ATTEMPTED MURDER CHARGE

Evening Star, Issue 19923, 20 July 1928, Page 1

ATTEMPTED MURDER CHARGE

THE KOERBIN CASE WIFE TO STAND TRIAL [Pan Unitfd Pubs* Assocutios.J WELLINGTON, July 19./ The preliminary hearing of the case against Mrs Alarion Koerbin, .aged forty-three, who is charged with attempting to murder her husband, Herbert Koerbin, , was concluded at the Magistrate’s Court to-day. Mr B Pago, S.AI., was on the bench. Chief-detective Ward prosecuted, and Air A. B. Sievwright appeared for ' the accused woman. Detective-sergeant Holmes said he took a statement from accused, in which she said that the powdered glass found in a locked box under her bed had bcei there for a long time. She had not used it, nor oxalic acid in her husband’s food. The powder in a bottle found m her pocket was rat poison. Accused showed no signs of mental trouble. She stated that her husband was worth £50,000, and that his meanness was. the cause of all the trouble in the home. Dr James S. AULaurin, dominion analyst, stated that on June 26 he received the samples of food, from the detectives, an analysis being' made of them all. With three exceptions (the boy’s porridge, the oatmeal, and tha roast mutton, and cabbage), all tha samples contained barium carbonate, which, he added, was sometimes given medicinally. Ho found no ground glass in tho exhibits. Asked what ground glass would do to a person, witness said it would have a very irritant effect, and would probably prove fatal if taken in sufficient quantities. At the conclusion of the evidence Air Sievwright submitted that there was no case to answer, and that there was no case to justify the court in committing the accused for trial. He further contended that there was no evidence which could justify a jury in finding his client guilty of an attempted murder. On those grounds ho submitted that the court would be justified in discharging Airs Koerbin Air Page: Why do you say that Air Sievwright? What is your foundation for such a statement.

Counsel replied that his foundation was twofold—first, there was no evidence to show that Airs Koerbin desired to cause the' death of her husband, and, secondly, tho evidence showed that it was quite clear that the administration, or the attempted, administration of the food containing barium was not in sufficient'quantities to cause harm, ft was innocuous in this quantity, oven if Koerbin had taken n. In no instance 1 was there found sufficient to cause death, ;and in small quantities it would prove .innocuous. ~

Air Page said that he did not propose to discuss tho details of the objections raised by counsel, but would simply say that in his opinion the case-was' one which must go forward for consideration by a jury. Accused pleaded not guilty, and was committed to the Supremo Court for trial.