that '' and -he lephed, ' No, not [jaiticulaih. Hesaid, '^on nnuht !< nd it to me to keep \v\ tie down ' fie then a-ktd her it the clotlu - -hu h id on hei uck inai ked and -he ie{)hcd tho.\ wnc not Tht\ then went out, toi a walk attti u.t They went to C neulai l>na\ He -ug gc-tcd the> «hould take the tiam io Bondi, -a} mg that theie wa- a nh c biach theie Aecu-ed afteiwaid- h.nii d a Cid), and he told the cabin m to dii\e to Bondi Koad, wheiethe tutu u,i-. When the cabman wa- dining .il.usg ih i lui-liand looked out and -aid, l% Oh, 1 think thi-willdo lhe\ got out o! the»al)iind walkei along the load. He -aid !>• km w the load, and the\ would not go do\» u wheie i\ui}l)ody went, but it. wonl'f f>i bcttei to tuin thi- way, pointing lo 'hi nght. Tlu> went oui the big -andiull. uul her husband s.ud they could sit. down now. Thi y dul -o, .md shoill> ai'aM In suggested that they -hould >nk alxltu piae L, ,\ huh the) <lid. He a-kt'l hei il -lit \\a= tued, and she ujihed that lie wa-, and he told her to n I Ik i head on hi-left aim lie a-ked In iit -he had any sweet-in hei pocket, and sin -aid " Vc-. M He a-ked her foi -ome and -he ga\ c them to lam. He then ki—ed lit ion thecje-, and 1 old her to -hut them lie ate -ome ol the -wect-, and toi 1 In i to open hei mouth, which -1m did, and h<; dioppul some in. Whilst eating them she thought the) tasted Grange and .smelt pc'iili.-n He ate some moic lollies, and tin n ga\e hei some moic. She then noticed something i \eiy htiangc about the -weet-, the smell being poweihd. He asked her if she had an\ m >ie, b>it she did not answer, as .-he ielt -me he was di ugging her. As -he mo\ed -he observ d in his hand a -mall bottle, about two ineches long. She felt hoi ribly ahaid foi a moment and she put hei hand on fu^ containing the bottle and said, " Ha\o you bi ought me dou n here to mvi dei mo He leplied, " Well, why don't you go away and lod vo me." iSht told him he had no light to murder her, or to throw hci a-ide toi the woman he was carrying on with. Ho then asked, "Will you go away oi stop in Sydney V 1 will f-cud money." She icplied that she would not, and she then endeavoured to take the bottle fiomhim and he said. " 1 will take it myself.'' He then made a .slight lesistanee to prevent her taking the but Lie, but .she got it and naid, "Jlather than let you murder me I will take it my.-olf." She placed the bottle to her lipa ami he said, " Don't," but made no attempt top^ent her from doing .so. She told him that a-'he would let her take it ,she wouldn't do it foi j him. She took the bottle and wiapped lit up in her handkerchief. Jlo then began to cry, and after some time | .said he would return to Newcastle that night, no matter what happened. 110 again asked her if .she would stop in Sydney. Ife had scarcely finished .speaking when he pushed her clown, put his foot on her chest and forced another bottle to her lips. The contents went on lo her tongue and over her gums, lips, culls' and hands. She struggled and the icsult wa.s that the bottle got completely emptied and defendant threw it away. When .she tried to sci earn defendant put hi.s hand over j her mouth. He endeavoured to get i the bottle sho had in her pocket, but l^fehc threw it away, She wa& partly

