THE TIMARU POISONING CASE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2505, 20 May 1893, Page 4

THE TIMARU POISONING CASE.

The hearing of the charge of administering poison to Mrs Woollcombe, preferred against John Bowman, a youth of 16 years, was resumed last Wednesday in Timaru, before C. A. Wray, Esq., R.M. With regard to the suspected poisoning on Good Friday, Mercy Saunders gave evidence which in no way implicated the accused. Sergeant-Major Macdonald gave evidence corroborating that given by Detective Livingstone. In reply to their questions the accused said that he must have put the “ Rough-on-Rats” on the gruel as he was stretching over for the wheat. He pointed out to them where the articles were kept, and added that he had gone to get the wheat in the dark. He said that he was afraid of getting into a row with the ladies, and that was the reason he had said nothing about it. The statement put in was read over to accused. Witness had seen the bowl produced at Dr Hogg’s; it was then three parts full of gruel, and had a thick scum on it. There were pinches of the poison on the surface. Cross-examined by Mr Raymond: I do not think the accused is a very smart boy. When we went to Mrs Woollcombe’s I had no idea of arresting him. I did not know whom to suspect. It was on account of accused’s admissions that he was arrested. To His Worship : The spots were on the gruel; the scum was thick. Frances Ann Woollcombe, a widow, residing at Waimataitai, said that accused was in her service from December last up to about the sth of last mouth. On the day before Good Friday he said he thought it was usual to have a whole holiday on that day. Witness said that he could not have a whole holiday as she would require him to take the horse when she came home from church. On Good Friday morning witness told him that he could have a half holiday, and he seemed content. After coming from church and partaking of dinner, witness and her daughters were sick, and Dr Hogg was sent for. Witness was ill all night. While they were away at church Mercy Saunders and the accused were left in the house. On the 26th of last month, early in the morning, after partaking of some gruel, witness became very ill. The gruel was given to witness by her daughter Katie. Witness was ill all day, and the illness was exactly the same as that she had suffered from <>n Good Friday. On the evening of the 25th, about 6 o’clock, witness spoke to accused sharply. Some other evidence having been taken, His Worship expressed the opinion that a prima facie case had been made out against the accused, said that it was one that should go to a jury, and committed him to take his trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court on 13th J une. In reply to Mr Raymond, His Worship again allowed the accused out on bail.