QUININE POISONING

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20104, 10 May 1935, Page 13

QUININE POISONING

SEQUEL TO WOMAN’S DEATH By Telegraph—Press Association HAMILTON, May 9. A charge of manslaughter by killing his wife, Alma Cleverley Telfer, 21 years of age, was preferred against Archibald Herbert Telfer, 27 years, a farmer of Ngahape, in the Magistrate’s Court to-day. The police led evidence to show that the accused purchased half an ounce of quinine from a Te Awamutu chemist. On his wife’s instructions he mixed it with brandy, and half an hour after taking the dose she diec}. The chemist concerned said that the accused did not disclose for what purpose he wanted the quinine. Quinine was not classed as a poison and an ordinary layman was not aware that it was poisonous. K. M. Griffin, Government Analyst, said that on examining certain organs of the deceased he found 22i grains of quinine. A considerable further amount had been absorbed. It was evident that the deceased took a large dose shortly before her death. A medicinal dose of quinine was up to 10 grains. There were 437 grains in an ounce. Dr E. Bridgman said that death, in his opinion, was due to quinine poisoning. In a statement to the police Telfer said that his wife was in a certain condition. He bought the quinine for the purpose of procuring a certain result. He did not know that half an ounce of quinine would kill his wHe. The accused pleaded not guilty and was committed for trial in the Hamilton Supreme Court.