THE NAPIER CASE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 226, 22 August 1935, Page 8

THE NAPIER CASE

EVIDENCE CONTINUED

Per Press Association

NAPIER. Aug. 21. The trial of Phyllis Leslie Tui Alarsliall, aged 18, on charges connected with the Hastings poisoned chocolate case commenced m the Supreme Court before Air Justice Reed. The accused was charged with the attempted murder of Alma Lorraine Keith on May 22 last; alt-’inativclv, that with intent to injure Aliss Keith she attempted to cause her to take poison.

A farm contractor employed at Alarshall’s said that when ne was talking to Masters at the time of the Price murder trial Masters said that if Mr Marshall didn’t watch himself he might find himself at the Supremo Court next session.

Another farm contractor named Newland recalled Alasters coming to Marshall’s house on June 28 and asking for him. Newland denied that Alasters mentioned poison in chocolates.

Air Lusk searchingly cross-examined him as to whether the Marshalls had discussed Phyllis Marshall's story with him about Alasters putting poison in the chocolates, but Newland remained firm that they had not done so.

Margaret Buchanan, a neighbouring farmer,- testified to accused’s good character, saving she had never known accused to do a mean or spiteful thing. Alasters was recalled at the completion of the evidence for the defence. He denied that accused and himself had imitated each other’s handwriting; he also denied the allegation that he had been seen in Alarshall’s storeroom with a bottle of arsenic in his hand. JURY ADDRESSED. Addressing the jury, Air Harker, for the defence, submitted two stories for consideration. One, that accused knowingly sent poisoned chocolates to Aliss Keith and the other that she sent them unwittingly. Air Harker traveised the evidence nt length, saying that if Airs Alarshall’s and Bryan Alarshall’s evidence was true why had Masters made false statements regarding Ins presence in the storeroom where arsenic was kept? Being infatuated with Alasters, was it not likely that accused would want to save him from getting into trouble? That state of mind of accused disappeared only after she had been some time in prison and realised her duty to her mother and father. Air Harker submitted that the way in which accused’s story dovetailed in with that of other witnesses indicated its truth. He submitted that Masters had implicated accused to shield himself. The hearing was adjourned.