ALLEGES SAW WIFE PUTTING A POISON INTO HIS PORRIDGE

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6665, 19 July 1928, Page 7

ALLEGES SAW WIFE PUTTING A POISON INTO HIS PORRIDGE

Hasbanfs Testimony m Attempted Murder Case DOMESTIC DIFFERENCE .'FINDS WAY TO COURT Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Last Night In the Magistrate’s Court to-day, before Mr E. Page, S.M., Marion Koerbin, aged 43, was charged with attempted murder of her husband, Herbert Koerbin, a chef, of Wellington. Mr A. B. Sievwright appeared for accused and Chief Detective Ward prosecuted. ■ ' - Herbert Koerbin, in evidence said he was practically of independent means. He also said that their married life had not been happy. His wife always complained about not having enough money. They were married-in Wellington in 1912, and there were two children..

He said his wife had separated on three occasions, he allowing her £5 2/a week, afterwards he increased it to f 5 10/; which sum she was being paid at the time of her arrest. Lately they had occupied separate rooms of the house, and while ho had Ins-meals : in the kitchen she took hers; ,', to; her, room. The food in tho house was cooked by his wife. ' , In 1 December, Mr Koerbin said, 'ho became ill-with vomiting pains in Jris head;and stomach and was confined to ' betf for a - week, losing a stone in weight He did not call a doctor. \vin June.last, when, in the dining room, he saw through the-slide which was up, his wife preparing the porridge. He saw her pour out the porridge bn to a plate for her son and then .put the. saucepan back on the , gas. stove. From her. be judged she was pouring something into - v the pot. = Following this she , added ;; more salt and stirred it up. She then left it for Koerbin to pout out what porridge ho; heeded. ' His suspicions were aroused and he took: samples of the porridge and also ; other foods cooked for him aa tripe,:chops, potatoes, fish and. stewed. Steak to an analyst’s. They reported that the:-food» contained barium -car-: ? --; bonato, a poison, a minimum dose to kill .a hutnan being being 60 grains. It plained,of barium carbonate poisoning. ■•, ■' . ' Ground glass was also found as a result of the analyst’s tests. ' Within the last few months: four cats had died on the premises or in the yard, andi Koerbin and his children thought they had been poisoned by neighbours. The cats had* been given the dregs of ; the porridge pot and before dying bad b,een sick and ybmlted, the sypiptqms,; as the, analysts explained, of ..barium carbonate poison. Once, it : was. alleged, accused had said to her, daughter: ‘ f That ought: t« do the tottea swine.” . /,.’■> Koerbin . denied ■ attempting to strangle - accused, s but admitted twisting her-wrist, and hitting her in the face, blacking her:, eye. / Koerbip , searched his wife’s room and 1 found a bottle of powder in- a .. suitcase. A sample tested by analysts showed it to- bo barium carbonate. ; Powdered glass was also found, . Koerbin invited a -detective in one' morning and they through the dining - room slide saw accused pour something into Koerbin’s porridge. , Questioned, afterwards by the aetec- > tive, who also gave evidence, accused-; said slie did not know any reason why ,;) the food should have made her husband ill. . . • • ;When the ..bottle was found on her she became agitated /and offered to tell • all about it, but was advised by the detective • she need not do. so , unless- - ■she wished to. ■••• The case was adjourned till tomorrow. .