VICTORIAN POISONING CASE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1412, 24 March 1905, Page 2

VICTORIAN POISONING CASE.

MOTHER S PATHETIC LETTER.

\ Melbourne, March 12. A’young marrisd woman,Jana McLeish, . ; vj; residing at Anncsloy street, Carisbrook, administered poison to her two children, and lock a dose herself, on Saturday. Her husband is in the employ of the local -> council, and they have been happily mar- ( ried for six years. The children were boys of four and two years. Lattsrly the woman had complained of pains in her head, and on Saturday afternoon her hus- 'gi band, cn returning homo, found the two .* children, partially undressed, lying on the bed, with his wife across the front of the, bed. Mrs McLeish and tho older boy were suffering from convulsions severely, and the younger slightly. Assistance was ; called, but the younger died In three minutes. A eup was found in the bodroom ./ a quarter full of liquid,apparently contain- f-v iog oysta's similar to strychnine, and behind the looking-glass was an ounce phial labelled strychnine, with some poison still in it.

In a letter Mrs McLoish wrote :— 11 1* - oannot loavo my dear' little' children behind me. I want you,"dear Jim, to forgive me, and not wish us baok again, .! as wo will be bettor off. We will /be out of a world of spitefulncss. Tho ones that ara left behind will ho all right,for a little while, and then they will have to go, no ■.» doubt. They will talk of-.me when lam ~ gone, but nono of us know whit is before 1 us, and it’s as well we don't. It’s no fault of anyone that I have come to this. I have as dear and kind a husband aa earth 'could over hold ; but we -are only ; gone a little whilo before, and let those , 'iT~ people who envy the broad wo eat know what tis to want beforo they die. I don’t ' wish anyone any barm, but do all bo good' to my darling Jim, and comfort him al you oan for my sake. We will meet again -c in tho better land, where there is no i '- selfishness aod , spite. Forgive mo, dear Jim, and my dear father and mother and all my brothers and sisters. 'Good-bye, my darling, wo will moet again. Do'bury, Ji;mo in the Maryborough cemetery.' /Oh, / v do try and forgive aod forget'us,’dear Jim, and-do not fret for us. ’Do remem-.... her we will bo bettor off in heaven." 'lt is poison I have given my two lambs and f taken myself.” ". - ' V '<■. Mrs MoLeish and one of hor'childroa' died. I-','.''-.