POISONING OF MARGARET MAY SMITH

Grey River Argus, 1 August 1935, Page 3

POISONING OF MARGARET MAY SMITH

DOCTORS DETAIL EFFECTS OF STRYCHNINE

ANONYMOUS LETTERS ATTACKING WOMEN

Evidence in Blackball Murder Case

The hearing of the charge of murder and two charges of attempted murder, against John Skikelthorp Page, miner, single, 36, was continued in the Magistrate’s Court, Greymouth yesterday, for the third day. Page is charged that, at Blackball, on September 24, he murdered Margaret May Smith, and also, that he attempted to murder Jean Kennedy Clark and Ethel Annie Bragg. Public interest in the hearing shows no sign of waning, and the courtroom was crowded throughout yesterday, while over 300 people waited outside the court, for the accused to appear yes terd ay afternoon. The accused’s behaviour in the dock yesterday was in sharp contrast to the previous day. lie remained perfectly still, and at times appeared to be oblivious Io what was going on around him. ' Only on one occasion did he speak, when, at the conclusion of Dr. Hutson’s evidence he mumb'ed, JI must ask a statement from you. Sir.” Yesterday’s evidence dealt largely with the post mortem examination on the deceased, the anonymous letters, some of a disgusting nature, received by residents of Blackball and Atarau, and the behaviour and habits of the accused, while he was resident at Ata-

There still remains twenty-five Crown witnesses to be heard and it is unlikely that the hearing will conclude before Tuesday next. Mr. IT. Morgan. S.M., is on the bench. Inspector D. Cameron is conducting the prosecution, and Air. A. 11. Paterson is counsel for the accused. Samuel Hall, draughtsman and photographer, Post and Telegraph Department. Wellington, said that on October 15 last he was handed the wrapper (produced as exhibit) and photographed it with an infra red ’plate. lie made comparisons with the resu’ting photographs, with date stamp impressions of the Greymouth and other possible offices. As the result of this examination he was convinced that .the date stamp on wrapper was that of

the Greymouth Post Office. On July 4 witness was again Landed the same wrapper with a request to photograph it alongside a further impression from the Greymouth Post Office. This he did, and he produced the resulting infra red photographs. Witness also examined the cancellation stamp from the Greymouth Post Office (produced). It was in such a condition that it .was impossible to make two identical impressions with it. Witness made a transparent photograph of the impressions of the date stamp, and of the impressions on the wrapper. By placing one transparency over the other, they agreed in all major characteristics. The photographs were produced. Witness said that his examination on July 4, confirmed original impression that the date stamp on the wrapper was made by the stamp used in the Greymouth Office (produced). On July 4 witness was a'so handed the envelope addressed “Chief of Police,”, and was asked to examine it to ascer-i tain if the flap of the back had Loen lifted and the envelope re-sealed. Witness examined it microscopically, tested it for gum by flourescent ultra violet light, and photogranhed it by trans-1 milled ultra violet light. Witness produced the photographs. As a result of the examination and the confirmatory evidence of the photographs, witness was convinced that the envelope had not been tampered with in any way. Witness was also hasded the envelope addressed to Airs. G. Clark. Moonlight Road. He also photographed it by means of an infra red plate (phot©graphs produced). David Cormack Selater, Marsden Avenue. Karori, Wellington. Supervisor Postal Division. Post and Te’egraph Department, Wellington, said he had been for 20 years in the mail branch and 31 years in the service. It was his duty to carefully examine stamps and postal matter passing through his hands. The cancellation stamp on the brown paper produced was examined by witness on July 4, whilst he also had an opportunity to inspect the Greymouth stamper produced, and made impressions from it. Ho made a- comparison with the date stamp on the brown paper, with every date stamp in New Zealand. He was satisfied that the date stamp on the brown paper could not be confused with any other date stamp in New Zea’and, but was that of the impression made with the Greymouth Post Office date stamp produced.

