CHARGES OF POISONING

Hawera Star, Volume LII, 28 February 1933, Page 6

CHARGES OF POISONING

ALLEGATIONS AGAINST NURSE ADDRESS BY PROSECUTOR OPENING OF THE E’VTITEN’CEi (By Telegraph—Press Association). AUCKLAND, Feb. 27. Continuing bis statement at to-day’s opening of the trial of Nurse Elspeth Kerr on charges of administering poison to Dorothy Cameron with intent to injure, and so that her life was endangered,, the Crown Prosecutor referred to the examination of the body of. Nurse Kerr's husband and said: ‘ ‘Medical experts will say that Kerr definitely died from veronal -poisoning.” Air Meredith said Nurse Kerr’s husband had been covered by two industrial policies. One for £Bl and bonuses was taken out on November 2, 1925, and was payable at 60 years or earlier death. The other was for £6l 4s and bonuses taken out on October 13, 1930. Both were taken out by accused. At the time the policies were issued Kerr was apparently a healthy man. From the evidence which would be called, said Mr Meredith, it might be inferred the relationship between Kerr and his wife was not the happiest and that Kerr might have been regarded as an encumbrance rather than a helpful husband. “Now we come to the ease of Mrs Day,” continued Mr Meredith. “Mrs Day died on September 22. She had gone Into a coma the previous day and was in that coma for 29 hours.

SUCCESSION OF STROKES.

“Mrs Day had had a stroke,” stated Mr Meredith. “In December, 1930, she had another stroke, and in March, 1931, another stroke which was not a grave one. A witness to bo called will be Mrs Whittaker, who visited Mrs Day once a week in Nurse Kerr’s home and saw her a week before her death. Evidence will be given that Nurse Kerr said to Mrs Whittaker that Mrs Day would be better to pass away, or would be better dead.

“The day before Mrs Day’s death Nurse Kerr called Mrs (Miller to have a look at her. She was unconscious and did not speak. Mrs Day had been unconscious for nearly 29 hours and Kerr had been unconscious for 30 hours before death. Veronal was found in her body.

“So you have this,” said Mr Meredith. “Three persons, two of whom died, all were ill at Nurse Kerr’s house and all three suffered similar symptoms. An examination in all three cases shows veronal. ’ ’

“It may be suggested there is an absence of motive,” said Mr Meredith. “If after hearing the evidence you are satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that veronal was administered by Mrs Kerr wilfully ,to the child Betty, that it could not have been given by anyone other than Mrs Kerr and that she gave it. deliberately, then the motive is of secondary consideration.”

Bv consent a Statement made by Nurse Kerr on April 26 was produced. In this she said inter alia that she arrived in Wellington in 1921 from .Scotland with her husband and son. Her husband was employed as a printer by the “Dominion,’” Wellington, and la'ter in Auckland. Nurse Kerr referred briefly to her husband’s death and in detail to the illness of Betty Kerr. She said that she had no veronal in the house while the child was in the nouse. The child had no possible chance of getting to the medicine ehesF in the kitchenette. Drugs were not kept anywhere else. Dr. Stewart, Devonport, gave evidence, the case then being adjourned.