WOMAN DIES OF POISONING

Taranaki Daily News, 5 August 1930, Page 9

WOMAN DIES OF POISONING

THE CORONER HAS DOUBT

INQUIRY HELD AT GISBORNE DID WITNESS TELL ALL? By Telegraph.—Press Association. Gisborne, Last Night. An inquiry was held to-day by Mr. Harper. S.M., concerning the death of Mrs. Christina Sutherland McMahon, aged 31, who died on July 24 from the effects of poison. Medical evidence was given to the effect that Mrs. McMahon told a doctor and the house surgeon at the Look Hospital that she had filled some raisins with poison to kill rats and taken the raisins by mistake.

The principal witness was a married man named, Robert Milton Bell, who visited Mrs. McMahon shortly before she was found suffering from poison. Bell in evidence said he went to the home in response to -a telephone message from Mrs. McMahon. On his arrival he said she offered a ring as security for a loan of £25 he made her. two months previously. He said he refused to accept the ring and then left, saying he did not want either the money or°the ring. When he reached borne he found the ring in his overcoat pocket. He. previously lent Mrs. McMahon sums up to £25 to assist her in her business as a dressmaker, and she had assisted to keep his books. He had known her for three years and formerly boarded with her and her husband. Bell was subjected to a searching cross-examination by the police and the coroner. In crivimr his verdict the coroner said it' was evident that death was the result of strychnine poisoning. The question was whether it was taken intentionally or accidentally. The evidence of two doctors showed that Mrs. McMahon stated the poison was taken accidentally in the raisins. She also told other witnesses that she took the poison accidentally. “It is evident the poison was taken after Bell called on her that afternoon,” continued Mr. Harper. “She &iid she took the poison in the raisins, but it seems strange that she should have taken it by accident. Only one person can throw light on the whole matter and that is the witness Bell. I am sure he is not telling us all, and ! am not satisfied with the manner in which he crave his evidence. He' appears to be keeping something concealed. There seems no "reason why she should*~havG taken her own life, and the loan to Bell was not by any means sufficient reason. There must have been some other motive if she took the poison intentionally, and Bell appears to be the only one ’ who can give any indication of that.” The coroner said the evidence must be regarded as a whole, and in view of the fact that Mrs. McMahon stated she took the poison accidentally his finding would be that she died as a result of strychnine poisoning accidentally taken by her.