DID SHE TAKE POISONED RAISINS ACCIDENTALLY?

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7296, 5 August 1930, Page 7

DID SHE TAKE POISONED RAISINS ACCIDENTALLY?

Searching Cross-examination of Man in Case CORONER HAS GRAVE DOUBTS Per Press Association. GISBORNE, Last Night. An unusually long and searching inquiry was held to-day by Mr. P. Harper, S.M., concerning the death of Mrs. Christina Sutherland McMahon, aged 31, who died on July 24th, from the effects of poison. Medical evidence was given to the effect that deceased told a doctor and also the house surgeon at Cook Hospital that, she filled some raisins with poison to kill rats and had taken the raisins by mistake. The principal witness was a married’, man named Robert Milton Bell, \slio visited deceased shortly before she nas found suffering from the poison. Bell in evidence said he went- to deceased’s home in response to a telephone message from her. On arrival ho said she offered a ring as security for a loan of £25 he had made her two months previously. He said ho refused to accept the ring and then left, saying he did not want either the money or the Ting. When he got home ho found the ring in his overcoat pocket. Ho liad previously lent deceased sums up to £25 to assist her in business as a dressmaker and she had assited to keep his books. He had known deceased for three years and formerly boarded with deceased and her husband. Witness was subjected to a searching cross-examination by fhe police and Coroner. In giving tho verdict the Coroner said it was quite evident that death was the result of strychnine poisoning. The question was whether it was taken intentionally or accidentally. The evidence of two doctors showed that deceased stated that the poison was taken accidentally in raisins. Deceased also told other witnesses she took the poison accidentally. "It is quite evident the poison was taken by deceased after Bell called on her that aftrnoon. She said she took tho poison in raisins, but it seems strange that she should have taken it by accident. Only one person can throw light on the whole matter and that is the witness Bell. lam quite sure he is not telling us all, and I am not satisfied with the amnner in which he gave evidence. He appears to be keeping something concealed. There seems no reason why she should have taken her own life and tho loan from Bell is not by any moans a sufficient reason. There must have been some other motive. If she took the poison intentionally, Bell appears to bo the only one who can give any indication of that.” The Coroner said the evidence must be regarded as a whole and in view of the fact that deceased stated she took the poison accidentally his finding would be that she died as the result of strychnine poisoning accidentally taken by her.