Dr. Herbert Hutson, a qualified and registered medical practitioner, at Blackball, said that he remembered being called to Mr. Dumpleton’s shop at Blackball on September 24 last. He arrived at about 10.30, and found a young woman patient named Smith, lying on the couch in the sitting room. Witness examined her, but was not then .able to diagnose her ai - ment. He kept her under observation for awhil e and ordered some brandy for her. Witness returned to the surgery, but was again called to Dumpleton’s shop shortly after. While he was at the surgery he made up a prescription for the patient, a mixture containing ammonium bromide, and gave it to deceased’s brother to take ' to her, instructing an immediate dose. • When witness was called a second time he had Some patients in the .surgery, but went almost irhmediately. He found the patient very similar and she had been transferred to another room. He ascertained that she had receivel the dose of medicine as instructed, and gave her another dose after he arrived. While witness was present she was also given a drink of water. On the first occasion witness gave the patient brandy. WhPe he was there the second time she had two convulsions. There was nothing in the mixture that witness gave her that would be likely to harm her. Witness remained with her until she died but he was unable at that stage to certify as to the cause nf death. Witness later advised Constable Hendricksen of Miss Smith’s death. Witness knew the deceased, although she was not a patient of his, and she appeared normally healthy. There was nothing

in witness’s mixture that might neutralise strychnine. On September 25,' at Greymouth witness and Dr. Bird carried out a post mortem examination at Greymouth. There were no external marks of violence. They reinov ed certain body organs with the intention of forwarding them to the Government Analyst for examination. From that examination witness was not in a position to say definitely what was the cause of death. The convulsions that the deceased had when witness was attending her would be consistent with strychnine poisoning. Witness had treated the accused for minor ailments. Witness remembered being at Brunner, relieving Dr. Wilkinson, at the week-end prior to the death of Miss Smith. Ho gave Page a lilt in his car from Brunner towards Blackball. Mr. Paterson objected to this latter evidence being admitted. The Inspector said that it was to show the movements of the accused and that he was in the habit of walking from Blackball to Greymouth. The Magistrate said that he would admit the evidence. as showing the movements of accused.

The Magistrate (to witness): When you were called first to Miss Smith, did yon make any enquiries from her regarding her symptoms, or whether she had taken anything. Tn reply to the Magistrate, witness said that he had made some enquiries, and was told by -Mrs. McGregor that. Miss Smith had had a. chocolate. To witness’s knowledge she was given both the brandy and’his mixture, but there was nothing in either to cause her condition to be worse. Witness thought of poison, but there was no indication while he was there. When the convulsions started witness came to the conclusion that there was serious trouble, although he did not consider the possibility of poisoning then. She died about ten minutes after the convulsions started. Witness considered that he had done, all he could in the time.

Dr. William Anderson Bird, of Greymouth, said that he made the post morterm examination on (he deceased in company with Dr. Hutson. Witness examined the body. Deceased was a normal woman weighing from 7 to 8 stone. Rigor mortis was present in the arms and neck. Apart from changes consequent upon the mode of dying, all organs seemed healthy. An unusual thing about the blood was that there was an unusually large amount of unclotted blood present in organs parti cu'arly near the lungs. This was indicative of an asphyxial type of death.. Externally there was no abnormality about the stomach, but it was slightly distended with gas, and contained a certain amount of fluid. The contents were evacuated into a flash for anaylsis purposes. There was nothing important about the heart, it appearing normal. There was a couple of ounces of clear fluid in the cavity where the heart was lying. There was no sign of haemorrhage. The brain was a normal organ. The wind pipe was slightly congested, otherwise normal. Certain matter was taken from the body for analysis purposes, the. containers being sealed and handed over to the police. At that time witness was not able to decide the cause of death. Witness saw nothing at the post mortem that would ho inconsistent with strychnine. Death by asphyxia could in the present case, be caused by two ways. During the height of convulsions all muscles were contracted so that it could be quite impossib’e to draw breath. If the convulsions lasted long enough death would occur from asphyxia. The alternative was that the drugs might eventually deaden the vital portions of the brain, thus causing death by asphyxia. Assuming a healthy girl took chocolates from a box and some 15 minutes, or so after was found trembling violently, comp’ained of intense pain, could not sit down or use her legs to walk, that she went into convulsions and in about an hour she died, this, coupled with the result of what witness found with the post mortem on this young woman, would be consistent with poisoning. If strychnine was found in the chocolates taken and traces of strychnine was found in the stomach contents, his expert opinion was that the person died from strychnine poison. To the Magistrate: The colour of the stomach contents was brown and was consistent with chocolate having been eaten within a fairly recent time.

