Page
CRIMINAL SESSIONS.
[BEFORE HIS HONOCK THE PUISNE JUDGE (MR. JUSTICE GOMPERTZ),)
THE LANTAO MURDER 'CASE.
FURTHER EXPERT EVIDENCE CALLED
THE HONGKONG
Jfr. Prosser: Some five weeks later two leaves were found by the police in your purse; do you know anything about them!
The prisoner, These two leaves I put them there because I used them when my nose was bleeding. We use these leaves in the nostrils to stop bleeding.
The prisoner went on to say it was common knowledge for any kind of leaves to be used for this purpose. "
Concluding his examination-in-chief Mr. Prosser asked: Have you ever put anything in your husband's food, know ing it to be of a poisetious nature?
The witness: No.
The Lantas murder trial was sentioned yesterday morning, when the case for the defence was commenced-by Mr. Prosser.
The witness was shown two leaves of who intituated that he wont end his evidene forthwith, without adopting them elegans and asked if she knew what they were. She replied that she usal procedure of opening his use.
diel nut, ME Daniel Wilson, a qualified chemist. nannger of the wholesale department of Messen. A. S. Wata & Co. appeared ia Court under subpona. In the witoras- bos Bir. Wilson said his firm dealt farge. Jy in alkaloids. He was not familiar with the plant gelsemium elegans. 1910 1920 on behalf of his fram, he vestigated a plant in the New Territories for the purpose of extracting strychuine therefrom. Very little was known of the plant grivemiun elegans, Tait from the text books he understand it to be a very poweriał poison, and quick in its petion. The Attorney General: am afraid must abject to that, my Fair I shan't think witness can speak from text book knowledge.
Mr. Prošsor. But I am speaking- of a particular poison.
The Attorney-General: A man who does know something about a subject enn only fortify himself from text books.
His Lordship, upheld My, Pollock's objection.
BET.
Was there any reason why you should want your husband to die No. If I wanted him to dis I would not have martied him,
Cross-examined by the Attorney-Gen-
cral, the prisoner said she did not know
DAILY PRESS, SATERDAY, APRIL 5TH, 1924
Coming to the chemical analysis, Mr. Dovey, they would all agree, had carried out a very successful test, and extracted some of the alkaloid, na alkaloid which he admitted he knew nothing about. He knew it was poisonous and that was all. He only examined the stomach, and Coin- sel contended, that Mr. Dovey should have asked for the other organs. Then, again, in view of subsequent evidence he doubted very much whether the chemical; re-actions spoken of were absolutely iden- tical. There might have heën an honest mistake on the part of Mr. Povey- mistake which might be made by any, skilled uma.
Mr. Prosser said that it seemed a great pity that the defence was not represent ed at these tests by medical experts. He also lamented the fact that whereas the prosecution had the assistance of medical advice, the defence had to do, the best they could at a great disadvantage. It he could have had medical experts to nasist him from the start, Mr. Prosser
thought that the trial would not have
what was the cause of her husband's | listed two days. death. It ROW tbut fo-man-tuny was Mr. Prosser concluded, by telling the produced. "he was poisoned," she said. Jury that if they had any reasonable ig my mother-in-law, and she has "doubt in their minds they should give the
Prisoner denied putting prisoner her liberty. the leaves in the food. She did not even know that holds-tung was poisonous till she heard it in Court.
aegused me,”
The Attorney-Genovai: Do you suggest all the witnesses are conspiring against you to get you into trouble la
THE CASE FOR THE CROWN..
SPORT.
TOOTBALL.
MATCHES FOR TO-DAY.
BONGKONO. CILALLENGE BAIKLD; FUSAL RE-PLAT
Tow
Kowloon East Surrey Regt., Hongi kong RC ground, at 4.30 p.m. Referee: Mr. Hollands. Linesmen : Messrs. Smith and Wakeham.
HONGKONG LEASTE. -
Division II.
St. Joseph's . HMS. Marazan, St. Joseph's ground, at 3 p.m. Referde : Mr. Bailey..
By kind permission of Colonel F. S.- Montagu Bates, C.B.. C.M.G., "D.S.O.. and Officer of the Regiment, the band of the East Surreys will play selections on the H.K.F.C. ground before the kick-oft and during the interval" of the Final Challenge Shield watch to-day
A portion of the stands will be reserved for the Services.
CRICKET.
IR.C. 2D XI. H. NAVY su XI,
The following will repressas the Indian Recreation Club 2nd XI. in a League match against the Navy 2nd XI. on the latter's ground today at 13 p.m. :-)." Rumjahn (cap.), Sirdar Khan, O. Run jahn. H. D. Rumjan, F. M. el Arculli, M. P. Madar, S. A. Ismail, Y. A. Wahab, A Kacholl, S. Casumbhy, and A. Dasra.
