MURDERED HIS MOTHER.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 60, 12 March 1923, Page 5

MURDERED HIS MOTHER.

SON'S AWFUL CRIME. ARSENIC IN HER FOOD. WILLIAM MORGAN FOUND GUILTY. LONDON, March 9. At Newport, in Monmouth, a coroner's jure returned a verdict of wilful murder against William Morgan, son of Jennie Morgan, who died under such mysterious circumstances that the doctor attending her witiiheld Ins eeri ili.-ale and reported | the death to the coroner, i It »a- suited in evidence that the woman had bequeathed her property to I her children, including William, and excluding her husband. Th- startling leharaiter of the .use developed rapidly, ; recalling many features of the Greenwood and Armstrong case-. The fn.-ts established were: Firstly, that the woman died of arsenical poisoning. Secondly, that she was too weak to feed burself. 'Thirdly, that a mysterious l„,x of arsenical weedkiller was found in an office wherein William Morgan was employed. t (implications were increased by the (extraordinary di-appcaranoe of a 21I rear-old girl', Ktbel Doris Andrews, Mrs. 'Morgan's m.iid. who was summoned as a wi.nc-.-. I Mr-. Anthony, a neighUuir. stated in I evidence lli.it strai I relations existed j bet ween the man and wife, and alleged I that the former complained of being treated like a dog. und 'bat his wife ' uaii'ed a separation. she alleged further that the wife nplained. when her I husband prepared food, that it tasted . saliv and burned her mouth. 1 The foreman of the jury, here inter- | \ened. and a«ked witness if she was not I drawing ' i her iniagination. 1 'rite 1n..-i,ami. examined by the coroner, I -aid th.it on no oeea.-ioii "did anybody | ,;,ke v. I killer home. it would not lie lb, ought home to kill weeds. Four fowls I which bad been fed on table scraps and j brother inf..lined him that his wife had made a will by which be property could be sold after her death and i he husband could be turned out. He was entirely PMiorant of hi- wife taking arsenic. He ' inn I his wife wire not e-t ranged, but were William Morgan stated in evidence that he never touched the weed-killer ! kept ill hi- offi-e. He had noticed specks •in his mother's arrowroot. lie did not , lake the doctor'- advice and make a full statement to fie police. He had been ': worried because his mo'licr complained of saltiness in hei food. He admitted thi owinc away a tin nil a bottle. D.-.ca-e.'-- 'bi rin-law gave cvi- ! deuce that he drew up a will a' the ! re,,ue-t ol deceased's s,„,P. William Morgan collansed on hearing . ' the vei-.li. .. i A. and N.Z. Cable.l