THE NAPIER CASE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 224, 21 August 1935, Page 8

THE NAPIER CASE.

EVIDENCE BY ACCUSED

Per Press Association. NAPIER, Aug. 20. The trial of Phyllis Leslie Tui Marshall, aged 18, on charges of attempting to murder Alma Lorraine Keith, on Alay 22, or, alternatively, that with intent to kill Aliss Keith she attempted to cause her to take poison, was continued this afternoon. To Air Marker (for the defence) Jack Masters denied any conversation between accused and himself about poisoned chocolates. Masters told of sleeping at the Afarshalls’ house when he had influenza. He denied that anything improper had occurred between accused and himself one night. After outlining the case for the defence, Air Marker called accused into the witness-box. She said that Alasters and she were friendly. .Masters telling her he wished to marry her, but since his people did not approve of accused his father wished him to marry Alma Keith. As he was dependent on his father he did not want to offend him, he had said. Masters had told accused they would never get anywhere the way they were going, and that Alma Keith would have to be disposed of. When Masters slept at the Marshalls’ house, when lie said he was ill, accused mainly looked after him. Accused recalled intimacy between them one night. Alasters returned from T.kokino later and gave accused a parcel, asking her to address and post it. She did so, not knowing what it contained. Later Alasters asked if she had posted it. When she said “Yes,” lie said: “Well, you’ve done for yourself this time.” He explained that the parcel contained poisoned chocolates, and that she was in it now as much ns ho was. Alasters told her he had put arsenic in the chocolates. Accused told him she would ring Alma Keith about the matter, ami Alasters replied that he would go to Hastings and put the matter right. Later he told accused that Airs Keith had insisted on taking the chocolates to the police station, but denied that he had gone, too. He also said that if the parcel were traced to the Marshalls’ place accused would have to take the blame. The hearing was adjourned until tomorrow.

F URTHER_EV IDENCE. ACCUSED’S STATEMENTS,

Per Press Association. NAPIER, Aug. 21. The poisoned chocolates case was continued to-day. Resuming her evidence, Phyllis Leslie Tui Marshall (accused), recalled a visit she had paid to a storeroom on her father’s property, when she found Masters holding a bottle of arsenic. She was ill fear of Masters at Lite lime, having been threatened hv him regarding telling anyone the truth of the matter. "Witness admitted making a false statement to the police, but said she had made a further statement while in gaol on Friday last. Cross-examined by the Crown 1 rosecutor, accused said Masters told her repeatedly he wanted to poison Alma Keith. Accused denied she was jealous of Miss Keith and said she never had asked Masters what his relations with Miss Keith were. Masters had said he could not break it off with Miss Keith because of the wishes of his father, on whom lie was dependent. He therefore considered the best way of disposing of her was to “poison her off.” Accused said she had made a false statement to the police because she did not want them to get Masters. Edith Lilian Marshall, mother of accused, said she had not approved of the friendship between Masters and her daughter, and had tried unsuccessfully to discourage it. Witness said Masters had known of the presence of arsenic in the store room. David Marshall, father of accused, recalled a visit which Masters had paid to his house. Witness answered the door. Masters, on seeing him, started back a few feet. Witness saw an object swinging in his hand and asked Masters what lie wanted. He received no answer for a minute; then Masters asked to see another station employee who was at the house. Later, ho had found a heavy iron gate hinge lying on the grass near the house.