WIDOW'S ALLEGATION.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 290, 4 December 1920, Page 19

WIDOW'S ALLEGATION.

MI—IDBE BY (POISON.

Thre and a-half years after her husband's -death the widow of a major on service in India has sought to show before the Rangoon Chief Court that he was poisoned by two women. Further, sbe alleged Chat tbe women had been guilty of theft, and had been in possession of stolen property in Rangoon and other places in -Burma. In a report of the case the "Pioneer Mail" said Mrs. Laura _. .Madden argued an application to revise the order passed by the district magistrate, Rangoon, dismissing her petition against Mrs and Nurse , chemist, late of Thilwa and Maym.vo. In the petition she alleged foul play in connection with the death of her husband, M.ijor T. E. Madden, late Comptroller of Palaces, Aiwar State, Rajputana. It was stated In court that at the inquest oa the major held,in Delhi a verdict of death from natural causes was returned.

Mrs. Madden gave details of her husband's Illness and treatment In hospital. She said a death certificate by Major Stack was -based on tbe story of the two women as to Major Madden -having- gone out tiger shooting the day after his return from the hills, getting a severe sunstroke as a result, and then drinking heavily on top of it. This story was wholly disproved. It was stated, by his diary of —ate and literary work, all written in a clear, steady handw-ritlng t lie day after the alleged severe sunstroke. 'Her .strenuous efforts for nearly four years to uproot these falsehoods, she said. had been chiefly To vindicate her husband's •good name. Arter hearing Mrs. Madden, Justice ■Rigg, delivering the judgment or the court, upheld the decision of the Rangoon district magistrate that the charges could not be heard without the political agent's certificate, and dismissed the petition.

.Tustice Klgg added that a possible charge against the two women of retaining stolon property, knowing It to be stolen, might he recognised in the courts of Maymyo.