MYSTERIOUS DEATHS

Northern Advocate, 6 August 1929, Page 5

MYSTERIOUS DEATHS

POISONING SUSPECTED

MAN CHARGED WITH MURDER

THIRD WIRE IN HOSPITAL

(Au»rr»Haa Press Association.) (Received 10.90 a.m.) SViDNiEY, .August 5

.Detectives who are closely investigating the mysterious illness of Mrs Helena Pearson, a native of New Zealand, at 'Sydney Hospital, tonight arrested her husband, Walter Rufus Pearson, agd 55, a painter, on a charge of wife murder in October, 1923.

The police state that Pearson had been throe times married, the first occasion being about ten years ago and the second in 1923. The second woman’s body was exlmmed a few days ago and a report from the analyst is awaited.

Pearson is further charged with having administered chloride of zinc to his present wife between April and August 5, with intent to commit murder.

' Pearson was refused bail. All the food taken to his present wife in hospital was seized and analysed. An extraordinary feature is that Pearson lives next door to Airs Minahan, widow of William Minahan, whose (funeral was held up ou July 22 by the police, who took charge of the body.

OMINOUS TRACES FOUND,

AFTER SIX YEARS’ INTERMENT.

(Australian Press Association.) (Received 3 p.m.) , SYDNEY, This Day. The police prosecutor disclosed that traces of poison were found in the body of Mrs Million Pearson, which was' exhumed after it had been buried for six years, when Walter Pearson vas remanded on a charge of having murdered his former wife.

Detectives, acting with dramatic suddenness, held up a funeral in Rookwood Cemetery on July 22, and took charge of the coffin, which was later placed in the morgue. It is stated that William Mihahan die,d suddenly after vaccination.