POISON IN SEA

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 April 1925, Page 7

POISON IN SEA

WIFEtLAUGHS IN DOCJK. vEetoYb the- High Court of Justiciary iiivAberdeenV Margaret Christie, of Aberdeen, was charged with attempting tp unurjer her husband by putting a poisonous disinfectant into his tea. Of the jury of fifteen, eight were women. While the husband, George Christie, a labourer, aged 48, was giving evidence, he.was frequently interrupted by his wife, who shouted “liar,” and ‘/God will punish you for your lies.” Later she rose in the dock and screamed, “God Almighty is the silent witness.” The Judge, Lord Ormisdale, told her to be quiet,, and she, broke dowri and wept, but later she - laughed scoinfully when her his version of the alleged poisoning incident.

_ He stated that he had frequent quarrels. with his wife, who, .he alleged, neglected him and his family: and had squandered money given het for housekeeping. She had frequently run away and on one occasion came back with 7d left out of £l6/10/-. She had said she would poison him and throw stuff in his face. Oiii the morning of January 2, his wife gave him tea, bread and cheese. When he drank the tea, which was biti ter, his mouth became hot, and stomach pains followed. He said to his wife. “Its poison. You’ve dene it at last. For God’s sake get Die a drink of water.’’ She laughed at him. A neighbour gave him an emetic of salt and water and he was taken, to the infirmary. < ..Cross-examined, Christie said he hated his wife as much as she hated him, but he had never struck her or threatened her life. While vhe was living on eggs and other luxuries off his earnings, he was getting .porridge and milk, mad.e by himself. Medical evidence was, to, the effect that one ounce of the disinfectant 'would be corrosive, but not w|hen equally mined with tea. Dr. Howie thought Mrs Christie had been drinking. The, six-year-old son of Airs Christie, and stepson of George Christie, broke down and cried bitterly in the witness box when questions were put to him. His, exaininatibh was abandoned after he had said lie diy- hot know who prepared this'tea' <>'r’ took the bottle of disinfectafit from a cupboard.