ALLEGED MURDER

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 246, 31 July 1935, Page 6

ALLEGED MURDER

POISONED CHOCOLATE CASE.

CASE FOR CROWN CONTINUED.

EVIDENCE GIVEN BY DOCTOR, (Per Press Association). GREYMOUTH, This Day. The hearing of. evidence in the charge of murder and attempted murder against John Skikelthorpe Page was. resumed this morning. Samuel Hall, draughtsman and photographer, an employee of the Post and Telegraph Department in Wellington, gave evidence .regarding photographs of the date stamps of the Greymouth office. David Cormick, of Karori, Post and Telegraph supervisor at Wellington, gave evidence in regard to examining a brown-paper wrapper containing a box of chocolates and the Greymouth date stamp. He was satisfied that the impression on the wrapped had been made by the Greymouth- stamp. Dr. Herbert Hutson stated that he was called on September 24 to Dumpleton’s shop. He found Miss Smith lying on a couch. He was not then able to diagnose her ailment. He ordered brandy. He returned to his surgery, but was soon recalled, when he found the patient in a similar condition. He gave her medicine. During this visit Miss Smith had two convulsions. He remained until she died. He reported the death to the police. Miss Smith appeared to be a normally healthy person. Next day witness and Dr. Bird held a post-mortem. They found no external signs of violence. Certain organs were forwarded to the Government Analyst. Witness could not definitely say the cause of death. Miss Smith’s convulsions were consistent with strychnine poisoning. Witness continued that during the weekend prior to Miss Smith’s death he had met accused on the road and gave him a lift in his car between Brunner and Blackball. Accused was travelling from the direction of Greymouth. He did not say where he had been. Dr. William Anderson Bird gave evidence in regard to the post mortem, giving particulars of the condition! of the girl’s organs. Witness was unable definitely to decide the cause of death, but' he saw nothing inconsistent with strychnine poisoning. If strychnine were found in the chocolates and traces of strychnine in the stomach, witness would say she died from strychnine poisoning. Senior-Sergeant Quayle and Constable Hay gave evidence of the reception of certain articles to be sent to the Government Analyst. Constable Hay also gave evidence in reference to his inquiries at district shops where similar boxes oi chocolates could be bought. Only one shop on the coast sold these at the time. Witness had also conducted inquiries in the district regarding the records of vendors of strychnine, finding none of a sale to anyone named Page. The Agricultural Department showed that large quantities had been sold to farmers in the district.

Dr. Arthur B. Pearson (pathologist at the Christchurch Hospital) deposed to receiving from the police a- sealed receptacle containing portion of the interior of the human body. After examination he instructed the police to take them to the Government Analyst. Witness said that death from strychnine had been caused' by as small a dose as a quarter of a grain, but the usual amount was from 1) to 2 grains. {■Strychnine did not produce any characteristic postmortem changes. In the case of Miss Smith, witness was highly suspicious that death had resulted from strychnine poisoning. The Court then adjourned for luncheon.