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Greymouth Evening Star, 8 November 1923, Page 5

As a sequel to the finding of a quantity of strychnine at the foot ot a cliff near St. Hellers Bay, Auckland,, William Holt was charged at the Police Court on Friday, before Sir J. W. Poynton, S.M. with the unauthorised placing of poison upon property not under his own control. A plea of guilty was entered (states the “New Zealand Herald”). The accused stated, that lately on frequent occasions his sleep had been rudely brpken by the nocturnal frolics ot the cats in the neighbourhood. He tried to frighten the feline disturbers of his rest, but did not succeed and his patience became exhausted when the ranks of the offending were augmented and their gatheriongs took place beneath the floor of his bedroom. In desperation he purchased the strychnine and laid it under the house during the day. Two dead cats found in the morning testied to the success of the expedient. Satisfied that a further trial would be unnecessary, Holt threw the poison over the nearest cliff. The dead cats were disposed of in a, like manner. The Magistrate was not inclined to view the offence in a very grave light. He imposed a fine of £2.