POISON ON CHOCOLATE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21467, 15 April 1933, Page 2 (Supplement)

POISON ON CHOCOLATE

PHOSPHORUS THROUGH POST ATTEMPTED MURDER CHARGE WITHDRAWAL OF INDICTMENT Against a. man who was declared to have scut through the post chocolate smeared with a mixture containing yellow phosphorus, a charge of attempted murder failed at Glamorgan, Wales, Assizes recently. He was Cecil Frederick Luckhajn, aged 25, gaidoncr. ~- jii what Mr. Justice Goddard described as " a serious and remarkable case," Luckham was accused of attempting to bring about tho death of Robert Samuel Kendrick, insurance agent, of Sully, by sending him poisoned chocolate. Ho was also ac cused of threatening to kill and hemanding money with menaces. Mr. H. H. Roskin, prosecuting counsel, stated that on September 9 last Mr. Kendrick's motor-car collided wit a bicycle which was being wheeled by Luckham. He gave Luckham 6s to pay his fare to Swansea, as his macb.no was damaged. Later ho received an unsigned letter which road: I write to you n about that to tlunk you can do wr>ai to playcd tI V I1 T wii| U | c at XI and the other llVr . bike at £2. Send the money to Southed Post Office. Mumbles. Subsequently Mr. Kendrick was summoned at Cardiff in respect of the accident. After the case had been hoard ho received an unsigned postcard, on which was written. Because you told so many lies at the police court I am coins to cet you before you tell any more. Beware —death comes quicklj. Judge: Tho card is considerably, stamped over, and on " Death comes quickly" appears "The telephone saves time and money." " This is the Last Warning " On November 3 Mr. Kendrick received another postcard, and also a box containing chocolate. The chocolate gave tho impression that it had been bored, and when analysed it was found to contain sufficient yellow phosphorus to kill a man. On the postcard was written a request for £2O. A similar packet was received by Mr. Kendrick on November 9, and round it was a letter, which stated. This is the last warning you will get. If you do not put the sum of £2O in the Southend Post Office by Saturday next without fail, I will set you and cut your iympr tongue out of your head. Ihis is to show you I mean business. Mr. Kendrick, giving evidence, stated that after ho received the chocolate ho was suspicious, because of the threatening communications. Cross-examined, ho said he believed Luckham deliberately threw his bicycle in front of the car, but tho magistrates decided against him (Kendrick). Mr. W. Pritchard, for the defence, referred to a quotation on one postcard, which read i " Seeing spirits keeps youi head white. Drinking spirits makes your nose red," and asked: " Did you take this postcard as really serious. - ' Mr. Kendrick: Yes. .1 thought it contained an awful threat. Mr. G. Ti. Thompson, public analyst, declared that the bars of chocolate were covered with a brown mixture of flour, bran, and yellow phosphorus. Tho whole of tho chocolate would have to bo eaten to constitute a fatal dose. The natural tendency would have been for the recipient to have demurred after tasting the first portion. Serious Charges Withdrawn At tho close of tho case for the prosecution tho judge intimated that lie would withdraw from the jury the charges of attempted murder, attempted grievous bodily harm, and sending a threatening letter. So far as poisoning was concerned, tho only charge could be one of a misdemeanour, that he sent the chocolate intending to injure, aggrieve, or annoy. Luckham, in evidence, admitted writing tho letters and sending the chocolate. -Mr. ftoskin: Did you want to injure Mr. Kendrick? —Xo. Why did you put the paste on tho chocolate? —To make him sick. What did you mean by writing, "Beware! Death comes quickly!" — Luckham, smiling: I don't know. Tho jury found Luckham guilty on an alternative charge of sending the chocolate with intent to injure or annoy, and on one charge of sending a letter with menaces. On all the other charges tho finding was " Not guilty." Dr. Thomas Wallace, medical officer at Cardiff Prison, stated he had had Luckham under observation since November 11. Luckham had the average mentality for a man of his class and certainly could not be certified as insane. Mr. Pritchard: I am instructed that in 1930 Luckham was struck on the head by a falling tree in the Australian bush, was unconscious for two days and in hospital five months. Do you think that would account for his conduct?— No. Deported from Australia Constable Stockford stated that in 1929 Luckham wont to Australia, but was deported in July, 1932, after being convicted for sending offensive letters through the post. Ho had convictions from Now South Wales of tho same kind, and in Sydney in 1931 ho was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment for sending letters demanding money by menaces. Mr. Pritchard stated Luckham apparently was not the same man after being injured in Australia. Apparently he had periodical brainstorms, which made him do these stupid tilings. In passing sentence of 15 months' imprisonment without hard labour, Mr. Justice Goddard told Luckham: "I doubt whether you appreciate tho seriousness of this matter. I do not beiievo you are so silly or foolish as you appear to bo. " Having regard to your convictions in Australia, 1 am bound to take u serious view of this case. If I thought you really intended to murder Mr. Kendrick, or even to harm him, I would sentence you to a lone term of penal servitude. If the chocolate had been left about, a child might have got hold of it, with very serious consequences." Luckham smiled broadly when tho judge pronounced sentence*.