Senior-Sergeant Edward Quayle, of Greymouth, said that on September 25 ’ast he was present at the Greymouth Moygue when a post mortem examination was conducted on the body of Margaret May Smith, by Drs. Bird and Hutson. Certain body organs were placed in jars and sealed by Dr. Bird. Witness took possession of the jars and placed them In the locked safe in his office overnight. On the following day witness banded the four jars to Constable Hay, to be taken to the Government Analyst at Christchurch. They were then in the same condition as when witness received them. On September 27, witness was handed a part bottld of methylated spirits and a part bottle of distilled water, by Dr. Bird. Both of them were corked. Witness kept them in his safe until the following day, when he handed them to Constable Brown, to bo taken to tike Government Anaylst. They were then in the same condition as when witness received them. On September 25 witness received from Constable Hendrieksen the box produced, which then contained a number of chocolates, also the wrapper and the note signed “Jim.” Witness handed over the box on September 26, to Constable Hay, to take to the Government Analyst. On September 28 he handed over the wrapper and the note to Detective Sergeant Holmes. Constable Edward John Cruickshank Hay, of Greymouth, said that on September 26 last he received from the previous witness four glass vessels, containing body organs, together with a box containing chocolates (identified as that produced, containing original'y • one pound). Witness took the vessels and box to Dr. Pearson, at Christ-

church, the following day, and on his instructions, to the Government Analyst, Dr. Grigg. They were in the same condition when he handed them to Dr. Grigg as when witness handed them to Dr. Pearson, who broke the seals, in witness’s presence. The box of chocolates were in the same condition when he handed them to Dr. Grigg, as when he received them from the Senior Sergeant. In September and October, witness was employed at the detective office at Greymouth and with Detective Thompson he conducted enquiries as to where one pound box of Happiness chocolates could be purchased. As a result of their investigations they discovered where they could have been purchased at that time. One pound box of Happiness chocolates were stocked by Patterson and O’Dea, Westport and Lima’s, of Greymouth. They were able to get a similar package from Lima’s in Greymouth, but not from any other shop on the West Coast, at that time. During the same period witness assisted De-tective-Sergeant Thompson to examine the records ot poison vendors in the vicinity of Greymouth. They also had enquiries made throughout the West Coast, Nelson and Christchurch districts. They did not find any record of any strychnine being sold to anyone named Page. The records of the Agricultural Department in Greymouth showed that large quantities of strychnine had been sold to farmers throughout this district. Mr. Paterson objected to the last remark of witness being admitted as not being r'evelant, but the Magistrate ruled that it should be, as it showed the sale of strychnine, although the evidence might be negative as far as Mr. Paterson’s client was concerned. Constable James Gilbert Brown, of Greymouth, stated that on September 28 last he received from Senior-Ser-geant Quayle a part bottle of methylated spirits and a part bottle of distilled water which he took to Christ--1 church, and they remained in his pos-

