Alleged Wife Poisoning.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 195, 19 March 1887, Page 4

Alleged Wife Poisoning.

At the Redfern Police Court, William Boughton was charged with having on February 23 maliciously administered to hie wife, Lottie Boughtou, a cortaia poison with intent to endanger her health. Mr Williamson defended the accused. The first witness called was Constable Harrison, who made a statement to the effect, that shortly after 9 o'clock on the night of the 23rd ultimo he went to Mo. 5. Beaconetield-terrace, the house occupied by the Broughtons, and found prisoner and the proaectrix in the heat of the quarrel. The latte showed witness her throat, which bore some bruses resembling finger marks, and said that her husband had done it. Boughton admitted the accusation, but said that his wife had caught him by the beard tiist. Witness advised them to make friends, which they apparently did, and then left the house. Returning in about an hour's time, ho found the woman lying on the bed, vomiting, and caused an emetic of salt to be given to nor. He then went for r. cab, and on his return found the prosacutrix insensible, and the prisoner in the room. The latter profes-ed to know nothing whatever about the aftair. He then arrested the prisoner, and took Lottie BougUton to the Sydney Hospital. Oo the following morning he took the prieoner to the hospital, and confronted him vith the prosecutrix, who stated that ho had <jiven her poison in a spoon with some jaco, and said, "I'll throttle you if you don't take it." Rather than be throttled, she swallowed it. She thought at first that he was going to take it himself. Prisoner said, " Are you aware what you are telling the constable is a serious charge that you are laying against me?" She replied, " Oh, yes ; it is all quite true that I have told the constable ;" at which Boughton exclaimed " Oh, good God, how can you say that ?" Witness found in the hou-e a paper marked " Poison -wbito precipitate, ' with Sjine powder aud em&ars of jam on it ; ak»a a tin of jam three-parts full, wi:h coma white powder on the top of the jam, and a tpoon with eomo jam and a white substance. Wm, Hamlet, Government Analyst, deposed to having analysed the jam anel powder montioned in the constable's evidence, and found them to contain white precipitate alao the contents of the stomach, with a similar result. Charlotte Elizabeth Boughton was then placed in the box, and stated that at about 6 p.m. on the 23rd ultimo prisoner, on reaching home, became very abusive and they had a quarrel ; he slapped her in the face, threw her down on the bed, and held her by the throat till the blood came out of her mouth ; when eho caught him by the beard he said, "I will de it again and do it effectually ; I will silenco your tongue for ever before the night is over " ; witness was going out for assistance when he stopped her and eaid, ".You are a fool ; you can't do anything ; thete were no witnesses in the house ; witnees then went out, and on her way to the police station met Constable Harrison with three others; Constable Harrison accompanied her back, and after remaining for a time left ; as soon as he had gone her husband took the candle and went into the kitchen and then into the back bedroom ; he cams out, and witnees then heard him moving something on the ehelf where the plates were ; she then saw him putting something into a epoon from a paper, which she recognised as one containing white precipitate, as she had previously mixed it up for her husband to poison vermin with ; he came up to her holding the spoon, and caught her by the arm, saying, »• Take this, or I'll throttle you ;" he then let go, and said, " Throttle or this — which is it to be ?" he aleo said, " You shall show the constable no marks ;" with that ehe took it rather thin be throttled, prisoner pushing the spoon into her mouth. Thomas Parnell, brother-in-law of the proseoutrix, stated that he went to the prisoner's house on the night of the 23rd ultimo, and saw the prosecutrix lying on the bed in hysterics ; went out to the Botany-road, where he caw the prisoner, and told him his wife had been taking poieoo, and to go for a doctor. He replied "It is only white precipitate, it will only make her sick," and went away. The prisoner, who reserved bis defence, waß committed for trial at the next sittings of the Central Criminal Court.