SHOCKING DEATH.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 3279, 10 August 1889, Page 2

SHOCKING DEATH.

A Masterton Resident Poisoned. An awfully sudden death occurred at Kirton-street last (Friday) evening. From what we can learn, some of the neighbors attracted by loud screams, proceeded to the house of- Mrs George Tait where thoy .found the poor woman in terrible convulsions. In answer to Mrs Sage as to what ailed her, Mrs Tait said "she was poisoned." In great agony, the sufl'orer iu broken sentences related that sho had been preparing hor evening meal. For' this purpose she had made some pancakes. The latter, on being oooked, she noticed were anything but as light as they ought to be, attributing this to bad flour or other causes she thought no more about them. Finishing her cooking the unfortunate woman sat down to her tea, when, after partaking of two or_ three pieces of tho cake sho was 1 seized with spasmodic paius. The awful truth flashed upon the mind of the doomed woman that she had mixed arsenic instead of baking powder in the eakes. Pointing to the shelf where the bottles stood j that contained the arsenic and baking powder she said iu heartrending tones, " God knows I never meant it." Medical aid was promptly secured, and Doctors Johnston and Beard arrived almost simultaneously on the tragio scene. Stops were immediately taken to discover the nature of the poison, and the analysis proving it to bo arsenic the usual remedies were applied. These, we regret to state, proved ineffectual, and after five or six hours of terrible agony, thp .unfortunate lady succumbed shortly after midnight. Mrs Tait was a sister of Mr Henry Falloon of Wangaehu, and also of Mrs Andrew Cockburn. Great sympathy is expressed for deceased who was ever of a cheerful and kindly disposition and her many friends will regret her sad fate. Mr Tait was away from home at the time at work in another part of tho district. He has been in the habit of collecting bird skins and preserving them. For this purpose ho used arsenic of which he always kept a quantity m the house. This was kept in a bottle somewhat similar to one which contained baking powder and was kept on the same shelf in the kitchen,