session until the next morning, when I he handed them over to the Government Analyst. Dr. Arthur Bushby Pearson, Pathologist. Christchurch Hospital, stated that on September 27 last he received from Constable Hay four glass receptacles in a sealed condition. The jars contained portions of the brain, heart, liver, kidney, etc. Witness opened the stomach and examined it, along with portions of the other organs. He returned the organs to the large jar with the exception of the open stomach which he placed in another jar. When he completed his examination witness handed the specimens back to Constable Hay and directed him to take them to the Government Analyst. Witness had found no disease sufficient to cause natural death. Death has been caused by small doses of strychnine as small as a quarter of a grain. The more usual amount was one and a half to two grains. He i had discovered variation to susceptibility, in his experience, but had only came into contact with the cases after death. The amount of strychnine discovered by the analyst in such cases was varied. Strychnine did not produce any characteristic post mortem changes; it was really the absence of evidence of natural causes of death which made a pathological examination necessary. In such a ease as that of deceased, judging from the described symptoms and the result of the analysis, death would, in his opinion, be highly suspicious of having resulted from strychnine poisoning.

Mrs. Jean Clark, of Moonlight Road, Blackball, said that the .witness Jean Kennedy Clark, was her daughter. Witness remembered the time when Miss Smith died. Some time previous to that witness had received au anonymous letter through the post. The envelope was sealed. She kept it for a while, read it, showed it to her husband, her daughter Jean and another daughter. She burned the letter, but kept the envelope and subsquently handed it over to the police. Witness identified the envelope produced. The latter was written in very bad handwriting and appeared to be disguised. It was neither forward or backhand. It was if someone had written it with the left hand. Witness had no idea from whom it came. The letter referred mostly to witness’s daughter, and also to a young man she was out with, Ron Nei'son. The letter advised witness to stop her daughter Jean from going out with Ron Neilson. It dm not give any real reason why witness should stop her from walking out with him. Anonymous letters of a similar nature were received by witness’s daughter, Jean. Witness saw one of them. There was a lot of disgusting talk in it and it. referred to Ron Neilson in particular. It was written in a decided backhand. Mrs. Bertha Neilson, Main Road, Blackball, wife of Harry Neilson, said that she knew Ronald Neilson aud had brought him up since he was a child, being her husband’s youngset brother. From December, 1933, he had been walking out with Jean Clark and so far as she had anything to do witn their association, it met with witness’s approval. A few months later, witness received an anonymous letter through the post. Mr. Paterson objected to this evidence, claiming that it had no bearing on the caso

The Inspector said that the prosecution would prove that the envelope addressed to Mrs. G. Clark (produced) was written by accused. The anonymous letters had reference to Miss Clark and Mr. Ron Neilson. The Magistrate ruled that the evidence was permissible and with a bearing on the case. Continuing Mrs. Neilson said the letter was sealed. Witness read the contents and subsequently burned the letter. The letter referred to Miss Clark and to no one else. The reference was unfavourable. Witness showed letter to her husband, Ron Neilson, her daughter and Miss Clark. The language that was in the letter caused both witness and Miss Clark to cry. Miss Clark was a very decent prl. Mr. Paterson: Did you notice what the handwriting on the letter was like? Witness: I think it was backhand. 1 do not think I could tell it again if 1 saw it. I am not sure.

George Seymour Pattison, schoolmaster, Atarau, said he received a letter on September 24 last, which he burned as soon as he read it, because he was disgusted with it. He did not notice the postmark on it. It was the only letter that he received that day. The letter made unfavourable remarks about a resident of the district, Mrs. Christie, postmistress, Atarau. There were no threats or warnings to anybody else in the letter. Another particular reference in the letter was one advising witness not to visit Mrs. Christie’s house. The letter was written in rough block print, which resembled the block printing on the en-

