ALLEGED POISONING.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2578, 7 November 1893, Page 3

ALLEGED POISONING.

In the Rssident Magistrate's Court, Wellington, on Friday and Saturday, the charge against Ellen Blake, of attempting to poison her husband, James Blake, was heard. William Skey, Government analyst, deposed that in several of the exhibits forwarded to him by Drd Fell and Mackin he discovered traces of white precipitate of mercury. Dr Fell said that he had treat ed Blake at the hospital for some weeks for stricture, and during that time there were no symptoms of mercurial poisoning. On October 10th he was again called in to attend Blake at his own house, and found him suffering from diarrhoea, and an ulcerated moulh. On later visits he saw no improvement, and called in Mrs Blake and asked what had become of the bottle of medicine which he he had sent on the previous day. She produced the bottle, and Blake said—" Why didn't you give me some of this ?" She replied—" I thought it was only a mouth wash." Witness pointed out to her that it was labelled .- " One tablespoonful to be taken three times a day," and she replied that she had not noticed it. There was nothing at the time to account for the symptoms exhibited. Witness had not administered any medicine which would produce the symptoms of mercurial poisoning except vomiting. Blake told him that he had used mercurial ointment about six months ago. Witness did not think that the later symptoms could have resulted from that. Dr Mackin deposed that he was called in on October 14th to see Blake. After treating him for some time he got a little better, but a day or so later on he got much worse. Witness' suspicions were aroused on the lfith, and on the 17th he informed the police. Blake then presented all the symptoms of 6low poisoning. Dr Ewart having given evidence, Inspector Pender deposed to having visited the house of prisoner. In her purse he found some white powder. He told prisoner that a packet recently seen in her purse was marked poison, and she replied that it was precipitate for use on the children's heads and that all had been used. Prisoner when arrested denied all knowledge of poison having been administered to Blake. More powder was found in a drawer, and in a dirty cloth in the kitehea grate. Chief Detective Campbell gave corroborative evidence, and said that when removing Blake. Mrs Blake addressing her husband said—'Now see dad, I have to suffer for what you have done yourself." Blake made no reply. Alice Blake, daughter-in-law of prisoner, said that when Blake was ill, prisoner told her how Bhe hated him, and on another occasion had said she wished he was dead, so that she might sell off and go away. She found a packet of powder in prisoner's pocket, marked poison, and took some of it away. Prisoner insisted on feeding Blake herself. Prisoner and Blake quarrelled about a man visiting the house. Being cross-examined, witness said that she had no illfeeling towards Mrs Blake. Prisoner was committed for trial.