unconscious, ai)d tiied to got over a fence, hut fell. Defendant helped her to got up and told hor not to make a noiso. JIo said, " b'orgho me, I must imvo boon mad; L did not intencl Co tmtiilcL you " SllO cOVlld baldly .speak because her tongue was .swollen. They went to the tram, and all the way to town accused was asking her to for^no him. They then went to the colloe palace and trom t heio leturncd by steamer to .New ensile. On the following Wednesday ni<j,ht she saw accused nea/ 1 the icsidence ol iMi— La^on Ho had pieviou.sl) piomised hct that he would not have anything to do with the «_» i 1 1 . The latter had been in .leeu^edV company, and witness i went up and .-.aid she was tiled of the whole aHan and told Mi-s Lax lon -he was the accused's wite. Accused got in a rage and said, "L'uise 3011; 1 hate \ou," .md -hook hei aim. Accused then lan away as ta-t a- lu> could, and witness went back to I Mi-.- Lax I oil's ic.-ideueo and icmamcd theio all the ni^hl, t..lkm>_; in the lovmv lo Mi--LaMon \\ lnUt 1 hoe Mi— Lavton gas o hei two leltei.s (piodueed) addicssed to her by pi i-onei , and 111 which he Mated I ha. wit in -«. \i,ii In- l.iwlnl s\ile On \piil \<l w tne-s met Ihe accns< d ,il Mi-- Li\tou-hou-o, and in the pn-uiee ol the I'lcik ol pet t \ ,-e--ion- at Newcastle. She a-kt d him to lea\e \cW(,tsllc with hci. He (,u< u-ed) -aid li she would «:<> to Ssdnc) thai ni^hl he would mci t hei .it the ( ie.nei.il Po-t oih<e the next da\. She left 101 .M d ins : but .kcim'il aot keepiuu hi- appointment, she ictumid to Newi a-tle and ga\e mtoi illation to tin poh< i- Sh< had.dwa\hei n a uood .o.d t.iilhtul wile. Iln husband h.ul m \t 1 ,'v 1 '.1- d hi 1 ol uilidelity, allhnnuh he had -omel line- - iid -lie did not eaie lot him. Witm-- m i'iui|utu\ withadeleetni', h.td 1 .11 1 ht d ioi tl<t bottles, but could nut hud (h"in \< 1 v-< d had acknow lodged j I 1I 1 i\ ni'^ ulli\ ( d 11 1 11m L'.JU to 'oO in mi wiini--- p.ll tiit- to in d>!( them tv !ui\>' V we i-ile Cm-- cxaniuud b\ Mi ileadett, M 1M 1 - l'oitci - iid th ii I'tei the aliened poiM»n\n<4 -hi can. • to\(W<.i-li< pel -tcaiiK 1 wilh ho hu-band It va- 011 the hi -4, N\ e<lne-da % > attei lln mi in n net 1 She lepoiiid the mat (• Ito In-pt tin r>it nu. hi. and \li - llanos, piopmioi nt tin Collie I'al.iee, 111 \iwia-tle while -he Hh -tasin;. She -iw Mi— Lixton on \\i due-das ni'jjit, and had a talk with hci in tin pie-inii ol hi 1 hu-i and. She wiote 10 In-pietoi liiitiii.in, but did not tell him ot the <ii Imi u. ' .il I'lOinh It wa- < illn 1 on the -an" d,i\ -he wioic the letiu, 01 the hill. >\\ in- <i a > ( hat -lie -poke to tln in -]>ci toi about tht m.ittei. It u.i- moie than a wiik all 1 In 1 intti\icw with hi -,pc« 101 l'>i Imi in that -hi* I. ml the minima lion sheiemi mbcii'd wnt 111-4 to 1 n -j>< 1 t » »i r.i.nnan, audwivi he < ill* din hi- olln 1 d eapacit \ i 1i 1 lln Col!i c Pal ace -h< wa- '.1! ill in d s'u> at t< inptt d t.i taki hci ov, n lite -mi one oii.i-iou. I vi a- -In va- uintin-iiou- -hu did mil uiiKinbei what it wa^ picseiitcd hci tioin ai 1 nmpb-hii>'4 hi 1 ob|cct Thiin ( 111 u d 111 \ '( toi 1.1, and hei hu-baud wanot pit -eht wln n -he uunptd lino 11r u\( i . \\ hen -hi *\a- pulled out theie wui tlnee muilnii'ii pii'-ent -Mc--i-Ma-tU Moone> , md K"pp'i . Hei hu-band wa-'iut ih",' ,uid -hi w.t- tui.iii! In did not a— i-l hei to tin bidioom. Tin \ had Lept in hull lin \ n toiia Iki n a-on toi ,it .enipunu -nu nil ua-beeaii-i heihu-li'iid wantid in 1 to dunk in ilu, bai with low bu hint 11, and bit iu-i she ictu-cd tv) do -o hi r hu-liaud uot <inu r i> Ho -aid no tuoieat tin tnni, but when the\ went into the btdioom at nmlu hc-tiuekhei ate.ntul blow ami knot ked hti down, and it wa- in eon-iqueui c ot tin- that -he atti mpttd -vi cide. Aicu-id had made apphcition im -imepapii-in hci po— l— loll belonnin 1 ; to him, but she did not care to^iu them \\\> wiien \e<jUL'-ted, a- -he did not icco^nisi hei hu-b.unr- handv\ 1 itiuj; m the note which a-ked hei to m\i them u[). In -lice toi 111 el man 1 \ plained to the Hem h that the ji.ipii- wcie onl\ a numbei ot diihaiu r i-. and that tin at ( u-t d iefu-(d to adilic-- hi- w ih ,1- Mis I'm tei w hi n making the 1 ij.