NURSE ON TRIAL.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 701, 3 March 1933, Page 4

NURSE ON TRIAL.

Alleged to have given Poison to Child. •EVIDENCE OF ANALYST. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, March 2. The trial of Elspeth Kerr, a nurse aged forty-five years, on charges of administering poison with intent to endanger life, was continued before Mr Justice Herdman in the Supreme Court. Mrs Kerr is charged that, on April 8, 10 and 16, 1932, she administered a poison, veronal, to Dorothy Betty Cameron, her eight-year-old foster daughter, so that the child’s life was endangered. Twenty-five witnesses have now been called by the Crown since the. trial opened on Monday. Kenneth Massey Griffin, Government Analyst in Auckland, said that on April 19 he received two samples labelled as being from Betty Kerr. He tested one specimen for poisons and found that it contained veronal. He purified the veronal and found that it weighed one-sixth of a grain. He took a portion of the second specimen and found that it contained two-sixths of a grain. He reported that the two samples between them contained one half of a grain. He received a further sample from Betty Kerr on May 2. He found that the total contents of the bottle contained two and a half grains of veronal. Witness said that the medicinal dose of veronal was from five to ten grains, but excessive doses would produce long coma. The smallest fatal dose recorded was fifteen grains, but the average fatal dose was fifty grains. Veromon contained 28 per cent of veronal. Explaining his own experience with veramon witness said he gave his s?n, aged eight, one tablet without any effect. He followed this by taking three tablets himself and later six tablets at one time and could observe no effect. Two Deaths.

Several witnesses gave evidence regarding the deaths of Mr Kerr and Mrs Day. The witness said that in each case deceased seemed to be unconscious at times before they died. “Mrs Kerr seemed to be very upset and 1 told her she had nothing to fear,” said Leonore Miller, recalling a visit she had made to Mrs Kerr’s home. “She said the police had told her that the way her husband had died was against her;, and I said she should not bring that up, as that was all past and could not be used against her. She said the police could have an autopsy performed on her husband and, if they found poison, he could have taken it himself,” Adored the Child. Mrs Annie Sullivan said that Mrs Kerr was her best, friend. Answering Mr Singer (for accused) witness said the child Betty was like one of her own. Mrs Kerr simply adored the child and the child adored her. Mrs Kerr had done everything it was possible for a mother to do for her. Mr Singer: Mrs Kerr adored the child Betty ? Witness: She worshipped her. Did Mr Kerr have strange ideas then and think his wife was coming home dead?—l feel sure he did. Taking his wife away so suddenly was a big shock. The man’s conduct was peculiar? Yes. I believe he actually took a pair of field-glasses to endeavour to see his wife's coffin coming over on the ferry boat?—Yes. Insurance Policies. A claims clerk in the Temperance and General Insurance Company, Neva William Matuschka, said that Chailes Kerr had two policies with his office. Witness handed to counsel papers which he said were all policies for Betty and the son of Mr Kerr. Witness said the first policy on the life of ChaUes Steadman Kerr, was taken out by Llspeth Kerr on November 2, 1925. The sum assured was £Bl. The proceeds were payable on Kerr attaining the age of 60 or in the event of his eaiiier death. The other policy on the life of Charles Steadman Kerr was taken out on October 17, 1930, by Mrs Elspeth Kerr. The amount was £6l 4s, payable at sixty five or earlier death. The office paid the death money On Janua r y 19, 1932, when a cheque was drawn for £146 11s 6d. Mrs Kerr called at the office prior to that date. The dale of the claim was January 15, and the date of his death was January 10. Witness produced the death certificate of Charles Steadman Kerr, showing the cause of death as cerebral haemorrhage and worry over his wife’s health. An Uncompleted Deal. Francis Tothill, who had been in the insurance business, said that Mrs Kerr, about April, 1931, said that she had a policy maturing in England on Mr Kerr’s life and would like to take out a similar one in New Zealand. He thought she said she was paying £3O a year on the English policy and he sa’d they had a policy with a premium of £32 a year giving a cover of £IOOO. Sl'-e did not complete the deal. It was agreed between counsel that neither this nor any further policy c r ’ Mr Kerr’s life was taken out. The hearing was adjourned till tomorrow.