A POISONING MYSTERY SOLVED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9184, 13 October 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

A POISONING MYSTERY SOLVED.

The London police believe they have succeeded in solving the mystery at one time surrounding the death of Benjamin Woodin, a boot-finisher, who died on the 25th of July from the effects of an irritant poison, which he alleged to have been administered to him by a woman with whom he lived at her house, 30, Shafturfbury-strect, Shoreditch. At the inquest an open verdict was returned, and the police were instructed to ascertain who bought the poison. This they have succeeded in doing. It appears that Henry Calcutfc, of Bootstreet, Hoxton, on reading an account of the inquest, went to the police and informed them that lie was in deceased's company on the night of the 19th, when the latter asked him where he could procure some oxalic acid. Calcutt directed him to Mr. Godfrey's, a chemist, at 36, Pitfioldstreeb, Hoxton. Subsequently ho saw the deceased enter the shop, and Mr. Godfrey, on being interviewed, said it was quite probable that he sold the poison, though he had no distinct recollection of it, it being frequently sold to bootmakers. The next morning deceased was poisoned. He charged tho woman with whom ho lived with having given it him in some tea, but tho police have discovered that she did nob return homo that night or the following morning till late, and after Woodin had lefo the house. It is therefore probable that the man took the poison himself.