NEWPORT ARSENIC MYSTERY

WILLS AND WEEDKILLER.

At the inquest on Mrs. Jenny Morgan, at Newport, Mon., yesterday, Mrs. Maud Emily Lloyd said on Jan. 18 Mrs. Morgan dictated a will to Cyril, who sat at his mother’s bedside. Mrs. Morgan signed it.

The coroner read the will, which said if her husband wished to remain at the premises after her decease they were to remain intact. If he wished at a future time to close down the premises were to be sold and divided equally between her three children, William, Cyril, and Gwenda. Any money at the bank and in the building society was also to be equally divided between the three children.

Witness said the last four lines appeared to be in Willie’s handwritings but she could not recall that he wrote any part.

Later witness said Willie added something to the will at her house. They went back to Mrs. Morgan’s and after Willie had read it over his mother signed it. Mr. Morgan, who was present, read the will, and, said, “Where do I come in, dear?” The wife replied, “You will be all right, Bert.” Mr. Morgan guided deceased’s hand when she signed.

On Jan. 19, said witness, the vicar called, and Mrs. Morgan asked for Communion. “As soon as you can,” she said, “for I shall not be here long.” All present in the room took the Communion. That evening deceased had a seizure and called for Bert. Mr. Morgan put his arms round her, and said, “All right, my dear, I am here.”

Witness said a second will, signed by Mrs. Morgan, with, the exception of one or two minor alterations, proposed to carry out the same wishes.

At the request of the jury, Mr. Rudd Thompson,

the county analyst was then recalled.

Mr. Dauncey (representing relatives of deceased): What quantity of weed-killer would be required to give a taste to a breakfast cup of arrowroot? – I cannot say, but I am willing to try the experiment.

The Coroner: I would rather have your evidence before you do it. (Laughter.)

Mr. Thompson proceeded to dissolve some weed-killer in water. He also mixed with some arrowroot sufficient of the weed-killer to kill ten persons.

Continuing, Mr. Thompson said in his opinion three grains of weed-killer would prove fatal within twenty-four hours, provided that the whole of that dose were retained. This, however, he did not think would be probable, as it would produce vomiting.

Dr. Lloyd Davies, of Carleon-road, Newport, said he had attended Mrs. Morgan prior to her last illness for over twenty years. Having heard the analyst’s reports he came to the conclusion that it was a condition consistent with the prolonged administration of arsenic.

William Anthony Melville Morgan, the young man, said he saw the last witness at his surgery on Feb. 14. He had previously called on Dec. 9 at. his mother’s wish.

Answering the coroner, he said Dr. Davies asked him if his father led him such a life that he had had to leave home, and he replied that was not so. In further conversation he told Dr. Davies about his mother complaining of the saltiness of the food, and about that time the specks were found in the arrowroot. Witness told Mrs. Carthy he should ask for an inquest on his mother if she died. Witness spoke to his mother about the specks in the arrowroot, and heard her tell his father that she thought someone was tampering or messing with her food.

At this stage the proceedings were adjourned until this morning.