MOTHER’S CRIME

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17410, 7 November 1930, Page 10

MOTHER’S CRIME

■ MURDER AND SUICIDE DAUOIITER’S ESCAPE fPnr Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, last night, The inquest, into the deaths of Mrs. Faulty Elizabeth Mary Dunford and her son !»hy 11 Francis Dunford, on October -’I last, concluded to-day before Mr. hi. I). Mosley, 8.M., coroner, who found that Mrs. Dunford died by poison self-administered, and that Bliyil Francis Dunford’s death was due lo poison administered lay his mother with intent to procure his death. Dr. Arthur Thomas gave evidence that on the morning of October .31 a young woman. Iris Dunford, called at his house, saving that: her brother was very ill. and that her mother had tried to poison him and herself. The mother had given them sulphur and treacle, which tasted hitter. Iris Dunford had noticed it was hitter, and spitt. her share out. Witness went to tin' house at 53 Salisbury street; and found the boy in a state of collapse. Mrs; Dunford was not in the house. Iris Dunford later collapsed. Both were taken to the hospital, but the boy died within a few minutes of being admitted. The girl recovered. Later the police found the body of Mrs. Dunford in a locked shed at the Tear of the house.

Felix: John Theodore Grigg, Government analyst, who had tested samples of th( i treacle and sulphur given to the boy and girl, said lie had found poison in it.

The evidence of Iris Dunford was taken in the public hospital, whore she is still a patient. She described how her mother had tried to force her brother and herself 1:o take the sulphur and treacle. Witness thought h<y share tasted bitter, and she refused to take it, Her mother then tried, to force her t,o take it. latter sho heard her brother scream ill pain, and she said to her mother, “You’vo poisoned us. ’’ The mother replied: “Don’t he silly; lie’s only got the stomachache. ’’ Witness felt sure it, was poison, and went for a doctor. Witness assured the court she had had no recent; 'disputes with her mother, and that her mother had no money troubles.