THE EDENDALE POISONING CASE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12532, 20 June 1901, Page 3

THE EDENDALE POISONING CASE.

ARNETT FOUND GUILTY. IMPRISONMENT FOR LIFE. [Per Pkbss Association.] INVERCARGILL, July 19. The trial o* Dbailes Henry Arnett, for attempt to murder Charles Milne by placinc strychnine in his food at Edendale in October last, was concluded to-night, the jury returning a verdict of '" Guilty." • Mr Justice Cooper passed the maximum penalty of imprisonment for life, saying that such a man was not fit to be at large. The crime of which Arnett, who is a Riverton half-caste, was. convicted was deliberately planned to get rid of Milne.- The latter, a rabblter employing others, had dealt with Sullivan, a Dunedin rabbit buyer for whom Arnett was agent at Mataura. Arnett appropriated the proceeds 'of Sullivan's oheques to Milne to the extent of four hundred pounds, forging the name 3 of the different parties to cover up the defalcations, and when Milne pressed for his money set a day on which he would square up with him. Arnett had previously bought strychnine, but on Oct. 29'procured,'more at Mataura and proceeded to Milne's hut, mine miles off, entering unannounced. He ; seemed taken aback to find Milne in the hut. The settlement was not due till two days later. After some talk Milne left the ;hut to see.'to the horses, leaving Arnett alone with all the materials of the dinner on the table, of which:'Milne and his mates had partaken.' Milne and Arnett left the , hut together; but some little distance away the latter made an excuse to part Gompany, and was afterwards seen by a witness, on the road between the hut and where he had parted from Milne, the 1 inference being that he returned to the hut and placed poison: in the sugar and butter. At tea all the •rabbitens were taken suddenly ill, and, in consequence, the police took the matter up. An analysis showed deadly quantities 'of {strychnine, and the detectives, in the course' of the. investigation, found that , Arnett had' stolen Milne's money. This put. .them on the track. Arnett was arrested for theft and' forgery, and got three years. . Meantime the poisoning case was worked up. It was evident that had Milne died. Arnett would have been relieved of the liability which ho had promised to wipe off two, days later. The Crown separated the charges, indicting Arnett last week for attempted mauder of Milne's niates, Gordon and! White, When the jury disagreed. The time in. which the poison was placed An the food narrowed down to one hour, and no one could be found to say that he had seen anyone but ; Arnett on the road near the hut in that hour. Accused said that he bought the poison to kill rats for a man who was to give him ten'shillings for doing eo, but the man was not called to give evidence for the defence. Arnett was quite unmoved when sentenced.