POISON IN BODY

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 30 August 1929, Page 5

POISON IN BODY

SCHOOLTEACHER’S DEATH. INQUIRY EY CORONER, WIDOW COMMITTED M TIM AD. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph Uopy right.) l Australian Irena Association.) SYDNEY, Aug. 29. The coroner is holding an inquiry at Queanbeyan into tin© death or Alic-k mmiield, schoolmaster, whose' body was exhumed. The medical evidence was that death was due to strychnin© poisoning, a> considerable quantity being reveailed by analysis. Mrs Bunfield was not present yesterday, having taken a fit before the inquiry opened. Detective Kennedy gave evidence that he had interviewed Mrs Bunheld after the exhumation of the body. She admitted having ordered two lots of strychnine on different occasions at the request of her husband, who told her lie wanted to poison rabbits, but be did not say when or where. John Morris, chemist, deposed that 1 be had supplied strychnine to a person Whose handwriting was similar to that produced. It was sent to Michelago, where Bun fie Icl resided. When the inquest was resumed! today William Kelly. a neighbouring farmer, deposed that lie had had conversation with Bunfielcl some time ago. when Bunheld had casually remarked that his wife was a very sic-k woman, hysterical and neurotic. ’Timothy McMahon, from an adjoining 'station, gave evidence that h© was summoned to the Bun field' home ' the day Bunfielcl died. He saw Bunfield was very ill. Witness suggested to Bunfield he was possibly suffering from ptomaine poisoning. Bunfield had replied: “It cannot be that.” He then admitted that he ate tinned peaches which tasted “mighty bitter.” Henry Bunfield, aged 14, a son of the dead man, gave evidence that he opened ia. tin of peaches. The father served thie peaches ~ with custard, but the mother had no custard. The father became ill shortly afterwards. Henry put his finger down his own throat and vomited. The father said. Did you taste anything bitter _ about those peaches?” Witness replied “No.” ' Mrs Bunfield. who arrived at the courthouse before the inquiry ended, declined to give evidence'. She was committed for trial on a charge of having caused her husband’s death by poisoning. ’