AUSTRALIAN NEWS
MASTERTON POISONING CASE. CONFLICTING EVIDENCE. (United Press Association.! (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright, i SYDNEY, May 2. (Received May 2, at 11 p.m.) The Masterton poisoning inquest was resumed. A number of neighbours and relatives of the deceased gave evidence that Masterton was on good terms with his, wife before his death. Others declared that they heard Masterton complain of the conduct of his cousin (James Williamson) in the house. Williamson resided with the Mastertons. Detective Janies read a statement made by Mrs Tunstall, who stated that she heard Masterton say just before his death; “I hate Williamson. I just bashed him out of the house, and I don’t wish to see him again.” The coroner announced that the evidence was so conflicting that he would defer his final finding till next week. Definite traces of arsenic were found in the body of William Masterton, a master carrier, who died on March 10 at Ashfleld, a suburb. The body was exhumed three weeks later. The coroner opened an inquiry on April '3O, when medical evidence was given that death was due to arsenic poisoning. The widow ot deceased told the police that her husband had taken a small dose of liquid paraffin the day before his death with no ill effects, but on the day of his death he took a second dose, when he remarked that it tasted bitter, and he died in agony. The contents of the bottle were afterwards emptied in the back yard. An analyst examined the earth where it was emptied, and discovered more traces of arsenic. A CONSTABLE ARRESTED. ASTOUNDING ALLEGATIONS. MELBOURNE. . May 2. (Received May 2, at 11.30 p.m.) Constable Charles Stewart, who was employed at the Melbourne morgue as orderly, has been arrested and charged with robbing dead bodies. The information alleges that he stole £4 10s from the clothes of a corpse brought to the morgue, and a gold watch from another corpse, then substituting an inferior watch. The complaints in the first place came from deceaseds’ relatives. Stewart was remanded till May 10.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT19290503.2.70
Bibliographic details
Otago Daily Times, Issue 20707, 3 May 1929, Page 9
Word Count
343AUSTRALIAN NEWS Otago Daily Times, Issue 20707, 3 May 1929, Page 9
Using This Item
Allied Press Ltd is the copyright owner for the Otago Daily Times. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons New Zealand BY-NC-SA licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Allied Press Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.