A HOUSEHOLD POISONED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6362, 8 April 1882, Page 7

A HOUSEHOLD POISONED.

A most mysterious poisoning case is being investigated by the Denbigh police. A short time ago, while the family of Mr. John Burton, an independent gentleman, residing at Gresford, were at dinner, the sou complained of being ill immediately after partaking of a rice flour pudding. Mr. Burton lold him he had simply been overloading hia stomach, but very shortly afterwards Mr. Burton himself felt exceedingly sicK, and Mrs. Burton also became ill. 'I he cook, two servant maids, and the stable boy, who likewise ate some of the pudding, were also seized with similar symptoms, and the family medical man, Dr. Maunistry, was sent for. On examining bis patients he discovered that they were suffering from the effects of mineral poison. Prompt measures were taken to relieve them, but Mr. Burton and the cook were for some time despaired of, Mr. Burton especially having a very narrow escape, being still confined to his bed. At first it was thought that some vermin powder which had been used in the kitchen for the killing of beetles had accidentally got into the canister in which the rice flour was kept, but thi3 supposition was disposed of on some of this flour and also the remains of the pudding, together with some of the vomit, being submitted to analysis, and all of them found to contain large quantities of arsenic. The police are of opinion, we believe, that the dastardly act was done by someone outside Mr. Burton's household, and is not the work cf anyone living iu the house.