Poisoned Chocolates

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 196, 21 August 1935, Page 5

Poisoned Chocolates

Trial of Young Woman CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED MURDER Per Press Association. NAPIER, Last Night. The trial of Phyllis Leslio Tui Marshall, aged 18, on charges connected with the Hastings poisoned chocolate case, was commenced in the Supreme Court this morning before Mr Justice Reed,' when accused was charged with the attempted murder of Alma Lorraine Keith on May 22nd last; and alternatively that with intent she injured Keith in attempting to cause her to take poison.

Tho Crown Prosecutor, Mr It. B. Lusk, stated that Keith received the packet through tho post and found it to contain chocolates. Keith’s mother became suspicious and handed the chocolates to tho police. When analysed the sweets were found tv contain arsenic in suflieicicut quantity to have caused death. Mr Lusk said it was clear accused had been in love with a young man named Jack Masters, who was friendly with Keith. The mail contractor at Argyll East, where accused resided, had posted a packet f'r her similar to the one received by Keith. In a statement accused said she denied that she intended to kill Keith, but said she wanted “To make her sick and give her a good fright.” Before sending the chocolates she had tried the poison on a cat, which had died. The evidcuco would be similar to Iliat given in the lower court.

Sensational Turn in Evidence There was a sensational turn during a long cross-examination of the witness Masters by Mr. Barker, counsel for the defence. When his Honour asked whether it was being suggested that Masters made up. the parcel of chocolates and got the accused (o post them for him, Mr. Harkcr replied that it was. Masters was then warned by tho Crown Prosecutor that ho was being directly accused of poisoning the chocolates, which the witness said he realised.

Masters denied to Mr. Harkcr that there was any conversation between accused and him about poisoned chocolates. Masters told of sleeping at Marshall’s house when he had tho ’flu, but domed that anything improper occurred between accused and him one night after. Outlining the case for the dcfenco Mr. llarker called accused into the witness box. She said Masters and site 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 lie did not want to offend him, lie said. Masters told accused they could never get anywhere the way they were going and that Alma Keith would have to be disposed of. When Masters slept at Marshall’s house when he said ho was ill accused mainly looked after him. She recalled intimacy between them one night.

Masters returned from Tikokino later and gave accused a parcel asking her to address and post it. Sho did so, not knowing what it contained.

Later Masters asked if she had posted it. Wh she said yes, ho said: “Well, you’ve done for yourself this time. ’ ’

Ho explained that the parcel contained poisoned chocolates and that she was in it now as much as lie was. Masters told her ho had put arsenic in Ihc chocolates. Accused told him sho would ring Alma Keith about the matter. Masters replied lie would go to Hastings and put; the matter right. Later he told accused 'Mrs. Keith insisted on taking tho chocolates to the police stafiou, but. denied that he had gone too. He also said if tho parcel was traced lo .Marshall's place accused would have to lake the blame.

The hearing was adjourned until to-morrow.