POISONED FOOD.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 January 1920, Page 6

POISONED FOOD.

MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR. A matter to which there was a short reference in a telegram published on •Saturday is thus enlarged on by a Wellington paper: At the present time the local detective force is investigating an aiTair that promises to provide a sensational sequel. Some time ago Mr. William Murphy, the professional rat-catoher, who lives with his son in Wellington South', made the acquaintance of a youth who was in need of a home. Mr. Murphy provided the youth with lodgings, and nothing untoward occurred until Thursday last In the evening of the day mentioned] Mr, Murphy returned home as usuai with his son, ami on entering the house they noticed the youth decamping with a parcel under his arm. Subsequently the youth was arrested on a charge of theft. Meanwhile Mr. Murphy made an inspection of the house, as the result of which he discovered tliat a box containing poisons used for exterminating rats had been broken open and a quantity of poison removed. Pursuing their investigations, Mr. Murphy and his son then made the startling discovery that the foal which they were about to prepare for their evening meal had been saturated with deadly poison, strychnine having been liberally used. Scarcely anything edible had been left untouched, and but for the timely discovery there would assuredly have been a terrible tragedy.

Vis an outi'nme of the arrest, Walter James, aged nineteen, is now under remand without bail.