POISON MYSTERY

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 June 1928, Page 7

POISON MYSTERY

JURY’S “MURDER” VERDICT.

(Australian Press Association.) (By Cable—Press Assn.—Copyright.) LONDON, May 31. The jury in the Rougier case, returned a verdict of death from .morphine poisoning, not self-administer-ed. ! A police constable gave evidence that he searched the records of several chemists, and could not trace the laudanum purchase which Lerwill stated he had made.

The Coroner, summing up, pointed out that it would be wrong for a coroner’s jury to name any person, or persons, in a finding involving a criminal offence, unless satisfied, beyond reasonable doubt, there was a prime, facie case against the person named.

When the verdict was announced, Lerwill left the court.

The inquest was on a bachelor farmer, named Hilary Rougier, of Woking, aged 77 years. The case took a remarkable turn, owing to the examination of William Lerwill, in whose house Rougier was living when* he died on August 14, 1926. The body was exhumed two months ago, and an enquiry ordered by the Home Office. Lerwill, in evidence admitted that he had between £5OOO and £6OOO from Rougier by cheques. Other evidence was to the effect that when Rougier’s body was exhumed, morphine was found in the body. Lerwill said that he had no idea how the morphine came there. PACE TRAGEDY. LONDON, May 31. The prosecution of Mrs Pace (for the alleged murder of her husband) opened at Coleford. The Crown Prosecutor said that Pace was a man of peculiar temperament. He attacked his wife with the tongs on Christmas Day When a daughter intervened, Pace picked up a razor and threatened the family. At least three doses of arsenic had been administered between Christmas Day and his death. Mrs Pace bought two packets sheep dip on July 22, 1527. After her husband’s death the police found only one packet, and also found a. bottle containing liquid in which there was arsenic.