MURDER CHARGE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 2 April 1930, Page 5

MURDER CHARGE

MRS MUNN'S DEATH

ATTRIBUTED TO STRYCHNINE POISONING A DOCTOR'S EVIDENCE (By Telegraph—Press Association) AUCKLAND, This Day. The case against Arthur Thomas Munn, charged with tho murder of his wife, was continued in the Police Court, when evidence was 'given bv Dr. R. G. Dudding. Witness said he had attended Mrs Munn for some time prior to her death. He described the later stages of her illness and said the symptoms which the woman showed were usually associated with strychnine poisoning. He went to a chemist's dispensary at Northcote and in the poison register was an entry to the effect that Munn had purchased a dram of strychnine. He also had some liquid in the room in which Mrs Munn was lying analysed by Mr Parker, who reported the matter to the police. _ In answer to a question by Mr Meredith, witness said that in his opinion Mrs Munn's death was due to strychnine poisoning. He thought that several doses had been administered. • The Court adjourned till to-day. AUCKLAND,-This Day. On tho Court resuming to-day Frederick W. J. Johnston, chemist, ot Northcote, produced his poisons register with an entrv on 25th November of tho sale of strychnine to A. T. Munn, of Northcote, signed by accused. Munn said he wanted it to poison rats. Witness gave him instructions how to use strychnine and warned him to destroy what was left over. The packet was marked "Strychnine—not to be taken, and on the other side the red label ''pjbison." (Witness was asked if Munn-* bought further poison from him later, and he replied that Munn bought two drams of prussic acid. Munn said that was to poison a rat. Mr Meredith, Crown Prosecutor, produced a bottle of brown-coloured medicine which witness said was made up for Mrs Munn by Dr. Dudding's prescription. He witnessed tests made by Dr. Dudding in the dispensary on 11th February. The bottles used were quite clean,. Witness recognised another bottle of medicine made up on Dr. Dudding's prescription and said there was no possibility of strychnine being in the medicine. Arthur James Parker, public analyst, said he received four bottles in an attache case from Dr. Dudding. Nos. 1 ■ and 2 gave negative results. Sample No. 3 (urine) gave a distinct positive reaction for strychnine, probably only a ■ small quantity of alkaloid being present. The reaction was a complete one, but the colour was not strong. Asked if ho had any doubt "about the presence of strychnine, witness answered "not the slightest." He said No. 4 gave a distinct and positive reaction for strych- ' nine. No. 3 contained an amount of strychnine just about sufficient for recognition. No. 4 undoubtedly contained more strychnine, but in his opinion ' not a large quantity. His reason for saying that No. 4 did not contain a largo quantity was that a preliminary test made with' two drams of the sample gave very slight indication, and that there was not a complete reaction. He did not attempt to quarititate it. Kenneth M. Griffin, Government Analyst •at Auckland, said that on 13th February he received from Dr. Murray a glass jar containing the stomach, and a portion of the liver/ -kidney, and ' spleen of the deceased. He also received' on the same date from Detective-Ser- • geant Doyle one small bottle labelled poison, one bottle of medicine, eleven whole packets of epsom salts, and two broken packets. On analysis witness found that the . stomach contained strychnine, the amount of purified alkaloid recovered being equivalent to twofifths of a grain in the whole organ. The total strychnine present in the stomach was probably .about twice tho amount recovered. Portions of the liver, kidney, and spleen were also extracted and "definite reactions for strychninewere obtained in each case. Witness said a fatal dose is given as from 'half to two grains, and it was probable that sit least one grain of strychnine was present in the body. In another bottle ■was contained two-fifths of a grain of crystals of strychnine. I Hydrochloride medicine and each packet of salts were tested for strychnine, but none could be found. •