A MURDER CHARGE.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 January 1922, Page 5

A MURDER CHARGE.

SOLICITOR AND HIS WIFE. STRANGE ENGLISH CASE. Sy Ttlagraph.—Press Assn Copyrrcßt. London, Jan. 19. The prosecutor in the Armstrong case announced in the Police Court that the accused is now charged with murdering his wife. The prosecutor stated that the analysts found three and one-fifth grains of arsenic in her exhumed body, and that death was undoubtedly due to arsenic poisoning. The deceased, after a year’s treatment for neuritis, began suffering mentally and spent two months in a private asylum. At her husband’s request she returned home in January, 1921, and the same month accused bought a pound of arsenic. Under deceased’s wiD, signed when she was suffering from delusions, accused received the whole of the estate, whereas under a previous wfli their three children were the chief beneficiaries Counsel admitted that during the course of medical treatment in October, deceased*s medicine contained a small proportion of arsenic, but not sufficient to be responsible for the quantity found at the autopsy.—AUS.-N.Z. Cable Assn. WHEN HIS WIFE DIED. GAY TIMES IN ITALY. Received Jan. 20, 9.25 p.m. London, Jan. 20. The prosecutor in the Armstrong case stated the prisoner slowly and surely poisoned his wife day by day. He bought arsenic ih mid-winter, professing he wanted to kill weeds. The doctor had no suspicions and certified that death occurred from gastritis. The will, which was in Armstrong’s handwriting, was witnessed by servants, who thought they were signing an insurance paper. It was an illegal and worthless document. Prisoner showed no concern at his wife’s death, but went to Italy for a holiday, and while there he kept a diary showing that he went to dances, concerts and the opera and continually went about with women. Twenty-four hours after he returned to England he discussed re-marriage with a London lady.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

Armstrong is a solicitor and clerk of the Court at Hay, Brecknockshire. Accusad is charged with attempting to murder another solicitor named Martin with arsenic. At the time of Armstrong’s arrest it was stated that the body of his wife was to be exhumed. She died about seven months ago. There was a sensation at the hearing of the charge against Armstrong of attempting to poison Martin. The prosecution announced that when Armstrong .was arrested a packet containing a white powder was found in his pocket. . This bad been analysed, and it contained white