CAUSTIC SODA IN MEDICINE

NZ Truth, Issue 978, 23 August 1924, Page 7

CAUSTIC SODA IN MEDICINE

Attempted Murder Charge Strange Story From Waipawa. (From "Truth's" Napier Rep.) A queer story of an alleged crude attempt at poisoning was unfolded at the Napier Magistrate's Court before Mr. R. W. Dyer, S.M., on Monday. An eighteen-year-old Maori girl, Heni Watson, was charged with having attempted to murder Paranihia Walker at Waipawa' on July 13. '<, Detective Fitzgibbori prosecuted. The accused was represented by Lawyer B. J. Dolan. The tale told by Paranihia Walker was that the girl had been m her em- I ploy. The girl looked after the house, m which were also Tommy Atkins and Donald Stewart. One morning Stewart complained about the porridge, and witness found that caustic soda had been put into it. She questioned accused, who blamed Norah Roberts. About a week later witness found some more caustic soda m the flour and sugar bins. The accused admitted putting it there, but gave no reason for, doing so. Witness was taking medicine for her chest, and one day after taking the medicine felt pains, and said' to accused: "You have poisoned me." Later the accused denied having given witness poison, saying: "You have been good to< me; I wouldn't do that to you." [ Lawyer Dolan: Do you know of any reason 'why accused should wish to poison you?-— No. Dr. South, of Waipawa, gave evidence that the medicine had been found to contain caustic soda. Francis Eagle, chemist, of Waipawa, who analysed the medicine, corroborated. William Walker corroborated his wife's, evidence. Donald Stewart, a nephew of Mrs. Walker, informed the Court that about two months ago, the accused told him that Tommy Atkins had told on her for taking a kit of water melons, and she was going to shoot Tommy and Mr. and Mrs. Walker,

To -Lawyer Dolan, witness admitted having had rows with Heni and having told lies. Alice Hutana stated that she had questioned the accused over the whole matter, and accused admitted that she had taken the bottle out of Mrs. Walker's room and had put some caustic soda m it. Lawyer Dolan: Did you tell her she would be put on a big fire? — No, I talked: to her about God. Arid about Hell? — Oh, no. ■j Didn't you tell her that God put the I wicked on a. big fire?— No. Detective Sergeant Butxer said that the accused admitted to him that she i had put caustic soda m Mrs. Walker's i medicine. The accused added that I Mrs. Walker had been good to" her, and she (accused) must have been mad to do such a thing. . Detective Fitzgibbon said that when he arrested accused, she said she had not done- it, but was- being blamed by Mrs. Walker for it. This concluded the evidence, and the accused, who pleaded not guilty, was committed for trial at the next Supreme Court sessions m Napier.