|iie-t foi then. j Mmnit P.nin, hou-Liuaid at No. 1 Colhc I'al.ni, dtpo-id to bi hcj tlnic about liv wcik- ,I^o, when -he -aw MtI'oitei and a man \ei\ much b!%t a. 1 u-v d on Sunda\ 11101 mnu Sin iet'i\.d a in>ie on that (U\\ todeliui up -owe lu;_"4a<_:e the oidi ' In nu -l'^ii' d ".1 I'm li 1 pi iv ii vsiN<. Tin: miM>\ Saiiiiu 1 I'laek, tadoi and |iu^i, who had In ■ n \ei\ intimate with tin .iniisil, and whom he li >d known b\ the name ot j |)aie tv I 1 '. j>a-t nine month-, depo-ed I that on i'hui-da\, Apnl 51 li, winiv— md j a< i 11-1 d walked down tin -111 1 ci \, w lit 11 ( lie J 1,, i u 1 -ti 1 sVai k. \ou .ue not in ;i iiut \\ ' Wi'ii--- iiplnd that he wa- not, and ac m-iil -nil, k\\ t il, I n\ an I sou to do me a tivoui \\llu<- - 1 > ■ 1 < 11 1 1 ' I '( 1 il.iinh, and 1 1 ,1 1 -.I'd "" I want \outo < nine vithme t o '_;' 1 -OIIIC pol-ol), a- I W ant to poi Dll ,i,|n» Tin \ n 1 id to lilai k.dl and Hunt -, iln 1111- 1 -, and l>au a-Kid loi -umepni-on to kill a Nt w toupdLnd -hit whu h wa- ,1 mi'-ani l lit mt tin )).n-on in ,1 -mill buttle, and In a-ked tin ch< mi-l how hi wa- to u-e it — wluthei in watei oi not liluk.dl 'he i hcini-t, 'old him not to mix it with w.ou, .1- the do'_; would diop iniini'diaicls 'I ne poi-011 wa-to be ponied dow n it- tlnoat Aei'ii-ed told the 1 hcmi-t that the do '4 wa- a lame one. and atti 1 he iec.'l\Ld the poi-011, foi whu h ho ]).ud Oil, witne— and aieu-ed -l^ncd the poi-on book When thc\ h'tt the -hop accu-cd )no< i<ded in the dii eel ion ot the Collcc Palace. The.v w eic on the best ol tci m-, and aecn-i d h c (pitnth tod him that lie mt( nded md] 1 led, as he had a uood job at the New ca-tle (bib, and thd the he wa- lo man,\ wa- earning 13 a week, bt-ides suj)poiiiiiLs hei paient-, and Uccpin<_ '» lot of appi entice-. Accu-cd -aid he wa-, makiii'j, betw con L"3 and il L \ per week, and that between them they could i;et uj) a little shop, and m one >cat tht\\ would have siilhctent hi l>o home to laii;l.tud On ApulDth witnc— went, lo Mi- Po>hi, at tin Coilce Palace, to a-k liei it accu-t d had used the poi-on. She lcplicd that lie had, and witue— ob-ei \'ed that her lips wile con-idcrably swollen, about .in inch thickei than they u'-ually weic. line— ad\ i-cd hei to take out a warrant, as he believed the poi-on -he had been id\en was the .-ame accused bought when witness wa- with him. William P.lackall, chemist of UunhMsticct, Ncwea-110, said that ho was anthiiii-ed by the P.oaid ot Phaimacy to sell poisons ile knew aeeu-cd by the name of Daic. l!o vi.sited his shop on lhe moininm of Apul 5 and said he wanted f-ome poison to kill a do^ Witne-s asked him il lie would ha\e btiychnine, and he replied " No," because it would ui\e the dog unneeessaiy }>am. Witnc-s then told him that if he biou^ht in a witness ho would irive him pi ussie acid. Accused went outside and M'turned almo-t immediately with Flack. Wit. icss o/ivc him two diachnis ot iSeheer.s piu-sic acid in a bottle two inches loujr. Witness told him how to use it. and pise him to understand that it would kill a dog almost instantly. It was between 9 and 10 a. in, when he sold the pojpon. The book was signed by accused, Flack and himself. IYusmc acid would not cause a swelling in liie, but it would alter death. II it a'ot well into the mouth it would cause death. Prussic aid exposed to the atmosphere would not cause a blistering ot the lips, although a blight tooling ot coiiHtiietion would result. Uo did not

think il would have any effect, on the lips, if bore. Thero was sulhoient in the bottlo accu.scd received to kill lour or live people^

