NOXIOUS FLUID GIVEN

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26395, 13 April 1951, Page 9

NOXIOUS FLUID GIVEN

WOMAN COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE.

After pleading guilty to a charge of administering a noxious fluid, containing carbon tetrachloride, to Kathleen Maude Stace on March 29 with intent to injure or annoy her; Dorothy Jean Alexandra Mee, aged 24, a waitress (Mr J. G. Leggat) was yesterday committed by Mr Raymona Ferner, SLM., to the Supreme Court for sentence. Kathleen Maude Stace said 4n evidence that the accused had been employed at the Monte Carlo Milk Bar, Colombo street, of which her husband was the proprietor. The accused had lived at her place and after visiting Auckland for a brief period she returned to the Staces’ home. The witness had tried to get the accused to find other lodgings. She stayed on as a guest and worked at the shop. On March 29 the witness had assisted her husband at the shop while the accused was at her home. When the witness arrived at her home during the afternoon the accused had already prepared afternoon tea and gave the witness a cup of tea, some of which she drank. The tea seemed to burn her right through. The accused was about to tip the milk into the sink when the witness stopped her and took possession of it. The milk had a vile smell. The witness knew she had left the milk jug clean. She put the contents of the jug into a bottle, and after handing it to a chemist she was advised to hand it to the police. On a shelf in the washhouse she kept a bottle of carbon tetrachloride. To Mr Leggat the witness said that she had never accused Mee of carrying with the witnesse’s husband. Analyst’s Evidence Norman Patrick Alcorn, Government Analyst, said he had been handed two bottles for analysis. A bottle apparently containing milk had a strong smell of carbon tetrachloride. The taste and smell were so strong as to be easy to recognise, and he thought it would be very unpleasant to taste. He did not think any real harm would result from its consumption. Detective Noel Webster Wylie said he had interviewed the accused and asked her if she had added the carbon tetrachloride to the milk which she had handed to Mrs Stace. In a statement to the police the accused admitted having mixed carbon tetrachloride with the milk and placed it on the table. Mrs Stace had said the tea was terrible. When the accused took the chloride from the bottle she had replaced it with water. On March 30 the accused showed him a bottle of carbon tetrachloride hidden in long grass in a ditch.

The accused then pleaded guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. Bail was refused.