POISONED CHOCOLATES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22655, 21 August 1935, Page 10

POISONED CHOCOLATES

NAPIER GIRL CHARGED •. ALLEGATION BY DEFENCE GUILT OF CROWN WITNESS SUGGESTED (Pee United Press Association) NAPIER, August 20. The trial of Phyllis Leslie Tui Mar- | shall, aged 18, on charges connected with the Hastings poisoned chocolates case, was commenced in the Supreme Court to-day before Mr Justice Reed. The accused was charged with attempting to murder Alma Lorraine Keith on May 22 last, and alternatively that, with intent to injure Miss Keith, she attempted to cause her to take poison. The Crown Prosecutor, Mr H. B. Lusk, stated that Miss Keith received a packet through the post. It was found to contain chocolates. Miss Keith s mother became suspicious and handed the chocolates to the police. When analysed the sweets were found to contain arsenic In sufficient quantity to have caused death. Mr Lusk said it was clear that the accused had been in love with a young man named Jack Masters, who was friendly with Miss Keith. The mail contractor at Argyll East, where the accused resided, had posted a packet for her similar to the one received by Miss Keith. In a statement, the accused hhd denied that she intended to kill Miss Keith, but said she wanted to “ make her sick and give her a good fright.” Before sending the chocolates, she had tried the poison on a cat, which died. The evidence was similar to that given in the lower court. There was a sensational turn during the long cross-examination of the witness Masters by Mr Barker, counsel for the defence. When his Honor asked whether It was being suggested that Masters made up the parcel of chocolates and got the accused to post them for him, Mr Barker replied that it was. Masters was then warned by the Crown Prosecutor that he was being directly accused of poisoning the chocolates, which witness said he realised. Masters denied that there was any conversation between the accused and himself about poisoned chocolates. He told of sleeping at Marshall's house when he had influenza. He denied that anything improper had occurred between the accused and himself. After outlining the case for the defence, Mr Harker called the accused into the witnesi box. ( She said that Masters and she were friendly. Masters told her that he wished to marry her, but his people did not approve of the accused. His father wished him to marry Alma Keith, and as he was dependent on his father he did not, want to offend him. Masters told the accused that they would never get anywhere the way they were going, and that Alma Keith would have to be disposed of. When Masters slept at Marshall’s house he said he was ill, and the accused mainly looked after him. She recalled intimacy between them one night. Masters returned from Tikokino later, and gave the accused a parcel, asking her to address and post it. She did so, not knowing what it contained. Later Masters asked her if she had posted it. When she said yes, he said: “ Well, you’ve done for yourself this time.” He explained that the parcel contained poisoned chocolates, and that she was in it now as much as he was. Masters told her that he had put arsenic in the chocolates. The accused told him she would ring up Alma Keith about the matter. Masters replied that he would go to Hastings and put the matter right. Later he told the accused that Mrs Keith insisted on taking the chocolates to the police station, but denied that he had gone too. He also said that if the parcel were traced to Marshall’s place the accused would have to take the b^clTTlG. The hearing was then adjourned until to-morrow.