velope produced. The writer of the letter to witness stated. “I have written Mrs. Christie a stiff letter.” Witness had never before received an anonymous letter. Witness knew accused, who was working on the gold subsidy in a creek at Moonlight, and was eamped on the creek at the time. Witness had met accused on several occasions on the Moonlight tennis court, where witness had played against him. Mrs Christie was a member of the club. Witness had had no differences whatever with accused. ‘‘Has he ever spoken to you in deragotary terms of Mrs. Christie?” asked Mr. Paterson. Witness: Never! Mrs. Annie Dorothy Christie said that she resided with her husband at Atarau, where she was postmistress. She remembered clearing the mail from the post office box on the morning of September 24, when one letter in particular attracted her attention. It was addressed, “Postmaster, Blackball.” Witness identified the exhibit as the letter. She almost opened it, as she was used to the prospectors their grocery orders in the box, addressed, “Postmistress, Atarau,” for her to bring the groceries up. She stamped the letter with the cancellation stamp, and it went forward to Blackball that same day in the afternoon. The letter box had been clear-

ed previously the Friday before, September 21. The mail went forward to Blackball twice a week, Mondays and Fridays, and arrived from Blackball on the same days. She did not recall any similar letters having gone forward. Mr. Paterson objected to the evidence regarding the 'etters. He said that the laws of evidence were being flagrantly broken. Even if the accused did write the letters, they had no -'onuection with the present charge. The Magistrate ruled that the. evidence was admissible.

Witness, continuing her evidence, said she had known the accused for one or two years. lie lived in the Atarau area. In September last he was living at Thompson’s mill, about a mile from the Atarau post office. During that time witness had conversations with him at the Atarau post office. She had never had any discussions with him about his work. Prior to the death of Miss Smith witness had received a sealed anonymous letter, through the post. She did not remember where it was posted. The address was the style children begin to write in school. It was not b'ock printing. Witness burned the letter. It referred to witness, in unfavourable terms. The Inspector: If the accused stated that, you disclosed to someone that he was interested in mining rights, would that be true? Witness: No. Continuing, witness said that it would not be true if the accused said that she had opened some of his correspondence and disclosed the contents.

Harry Joseph Swann, miner, Atarau. said he knew the accused Page, meeting him somewhere about February, 1934. He had been working with a butcher, Mr. Burr, Ngahere. Accused lived with witness after that m a hut at Thompson’s mill, at Atarau. Later witness went to live at Blackball and went backwards and forwards to his work at Atarau. Page continued to live at Thompson’s mil'. Witness heard of Miss Smith’s death. Tie remembered the week-end immediately prior to her death. All through that previous week and until 4.45 p.m. on Friday. September 21, witness and accused had been working together. After leaving accused on Friday, witness next saw accused at his hut on the Monday morning. September 24. From this hut to Blackball it was just five miles. Witness worked with accused on Tuesday. September 25. Witness went to work on September 26. arriving at 7.30 a.m. He saw Page that morning in his hut. and he had a conversation with Page on arrival. The conversation was about the girl Smith. Witness told Page that a girl had had a box of chocolates sent to her. and that thev were poisoned, and that a gir l was dead. He did not think he told Pane who the girl wax. Page made no reply at the time. Of course he was having his breakfast at the time. Tn fact he was half-wav through it. Page Pushed his breakfast nsvh* and apneared dumbfounded and sat back in the chair. After a few minutes he said he would go down to Blackba' and go tn the funeral, and draw hm wages at the same time. Accused ask- I ed witness if he would go. Witness said he would not as he would lose a da,v whilst the girl was a stranger to him and that it was of no interest to him Accused then cleaned himse f and went to Blackball. Witness next saw accused on Fridav night, i on em her 23. He came to witness’s house at Blackball and said ho had another .mb. Ar-rused said he had to go to his camn nf Atarau and nack aH his gear and bring it back into Then aecused came again on Saturday m ht and told witness he had brought all his ,ear in and had left it at Tommy Brooks’. Witness saw accused cat'h train at B’ackball nt 6.40 n.m. for Greymouth on Rentomber 29. That was the last witness saw of accused. A eused had another camp in the Atarau district, this side of Moonlight Creek. It was near the Moonlight River. Witness had visited the camp mostly every week end with Page until witness went to Blackball to live. Detective Knight subsequently called on witness an witness took him across to Page s othei camp on Moonlight "River. Early in October. Detectives Ho’mes and Knight called on witness at Thompson’s mill at Atarau. W’ fcss had seen what the detectves 4 > They turned the hut Inside out almost. He meant that they searched the hut Page had been occupyin£r. The detectives found papers and empty bottles, one bottle having some spirits of salts in it. He could not remember any label on any bottles. The detectives took some brown paper which had writing on it. It was the paper produced. He handed some paper to the detectives which had some writing on it, and which he thought was .Page’s. Witness was pretty well conversant with what Page had in his hut. tage had a first aid outfit. It was just the one little package. Witness had not seen any strychnine about the p’ace. He had never seen strychnine in his life. He did not see any chocolates in the hut. He had heard of a “Peeping Tom” being about Blackball. Page had never mentioned the matter to witness.. Page had both a watch and clock during the time he was at Thompson’s mill.

