SEVEN PERSONS POISONED

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24368, 21 September 1944, Page 4

SEVEN PERSONS POISONED

ONE WOMAN DIES IN HOSPITAL FOOD EATEN AT PARTY ; After a birthday party held at the residence' of Mr arid Mrs T. O’Connor, 85 Radley street, Wcolston, yesterday, a number of the visitors became ill, apparently suffering from some form of poisoning. Seven persons were taken to the Christchurch Public Hospital, and one, Mrs Gladys Pearl Hoipping, a yadow, residing at 57 ■ Clarendon terrace, died shortly after admission, •- Others undergoing' treatment are Mrs Virtue and her child, Judith, of 76 Radley street; • Mrs Gee and her child, Audrey, of. 24 Sheldon street; Mrs Robb, of 7 Chichester'street; and Joyce White, a child, of 27 Clarendon terrace. , The early indications were that, through some misadventure, arsenic instead of ground rice had been added as an ingredient to some of the food that was eaten. On the occasion of her birthday, Mrs O’Connor entertained friends at her residence, and on Tuesday cooked biscuits, sponge cake, and pikelets. After morning tea, Joyce White, a child, complained of being ill, and with Mrs Hopping, left at 11 a.m, , A little later Mrs Gee asked Mrs O’Connor to telephone for a doctor, as Mrs Hopping was feelipg unwell. She then noticed that Mrs Gee looked ill, and Audrey Gee was also sick. In the afternoon Mrs Virtue and her daughter Judith called, and first the child and then Mrs Virtue complained of pains. It is surmised that a tin which it was thought contained ground rice had been placed with other tins that contained ingredients for cooking, and Mrs O’Connor had used some of the contents for cooking. Mr O’Connor became sick later in the day and asked about the stuff in the tin. Mrs O’Connor immediately took it to a chemist, who told her that the material was certainly not rice. There were to her knowledge no poisons in the house, except those used for medicinal purposes. Her husband had been employed at Ladbrooks until nearly two years ago. He had told her to be careful of a tin that he had at that time, as it was a poison for killing weeds. With the exception of Joyce White, all were taken to the hospital by the St. John ambulance. At an early hour this morning the hospital authorities had no report to make when asked as to the condition of the patients.