WOMAN’S DEATH.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18637, 5 August 1930, Page 12

WOMAN’S DEATH.

[ STRYCHNINE IN RAISINS. SEARCHING INQUIRY BY CORONER. By Telegraph—Press Association GISBORNE, August 4. An unusually long and searching inquiry was held to-day by Mr Harper, S.M., concerning the death of Mrs Christina Sutherland McMahon (31), who died on July 24th, from the effects of poison. Medical evidence was given to the effect that deceased told the doctor and also the house surgeon at Cook Hospital that she filled some raisins with poison to kill rats and had taken the raisins by mistake. The principal witness was a married man named Robert Milton Bell, who visited deceased shortly before she was found suffering from poison. Bell, in evidence, said he went to deceased's home in response to a telephone message from her. On 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 got home he found the ring in his overcoat pocket. He had previously lent deceased sums up to £25 to assist her in business as a dressmaker, and she had asr'sted to keep his books. He had known deceased for three years, and formerly boarded with deceased and her husband. Witness was subjected to a searching cross-examination by the police and the Coroner. In giving his verdict, the Coroner said it was quite 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 deceased stated that the poison was taken accidentally in raisins. Deceased also told other witnesses that she took the poison accidentally. “It is quite evident the poison was taken by deceased after Bell called on her that afternoon. She said she took the poison in 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 quite sure he is not telling us all, and I am not satisfied with the manner in which he gave evidence. He appears to be keeping something concealed. There seems no reason why she should have 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 deceased stated that she took the poison accidentally, his finding would be, she died as a result of strychnine poisoning, accidentally taken by her.