POISONING SENSATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20219, 2 April 1929, Page 11

POISONING SENSATION.

CASE OF WIFE MURDER. YOUNG MAN'S CONVICTION. DRAMATIC COURT SCENE. : ACCUSED SENTENCED TO DEATH. There was a dramatic scene in the Criminal Court in Sydney on the evening of March 20 when, after a retirement of nearly four hours, the jury announced its verdict of guilty in the case in which Alister Jenner Clark, aged SJ4, was charged with the murder of his wife, Ella Mary Clark

The prisoner collapsed in the dock, and after sentence of death had been pronounced by the Acting-Chief Justice, Mr. Justice Ferguson, he was assisted to the cells. As he left the Court hj» sobbed bitterly. Clark's wife died at the Coast Hospital on October 12, and it was. alleged by the Crown that she had b en poisoned by her husband. Great interest was shown in the trial, the Court being crowded.

The accused made a statement from the dock, in which he said thai, he had never at any time given bjs wifii arsenic in any shape or form. His children had been placed, with his wife's consent, in Scarba Home, where they were well looked after. Ho had visited his wife whenever he could, although at the last ho had become a little bit irregular owing to business. Clark said he took his wife anything she asked for; he never refused her anything. He not only took her chocolates, but cakes, fruit, eggs, and anything she desired.

When the detectives came to see him, accused continued, Detective James . asked who Miss Marks was. His (Clark's) idea had been to keep the marriage a secret, but when questioned by Detective James he told him that they were married. Then James said: "Your wife died from arsenical poisoning—and slowly, too." He did not believes him at first, because he could not understand how she could be poisoned. He had. no idea when he was taken to the C.I.D. that lie would be charged with that. He asked for a chance to prove his inno* cence, but they never gave him a chance to answer any questions. He had , never given his wife arsenic, or anything containing arsenic. Medical Offlcer'is Evidence. Dr. A. A. Palmer, Government medical officer, in his earlier evidence, said that with Dr. Sheldon he had examined the exhumed body of Mrs. Clark. The condition of the organs led him. to the conclusion that the deceased died .from arsenical poisoning, which must have been given in a large quantity about a week before death. It was probable that the deceased had been suffering from arsenical poisoning at the time she was admitted to the hospital. The medicine containing arsenic given to the deceased at the hospital would not account for the i condition of the stomach.

Detective-Sergeant James stated that after the exhumation of the; body of Mrs. Clark on October 22 he went with Detec-tive-Sergeant Swasbrick to a flat at Bondi. The accused opened ithe door.: On being told that Miss Marks was staying there, he was asked what relation she was to him, and ho replied that she was only a friend. Witness saw a woman coming down the steps, and he asked who she was, and the accused said "Miss Marks." Witness then asked her in what relation she stood to Clark, and the latter said that she was his wife, and that they had been married tile day before.

When' asked if he had visited, his wife in hospital, and if he had taken anything for her to eat, Clark said that he had visited his wife, and had taken her chocolates and cakes. When asked if he could account for her having hjid arsenic before her death, Cla;rk said that on ono of his visits his wife told him that one of her former sweethearts had asked her to go and live with him, and was coming on a certain night to see her. Clark said that he had gene out to the hospital to try to see this man. Two Statements By Accused. Tho witness said that Clark had made i two statements to nim, which he signed.In the first, which was read :in Court, Clark told how he met his first wife five years ago vrhilo travelling in a railway carriage from Barellan to Sydney. He said, in the alleged statement, ithat they had lived happily until about six months before her death. Most of the arguments were caused by his wife saying that she had caught him and made him marry her; otherwise they wore very happy. His wife wths continually being taken to tho hospital. They had some tongues for tea one night. In 'the morning they all had severe pains. The little girl was ill, but got better in a day. His wife continued vomiting for a week, and had convulsions. Tho doctor ordered her to tho Coast Hospital. He visited her every visiting day. Bryda Ms.rks often went with him, but remained outside while he went in to see his, wife. They got on well together, all through her illness. On one occasion, said Clark, he had been afraid of his wife and asked the nurse to watch her, as he did not know what she might do to herself. His wife tolcl him that she was sick of everything, and if the doctors did not cure her sihe would put herself out' of the way. He took her everything she wanted in the , * way of fruit, chocolates and cakes. "I cannot understand it," he concluded, "and I am in no way responsible for my dear wife's death." Marriage After The Funeral. In a second statement, alleged to have been made by the accused, he dealt with his relations with Bryda Blanche Marks. He said that he had. been introduced to her in a restaurant, wfctre she had been engaged as a waitress. He told her that he was married, but would do all ha could to make her life brighter. They sometimes went to the pictures, but he never stayed with her later than 10 p.m. Clark said that when his wile went to the hospital he was asked to stay at the same boarding house where Miss Marks resided. Ho was feeling unhappy about his wife being awav. While at the boarc - ing house Miss Marks and he frequently went out together. There had never- been anything between them hut . After the funeral they came t the con elusion that it would be best to get mar II Continuing, the witness said Clark admitted tZ?he had fed his wife with Chocolates and cakes, because she could not feed herself. Clark said to fee witness that he wished to turn over a new leaf , and lead a better life.