Attempted Murder Trial.

Thames Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 9973, 20 June 1901, Page 3

Attempted Murder Trial.

ARNETTS SENTENCE;

IMPRISONMENT FOR LIFE.

(Per PreM. Auociation).

INVERCARGILL, June 19

The trial of Charles Henry Arnett for an attempt to murder Charles Milne by placing strychnine in his food at Edendal in October last; was concluded to-night. The jury retiirned a verdict of guilty. Mr Justice Cooper passed the maximum of imprisonment for life, saying to the man that he was not fit. to be at large. The crime of which Arnett, who is a Riverton halfcaste, was convicted, was deliberately played \o get rid of Milne. The laiter was a rabbiter employing others, and has dealt with S.ullivan, a Dunedin rabbit buyer, for whom Arnett was agent at Mataura. Arnett appropriated the proceeds of Sullivan's cheque to Milne to the extent of four hunderd pounds, forging the names of different parties to cover up the defalcations, aiid when Milne pressed for his money set a day on which he would make it square with him. Arnett had previously bought strychnine, but on the 29th October procured somei more, at Mataura, and proceeded to Milne's hut nine miles off. Entering unannounced he seemed taken back "tc find Milne in the hut, the settlement not being till two day's later. After some talk Milne left the hut to see to a horse* leaving,Arhett with all the materials of the dinner on the table, of which Milne and his mates had partaken. Milne and Arnett left the hut together but some" little distance away the latter made 'an excuse to part company, and was afterwards seen . by witnesses on the road between the hut ? and where he had parted from Milne, the "inference being that he returned to the hut and placed poison in. the|uigar and/ butter. At <t<ea all the rabbitters were taken suddenly ill, and in consequence the police took the matter up. An analysis showed deadly quantities of strychnine, and the detectives in ihe course of investigation found that Arnett had stolen Milne's money. This put them on the track, and Arneftt was arrested for theft and forgery and got three years. Meantime the poisoning case was Worked up. It was evident thiat had Milne, died Arnett would have been relieved of the liability which he had promised to wipe off, two days later. The Crown laid separate charges indicting Arnett last .week for attempted murder i.f MSflrie's mates, Gordon and White, when, the jury disagreed. The time in which the poison was placed in the food narrowed down to one, s^nd no one could be found to say- tha|b 'they had seen anyone but Arnett/ on the road_,near the hut,..i^ that hour. The accused said he bought the poison to kill rats , for a. man who,-was to give hittt 10s for doing so, but the man was riot" called to give evidence for the defence. Arnett was quite unmoved when sentenced.