ON HIS THIRD TRIAL

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 148, 20 December 1930, Page 9

ON HIS THIRD TRIAL

HVJSBAND CONVICTED ATTEMPT TO POISON WIFE HOBAET, 19th December. Corrvieted on his third trial on a charge of attempting to murder his wife, Archibald Bellette was sentenced to twtcnty years' imprisonment. Archibald Derwent Bellette, formerly a motor salesman, was charged with having attempted to murder his wife, Amy Hannah Bellette, at Hobart, about 10th December, 1929, by administering poison. ■Dr. Stuart Gibson said that ho found Mrs. Bellette very seriously ill at her home, and she told him that sho had become: suddenly ill after taking a dose of medicine. He took possession of the bottle and gave it to the police. ■William Southey "Ward, Government analyst, said that he analysed the contents of a bottle of medicine forwarded by tlie police, and found eight grains of a poisonous drug in it. _ Mrs. Bellette said that she was married to the accused in 1914, and in 1025 he took up motor salesmanship. From -that time onwards ho was always a way from home, and ill-treated her on. many occasions. At her husband's suggestion she visited a doctor and got a prescription, which sho left 'at a chemist's to be made up. Her husband called for the medicine, and the next morning at breakfast showed her the bottle. There was no wrapping on Bcfotre going away her husband kissed her., which was most unusual. He asked her when she was going to take tho medicine. She took a dose of tho mixture, and about 10 minutes later becamo very ill. Her husband came back aJbout an hour later, when she was in hospital. Subsequently he visited her, and told her that if the detectives came to see her she was to know nothing, and to say that ho had always treated her well.