POISONING CASE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 151, 26 June 1894, Page 2

POISONING CASE.

o, A MELBOURNE MYSTERY. AN EXTRAORDINARY STORY. CHARGE AGAINST A WIDOW. A telegram from Melbourne to the Australian "Star,"' dated Wednesday last, states :—A remarkable case of poisoning baa been reported to the police. A warrant has been issued for the arrest of a woman named Martha Needle, a resident of Bridgeroad, Richmond. The woman is charged, on the information of Herman Juncker, with attempting bo poison himself. The details are very extraordinary. The story was told by Juncker to the efiecb that for some time past the two brothers, Louis and Otto Juncker, have carried on a saddlery business in Bridge Road, near Lennox-Btreet, Richmond. Both brothers are bachelors, and their household arrangements were superintended by Mrs Needle, an elderly widow. On April 26th Louis took very sick, and was seized with severe abdominal pains and violent retching, which caused some surprise to those who knew him, as he Tidd always been regarded as an exceptionally strong and healthy man. His condition was such thab a friend deemed it necessary to summon medical aid. The services of Mr McColl, a local practitioner, were obtained. That gentleman prescribed for him for some time, and the patient appeared to be on the fair road to recovery from the first. Although the symptoms were of a painful nature, neither the practitioner nor the friends of the ailing man had the smallest fear of a fatal result, for as a matter of fact McColl expressed to Otto Juncker, on May 14th, his confidence that Louis would in a day or two be well enough to resume business. The hope was nob realised, and the man died apparently from heart disease, bbc doctor says, and symptoms of vomiting had subsided some time before the man's death. It appears McUoll wished to make a post mortem examination of the remains, bub the iriends demurred, and, deferring to the objections urged, McColl gave a certificate, stating that death was due to gastritis and ulcorative endocardia, which implies intestinal inflammation and acute blood poisoning of the valves of the heart, the acutoat form known to medical science.

Herman Juucker returned to Melbourne in connection with the settlement of his deceased brother's afiaira, and took up his residence at his brother Otto's, in Bridgeroad.' He was in excellent health, which continued until the morning of Wednesday, June 7th, when he was taken violently ill immediately after .breakfast-. He became rapidly worse, and his condition caused alarm. Dr. Boyd was sent for, and the patient was suffering from excessive retching, and complained of severe abdominal pains and great prostration. Ho was very ill during the whole day, and remained in much the same condition on Thursday, although the pains had modified to a considerable extent, and the vomiting had ceased. On Friday the patient was ap parently quite well. In answer to Dr. Boyd's question, he stated that all he had taken for breakfast on Wednesday morning when attacked by the illness wore a couple of eggs, bread and butter, and a cup of tea. After recovering Herman Juncker returned to his brother's house, where he had lunch, and immediately

afterwards was eeized with tho same symptoms. Dr. Boyd was again called in and suspicion was aroused. The contents of the stomach were preserved and senb to Mr Blackett, Government Analyst, for examination, which disclosed the facb thab the matter contained a quantity of arsenic. The matter was reported to the police, and the woman arrested. Mrs Needle is now on trial. It has been ascertained that three children of Mrs Needle's were insured for £100 each, and that she received the money upon their deaths. It is probable the police will ask for an order for the exhumation of the bodies of Louis Juncker, Mr Needle (husband), and three children,