To Mr. Paterson: There would be a lot of talk about the tragedy, but he was not in Blackball. His wife told him about it. Tommy Brooks told witness the name of the girl when taking witness to work. Ho knew it was Miss Smith on Tuesday night. They did not talk about anything else but the tragedy on the way out to work. When he got to the hut his mind was cer-

tainly full of the tragedy and witness poured the tale out into the ears of accused. Accused sat up. pushed his food away and listened to him. There was nothing remarkable, except that the man sat back as if he hail got a shock. Accused did not finish his food after he pushed it way. He left about half a pound of steak on the plate. It was perhaps not much to leave. Tie told accused in the course of (he conversation that the girl who had been poisoned was a Miss Smith, and that it was the wrong party who had been poisoned. He though! that accused knew the girl, and in fact, thought accused knew everybody in Blackball. George Pickens, labourer, Fitzgerald Avenue, Christchurch, said that he lived at Atarau with Page and Swann. He went to live there early in June, 1934, in the same hut as Page and Swann. Witness left Atarau at the end of July. 1934. Swann was only there for about the first two weeks, and then shifted into Blackball. During the time that he was in the hut witness did not possess any bottle marked poison, and he could not recollect any such bottle being in the hut while he was there. Witness had occasion to use both a hottie containing medicine and a hottie containing lotion. He got them from Dr. Hutson. He left the two bottles at the hut, but no others. Page never always stayed in the hut at night. He said that he used to go to Wallsend. Brunner and Greymouth. He made several trips away while witness was there. Witness thought he slept well. Witness had seen him leaving the hut at night, and he had told witness that he was going tn see the doctor at Wal’send. He had a butterfly or rain cape, and a haversack. Ho had told witness that he slept in dug-outs along the road. Witness had seen a first aid outfit, belong- j ing to Page, about the hut. Page had another camp, which witness knew by the Roaring Meg camp. Page told witness that bush rats, opposums and

bush vermin got into that camp, hut Page never mentioned anything to witness about getting rid of them. Witness never had any spirits of salts, or anything in the nature of poison at the hut. neither did he possess or use any French chalk. Witness did a hit of writing while he was in the hut and he supposed he left some of it there. The exhibit produced was not his writing. The brown paper with printing on it was not his. Witness had never heard anything about a Peening Tom in that district. Witnes- wrote most of his personal letters, while he was there, but Page wrote 'wo or three for him. seeking employment: addressed to various sheep-owners at Culverden. North Canterbury. Witness did not know Misses Jean Clark. Ethe Bragg and Margaret Mav Smith. Witness read of the death of Miss Smith about six months ago. Tn September last witness was on the State Forestry in Canterbury. He went to Christ - church, from Atarau at the end of July and he had been in Canterbury ever since. Proceedings were adjourned until 10 o’clock this mnrnmg. __