THE I'IUSONER'S DUPLICITY. Altllion fjaxton, a ssin^le young: -woman, drc.«smakci, deposed knowing tiucu&od for the [mst ton months as Win. Henry Dare. »Sho had kept company with him during that time and believed him to bo a single man. Was not engaged to him. Had visited Moipeth and Lake Maequarie with aeeik-ed, who had gnon her a ling and nnonil othei presents. Knew Mrs Poi tei, who had been introduced (o her by haio. Accused, when introducing her, wild. " Miss L.i\lon — Mis I'oifor/'juid tholatto leplied, " And jour wife." This was the liist time she Know accu.-ed to be a man led man. Mis Potter came to witness -> le-adeuce at •1 o'( lock on the morning ol Apili 12 Wltll a con-table and told witness something in consequence ol \\lti<h slic went to the Colloe Palace, whcio Ml- I'uilo was Maying, and the latlot showed witniss hei^ matiiage cct tilic.it u and photos oi a< etisid <ui«l tlnee clnldien. Wit'ni s- did not <;)\c M>- I'ottei iiny letters .sent ho byhaic, but allow ed hi'i to ii .id one. On the Mini' d.i\ witnc-s went, with Mis I'ottct to the Cccil.ition lic-ove, wlieie the lattei was to meet het husband. W InUt w ait tug tJtet ew it ni'^ wa- taking hei handlu iclnel Imuu hei die.sspocket w hen a lettu came out -a eidenlalh, ,ii,d Mi- P.nttM asked the witne-- il she might nut it. Wittier icplted "No.' 1 Mi^ I'oitei pii'ked up Die lettet and asked witne- ii -he i mild keep it. W ll.m^ iepli<>d " No, that would teat it u]> betoie hct t.m- Mi- I'oitu lcplted. "Oh/( |i, L\( no U.u, I will not ti-t. ltciiainst him," meani't-4 a< i u-ed ; " 1 lo\ c him too de;u!>. Mis l\)itei then [)iil the lctlcl Hi Iki bie.ist. \c( u-ed had .it wit-ii,"-Minihoiiimi Monday night until the following Wedne-da.N nmht, whtn he went awa\. tie aid nol tell witue-s wheie he *\a«-uniim. Would not -ucai anything in legai^d to"the Uttei <>i teU gi.im-uppo-ed to ha\ebeen -ent, hei by ai eu-eil on la-t \\ ed-m-sda\ night. l>id not know that hei pan nts and hei-ell wne dLlending accused in this case hid not state to ,se\eial peison- that she ua-- going to bo mauied to accused next month. The handw t ltmg of tlit It ltd piuducid v> a- he^ and signed b\ lni inotliit The lettei was as follow s (> I moil -tied, Vtwcastle, \\,[) ]0, 3HBC. 1 wa~ talking to Mi K'e.ulett to da \, and Ik - '\- I liat he w ou Id wot k in 1011)11 net ion vs it h Mi I.owe Now, it \ou would hki himtouoik loi \iiii ~a\ -o, and Ik sli.dl do it. hon t -land 1011 01 "un\ thing 1 told Mi Ut .idett f would suggest tin-, i)iit it not u-ei\e\om d(. tcu< c, and 1 will -cc ><'» h.o c a b.u 1 istci at \oui vial. i'l-a-e -< nd an an-w ci, 01 if Vh'i ha\e am thing to suggest do s(, ;lnd I Mill see il (ani"d oil! (Sigm d), Ml>\ Lwi'o\ \\ UiiL-s had w ntti n tin- lettu h\ dn e( lion ot In 1 molh'M Attet iiiitlni rudciiu had ben taken toi tin pio-eeution and d<_tcme, the Uench . onunitu d the av< u-ed loi tn.il a< the M.at land ( v >ii 11 tci Session- on .litno 11, I lie police in.eji-tiate umatking tint it was mm than piubabl" (Ik AtloiMc\ Uetui.d would flit a 'nil on a mote st 11011- < hat gc. IniepU to .1 lenl.uk tiom Mi Ileadett, who -aid his ( bent did nol mtt nd to apph toi bad, the poln cinagi-t laic- (id tin 1!< neh was not di«po-' d to giant bail e\e.i it U had bi < 11 ap| >lv d toi At the < 10-e ot the dial, in 01 do to a\oid Hi. eiusli oi the in nietiso oowd w hi< h h.ul as-eaibkd out-ide the Couit to see MiI'oiK 1, the lattei and ho tin lid- w< ie taken out the ba« k way. In the meantime the at ( used was conducted in the 01 dinar, wa\ to his cell. Ilchai)pcn<d to meet hiwile in th< conidoi ot the < ouithou-e just as -he was about to 1 ntei a loom on the light Ace usi d, in [i.'issmg, made hideou|,ii t- at In- wih, lightening the latter, who dioppid m a tainting tit outheliooi, and w.i- onl\ lc-toied with gn-.U dillictdt).