POISON IN CHOCOLATES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23773, 28 September 1940, Page 2 (Supplement)

POISON IN CHOCOLATES

Packet Sent Through ■ '' To Elderly Scots Widow

SUSPICIONS aroused in the mind of a K.C's widow who received a mysterious gift of chocolates by post started inquiries in Scotland, which brought retribution at Perth High Court upon a man who proved to have been the sola beneficiary under her brother's will.

FINDING that the chocolates tasted bitter • and burnt her mouth, the widow handed them to her bank manager, and this led to the discovery that they contained potash permanganate crystals. The sequel was a trial before Lord Keith, which ended in John Millar, junior, aged 47, of Revack Lodge, Crieff, being sentenced to three years' perial servitude for attempted murder. How the chocolates reached the widow, Mrs. Georgina Anne Ferguson, aged 83, of Ballater, was described by her in remarkable evidence.

Agtiow, which occurred at tho ago of 76, in March this year, in a firo at Balnienoch. She explained that he had lived in a boarding-house, kept by John Millar, for many years, and after his death she learned that his will had been made out in favour of -Millar. In other evidence it was disclosed that Mr. Agnew's estate, of which .Millar was solo beneficiary, was valued at £II,OOO. Millar had also received a gift of £6.000 from .Mr. Agnew in appreciation of kindnesses shown while Mr. Agnew was in his boarding-house.

Mr. S. Graham Mickel, town clerk of Crieff, told a conversation he had with Millar shortly after Mr. Agnew met his death. Millar then stated that Mr. Agnew had made a will appointing him (Millar) sole executor and residuary legatee of his estate. Mr. Mickel remarked that there might be trouble, and Millar then said lie did not want to have any trouble with Mrs. Ferguson. "If Mrs. Ferguson had been a client of mine," commented Mr. Mickel in crossexamination, "1 would have advised, her to inquire very minutely_ into the cir» cumstances of that will.'" ?.lr. Alex. Buclian Anderson of the North of Scotland Bank, Ballater, to whom Mrs. Ferguson handed the chocolates, said on examining them he found they had been tampered with. Part of tho" base had been cut away and a number of dark crystals inserted in tho cavities. A chemist stated that the crystals were potash permanganate. Professor Sydney Smith, of Edinburgh, said, assuming that six chocolates were filled with permanganate, that would give a total amount of 120 to 130 grains, sufficient to cause serious illness and perhaps death. Fatal consequences would be more probable in the case of an old person. Handwriting Similarity

"Rich in Vitamins" On January 29 last, she stated, her maid brought her a small parcel bearing the Crieff postmark. In it was a tin box containing a letter and what appeared to bo chocolate pastilles. The letter was signed "Brigadier-General E. Wingate Tredegar," and purported to have been written from tho Drummond Arms Hotel, Crieff. The writer claimed that ho was friendly wjth her son, who was killed in the last'war. The letter read: — . .. .1 camo over from France a few weeks ago, bringing with me a small quantity of hand-made chocolates which were special favourites of your son and myself. , , They;.' contain grnpes from south of France vines in crystal form. The French take them with coffee three or four at a time. Doctors say they are rich ia vitamins and health-givini?. I felt I could do no better than send them to you, and I trust you will enjoy them.

Mrs. Ferguson stated that on receiving the package she put one of the chocolates in her mouth. It "tasted very hot and extremely unpleasant," and she spat it out. Replying to ]\Lr. Thomson. K.C., prosecuting, Mrs. Ferguson declared she had never heard of anyone by the name of "BrigadierGeneral E. Wingate Tredegar." She went on to speak of the death of her brother, Mr. Andrew William

Two handwriting experts who compared the letter signed "E. Wingate Tredegar" and one written by Millar, were of opinion that they were both written by the same person. Millar, who is short in stature, and was almost dwarfed by two police officers who stood beside him in the dock, was the only witness called for

tho defence. He denied sending the chocolates or writing the letter. .Mr. Thomson, add ressi nu the jury for tho Crown, pointed to Millar's position in respect to .Mr. Agnew's. estate, and remarked, "It was to his interest that no other members of the family should take any stops to attack the will made in his favour." The wartime jury of seven returned its verdict of guilty by a majority of six to 0110 after an absence of 45 minutes.

Lord Keith, passing sentence, told Millar he had been found guilty of n very serious crime.

"I am not sure," he added, "that I should take into account the fact that the crime you attempted was one unlikely to succeed, but I am prepared to take into account the fact that, in your position, a short sentence i(iust entail very considerable punishment."

.Millar took his sentence calmly and walked with a firm step from tho court.