NOT GUILTY PLEA

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22570, 25 February 1948, Page 6

NOT GUILTY PLEA

POISON_CHARGE ACCUSED’S STATEMENT ADMISSION ALLEGED (P.A.) TAUMARUNUI. Feb. 25. Pleading not guilty. Fay Roberta Phillips, lale tutor sister at the Taumarunui Hospital, charged that at .sumarunui on January 9, 1948, sue administered or caused to be taken by Sister Elspcth C-lenclolynne Denison poison known ns belladonna., with intent to injure and annoy,, was committed for trial at Hamilton in May. Kan William Brandt Government analyst, Wellington said he examined in January a sample of milk from the Taumarunui Hospital and found that it contained belladonna alkaloids. Philip Patrick Lynch, medical practitioner and pathologist, Wellington, said lie had inspected a specimen of muo from the Taumarunui Hospital He was satisfied that on both occasions, ir. UCiOber last and in January of this year. Sister Denison nad suffered from be.ladonna poisoning in a severe form -be symptoms in her case were sc\erc because ihev were prolonged and in each case there i\a.> a considerable penoc. it unconsciousness. Symptoms Unmistakable Witness ludeed Irom her symptoms that she must nave received a large dose of alkaloids of belladonna, and certainly a dangerous dose, almost a latal dose, on the first occasion. Witness did not tl ink *iie symptoms could be mistaken for any disease or any olhcj torm of poison Witness said he had heard Brandi's evidence as to llie quantity of alkaloid found in the sample of milk On the basis of the quantity recovered by him there would be about one half of a grain of alkaloid in an eight-ounce glass o£ milk That would be a quantity which might very well be fatal if all taken. A fatal dose varied considerably. Adults had been killed by. taking less than a quarter of a grain, but some had recovered after taking two grains Tlie quantity of alkaloid present in the two ounces of milk under analysis would be about one eighth of a grain, which was relatively a large dose. It might produce severe symptoms, but was not likely to be a ratal dose. Belladonna could not have been added to the milk in. the form of a tincture, as the change ’ would be easily seen, but added in the form of pure salt there would be no change except in taste. Superintendent’s Evidence Welbv Fisher, superintendent of the Taumarunui Hospital, said lie was called lo attend Sister Denison when she was taken ill on October 18. and from his observa’ions he was satisfied that she was suffering from belladonna poisoning. James Marshall Stewart, medical practitioner. Taurmarunui. corroborated Dr Fisher's diagnosis of Sister Denison s case. Annie Mina Forbes, nursing sister at Taumarunui. described incidents at dinner on January !) when Sister Denison complained of the milk tasting bitter. Witness took a mouthful and Sister Phillips also tasted it, but they did not lake very much. They all made i joke of it. Sister Phillips remarked that she had poured out tile milk into tlie glasses.

Later Sister Denison became seriously ill and witness also felt queer Sister Phillips said she herself felt funny. Witness was more or less in charge of dangerous drugs in a cupboard. She did not Tiink there was any tincture of belladonna in the cupboard She had never seen any in there. Accused in Dining Room Molly Clow, assistant cook at the Taumarunui Hospital, said that on January 9 witness at 12.30 p.m. was sitting on a stool in the kitchen facing the nurses’ dining room across the corridor and -saw the accused enter the dining room. The accused went and stood at the sisters’ table at her usual seat. Witness could not see what the accused was doing. She could only see the backs of the sisters’ chairs and could not see the whole of the table. A few seconds later the accused left the dining room. Cushla Dunphy said that during the absence of the matron aind sub-matron Sister Denison and the accused were in possession of a small ring of keys, one key for the dispensary and one for the dangerous drug cupboard. The only person having access to the dispensary would be the sister holding the keys in the matron's absence. Interviewed By Detectives Detective-Sergeant William Henry Cromwell said that on January 20 he went to Waikanae Beach accompanied by Detective-Sergeant Long. Palmerston North, where he interviewed the accused and informed her that his inquiries went to show that she was the only person who could have administered the belladonna in the milk drunk by. Sister Denison on January 9. After some discussion during which the accused said she did not know where the belladonna was in the dispensary. and that she had never seen it, she eventually stated that she had administered belladonna to the milk and had done a foolish thing. Accused agreed to make an explanation which he wrote down for her at her request in pencil and she signed it. In this alleged statement, which was read in court, the accused admitted administering belladonna ' ito Sister Denison’s milk just before dinner at the hospital on January 9. She said she did not know why she did it, but the thought came to her when she saw a small bottle of belladonna in the sterilising room in the men’s ward. Accused said she had heard someone, remark that Dr. Fisher thought Sister Denison was suffering .rom belladonna poisoning in October. She thought that if she gave Sister Denison a dose of belladonna she would get sick again. Things had been very pleasant during the months Sister Denison was absent from the hospital. Put Five to 10 Drops in Glass Accused said she put about five to 10 drops in a glass which she filled with milk and placed at Sister Denison's place at the table. She knew the dose would not be fatal, but that it' would make Sister Denison sick. She did not know why she did it. hut did it on the spur of the moment. Site did not think Sister Denison would be as ill as she was.

Accused said .'he administered belladonna to Sister Denison more or less to annoy her. and did not intend to kill her. She had nothing to do with Sister Denison’s illness in October. Witness said he asked the accused what she knew of the illness of Sister Denison in October last. lie pointed out that the circumstances of the two illnesses were identical in every way. Witness asked the accused if she was at dinner on October 18 last and she replied that she was and must have poured the milk out on that occasion also. She denied that she had placed any substance in the milk on that occasion.

On Jauuary 21. accompanied by a nolice matron from Wellington, witness went to Waikanae Beach and told the accused that he had a warrant for her arrest and that she would appear before the court at Otaki that afternoon. On the way to Otaki in general conversation with the police matron in the car the accused again admitted to the matron that she had administered the poison and did not know why. There were four people in the car at the time. Cross-examined by Mr. Turner, for the defence, witness said the accused admitted to the police matron several times that she had administered the poison. Each time she mentioned it she had not been asked about if, and each time she opened the subject herself. Murder Attempt Charge Denied When the witness first discussed the matter with the accused she only persisted in her attitude of not knowing anything about it for a few minutes. Witness never said there were various charges that could be brought against her. Witness denied saying that the accused might be charged with attempted murder, or 'something else. Witness said he did not suggest flint if she confessed to doing it merely Jo annoy Sister Denison the matter could be cleared up in a comparatively