"Woodville Examiner."

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 15, 19 January 1892, Page 5

"Woodville Examiner."

In Friday's issue we hinted that tho Pahiatua poisoning case promised developments of a still more serious character. In j a recent issue we also stated that Mr j Naylor, senior, had, from the lirst, strong suspicions that the poison had been placed in tho food by design. Ib now turns out that there was good foundation for Mr Naylor's suspicions, and the inquiries of tho police go to show that his statement of tho case appears to be fully borne out. Neither the police nor tho coroner will, of course, givo any information on the matter, as they consider if it were published ib would defeat the ends of justice. Wo have, however, gained certain reliable information. The poison, it is certain, was arsenic. Ib wa3 placed in the meat cut up into slices which was used ab the fatal meal. The timo when it was done was between 12 and 1 o'clock, and it was deliberately placed there with a malicious purpose. The police have, of course, suspicion of the miscreant who was the cause of this terrible tragedy, and hope to have tho chain of ovidenco completed very shortly. Detective Herbert will remain in Pahiatua for two or three days more to complete his investigations, and will then go to Maetorbon to finish his inquiries prior to the inquest. There is a good deal bearing on the matter we cannot publish at the present tim c, but Me are fuio Inspec tor Thompson and Detective Herbert wil leavo nothing undone to have the matter thoroughly sifted, and on the suspicions now existing to bring the scoundrel to justice who caused the loss of two valuable lives, and the pain and suffering of so many. It this can bo done, the tragedy will thus provo ono of the most revolting in the annuls of New Zealand crime. But for tho explanations and reasons now available, it would seem incredible thab anyone could have been guilty of such a doliberato and coldblooded act. From the nature of the matter, tho chain of evidence and tho various lines of suspicions which have to be fully investigated, Detective Hcrbort has had one of the most difficult cases to investigate which ever 'ell to the lot of a police officer. It is, however, in the hands of ono of tho smartest detectives in the colony, and wo trust that all who can will furnish him freely with whatever information is at their disposal and likely to furnish a proof of the crime. In a case like this every link goes to make tho required chain, and it is necesaary that the matter should, in the public interest, be ferrebtod out and tho miscreant duly punished. Wo can only say that, great as tho shock has been, there is a greater still to come. Mr N. Taylor is determined to have the thing sifted to the bottom, and his solicitor, Mr Tosswill, is leaving no stone unturned to further the investigation.