TRACES OF POISON

Evening Star, Issue 21545, 18 October 1933, Page 8

TRACES OF POISON

WOMAN'S BODY IN POND POLICE SEARCH FOR HUSBAND [Per United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, October 17. A .sensational development in connection with the death of Airs Christobcl Lakey, who was found dead with her face immersed in a duck pond at Huawaao, occurred to-day when Dr Waddell, of .Hamilton, and Dr MacFarlane, of Huntly, discovered traces of poison in the body during a post-mortem examination lasting an hour and a-half. Beyond stating that traces of poison wore found and that tho circumstances of Airs Lakey’s death were suspicious, the doctors and the police were very reticent. The contents of the deceased’s stomach have been forwarded to Auckland for analysis. A search for Samuel Pender Lakey, the deceased’s husband, was continued to-day, and Superintendent Till visited Huntly last night. As the result of his consultations the police already engaged on the spot arrived at Lakey’s farm this morning. Detective Sneddon was in charge, assisted by Detective Allsopp, ten constables, and nearly twenty settlers. A thoroughly systematic search of tho farm and'adjoining properties was conducted, particular attention being given to a large area of scrub and tea-tree fringing Lake Whangape. The search, however, was fruitless, and tho only trace found was a smoking pipe believed to bo the property of tho missing man. [Tho body of Airs Lakey, wife of Samuel Lakey, farmer, of Hotowaro, near Huntly,” was found in a pond on Alonday morning. It had been covered with briar, which partly hid it. Neighbours noticed that the cows had not been milked, and found that both Lakey and his wife were missing, and their beds had not been slept in. Also a shotgun, kept in tho house, was not there.]