POISONING CASE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16701, 5 April 1922, Page 4

POISONING CASE.

ARMSTRONG TRIAL BEGINS. By Telegraph—Pl e 55 Association—Copyright. Australian and NZ. Cable Ansoriation. LONDON. April 3. The Armstrong m'inl hm commenced. KIT Justice Darling pointml out that the (willence Gonna-tying, Armstrong with the svnding of poisoned choco—lates was Very slight. The grand jury accordingly x'ejs’cted this «unit. The prosecution is calling thirty—six witnesses and the defence twelvo. There are indications that, the defence will suggest let Mrs Armstrong ("0111mittml suicide. They will not deny that death was due to arseniv, but “11) (contend that, Armstxong was not responsible.

Major Herbert Rowse Armstrong, M.A-. solicitor and clerk to the local Benches of -Magistrates, was committed for trial at the Hay Police Court on a charge of causing the death of his wife, Kathleen Mary Armstrong, by the administration of arsenic. There is a. further charge against the prisoner of attempting to murder Mr Oswald Martin, a neighbour and fellow solicitor, also by the administration of arsenic, it being alleged that, in one instance, chocolates in which arsenic had been placed were sent to Mr Martin through the post.

ARMSTRONG SENT FOR TRIAL.

[From Our ConßEsrondenx.3 LONDON, February 17

Major Armstrong was to-day sent for trial on the charge of murdering his wife with arsenic and of attempting to murder Mr Oswald Martin, a fellow solicitor.

He pleaded not guilty and reserved his defence.

The day’s proceedings were mainly taken up \pith the evidence of the Home Office experts. I>r Spilsbury, who was present at the exhumation of Mrs Armstrong’s body, stated that most of the organs were in a high state of preservation in view of the length of time that had elapsed since burial. In answer to a question, Dr Spilsbury said that this condition might lie found in cases of poisoning, especially arsenical poisoning. He added further that his post mortem examination revealed no natural disease which would account for the severe vomiting and diarrhoea. He found fatty degeneration of the liver and kidneys. He said in reply to another question that that would lie consistent with arsenical poisoning.

The Crown Prosecutor looking at the report which I)r Spilsbury had made, asked: Assuming that in those portions of the body delivered to the analyst there was found over three grains of arsenic what, in your opinion, would be the cause of death ? Acute arsenical poisoning. The chairman asked witness if he would have expected to find any trace of the arsenic contained in medicine which Airs Armstrong was given at the lunatic asylum four months pre--viously. "Witness : Xo, sir. I should expect to find none, with the possible exception of traces in the hair and nails.

Mr Webster, senior officiul analyst to the Homo Office, was the next witness, and he reported having found arsenic in all the organs submitted to him, also slight traces of bismuth and possibly morphineIn a packet of chocolates he found in one chocolate slightly more than one-fifth of a grain of arsenic. In another he found about the same amount. The poison had been inserted by boring a small hole m the sweet. There were other chocolates in the box, but they showed no signs of having been tampered with. This witness gave evidence concerning the quantities of arsenic contained in certain homeopathic medicines, which, it will be recalled, Mrs Armstrong had been in the habit of using, and in his statement made it clear that it would have required fifteen bottles of one of the preparations of arsenic to produce three grains, and the other contained less.

Evidence was also given by Dr Webster as to the character of a white powder in an envelope, of pale bine powder in a tin, and of a yellowish brown liquid in a cognac bottle, all of which he said were preparations of arsenic.

I>r Wilcox, medical adviser to the Home Office, next gave evidence. He had considered the evidence given by Hrs Hincks and Townsend. Asked if he considered Mrs Armstrong had had a dose recently before her death of arsenic, said she must have had a considerable amount during the last few days of her life.

During the last few days considerably in excess of two grains must have been taken, and I have no doubt that n possible fatal dose was taken within twenty-four hours of death.”

The medicine Mrs Armstrong had taken while at the asylum, said this witness, would have disappeared within ten days, certainly within three weeks. Dealing with the chocolates, and the illness of Mrs Gilbert Martin after eating them, Dr Wilcox said the symptoms were consistent to her having eaten of the poisoned chocolates.