ابی
The Attorney-General in his final re-OPEN BILLIARDS CHAMPIONSHIP marks said it was, not part of his duty
OF THE COLONY. to find a victim for this man's death but to see that justice was done. He thought that the Jury could have no doubt from The witness: Both my father and Mr. Dovey's evidence that it was alka mother-in-law had feelings against myloid of gelseniam elegans that was found Busbar and therefore killed him and
in the stomach of the deceased. He also thought that the evidence showed the deceased died from the effects of alkaloid of gelsemium elegans. He commented on the fact that leaves of
"What is tesirits 7' asked Me. Pros-have spent money to get witnesses, to The witness: The poisonous effects of give evidence against une. an aikalai, that is to say a plant which is very poisonous,
In your opinion, Mr. Wilson, what is the test for an alkaloid-I should say try it on an animal.
Supposing."Mr. Wilson. I give you two alkaloids which show identical chemical ve relions, one of which is toxic and the
You suggest that your father and nother-in-law killed 'hit-Yes.
Questioned by his Lordship, the pri- soner said that she thought her husband died of natural causes. This being so, she stayed in the room weeping.
the plant were found in the prisoner's purse and in conclusion said "I think that after you have weighed up the facts you will come to the conclusion that this His Lordship. Then how long would you woman is guilty of the murder of her
have remained silent-I would have cried all night and on the following
to bury him.
The wage for the defence closed before
other not would you say the alkaloids morning told the people and asked them were the same or different-I should say the two alkaloids were differgat.
If an alkaloid is taken from the stomach which has no toxic property after very careful extraction, would you say that the alkaloid had ever contained toxic pro
the Court rose at tiffin time.
Mr. Prosser in his address in the Jury
asked them to remember that not one
husband."
summing up to the Jury, they knew very His Lordship said, in the course of his
little about the poisonous plant. They had been told it grew on the hillside. The mother was able to take people to the place where it grew. They had said
P. YVANOVICH . 1. A. OSMUND
The above match in the Open Billiards. Championship of the Colony was played last night when P. Yvanovich defeated I A. Osmund by 147 points in a gamol of 800 up. The highest breaks were:-P. Yvanovich: 30, 20. 2. 97, 32, 27, 27, L. A. Osmund: 21, 23, 21, 23, 41, 21.
AMATEUR BOXING.
.
THE VRC TOURNAMENT.
The boxing tournament which is to take place at the Victoria Recreation Club on the 12th instart promises to be a successful j affair. The entries are exceptionally good at all weights, as will be seen below. S.P.O. Cartlidge will be on view, and will box ten 9-minute "rounds with Jim Turnor (H.M.S. Carlisle) who is a heavier man and a good scrapper. Cartlidge has only bom seen once in Hongkong, and that was when he was scheduled to fight A. B. Chadwick for the Featherweight Championship of the Colony. As may be remembered (the contest took place on February 5th) the seaman was bit low in
Shortly afterwards ed to Chadwick
perties if the substance taken from person had gone into the witness-hor that it was dangerous to human beings the first round, and the fight was award-
it had never contained toxic properties.
and said. that death was due to poison- but not dangerous to pigs and goats and
return match did not eventuate. Anyway, Cartlidge will show himself at the V.R.C display.
If one grain of alkaloid is taken from Minnett had said that he could not de. the box said that she used the leaves to tournament and is sure to put up a good
the atomach and a similar amount of
alkaloid is taken from a plant and both showed exact identical re-actions they would be the same alkaloids —Yes.
The witness went on to say that in his opinion ue-alkaloid could ever lose its
toxic properties.
Do you know the percentage of alka Loid in's leaf)—I can't say.
་
finitely say that death was due to other
than natural causes.
What would 100 grains of dried leaves represent ia size 1-About a handful.
Cross-examined by the Attorney-Gen- eral, the witness was shown the cooking pot in which it is alleged that the poison w boiled, He was asked il 500 grains one, the weakest one of leaves could be boiled in the pot?
awo-thirds of the pot
The Attorney-General:. That does not leave much room for food. .'
The witness: That is not a fair ques tion.
Following are the entries:-
BANTAM WEIGHT (8 stoce 4 lbs).- C. S. W. Rolfe (H.M.S. Despatch). Stoker W. Smith (H.31.S. Carlinie), A. J. Lewis (Hongkong). E. Way (Hongkong), W. F. C. Jenner (University), Tpr. James (4th Co., R.G.A.). Tpr. Hollands (D4th Co., R.G.A.).
FEATHER WRIGHT (9 stone).—Stoker N. shall (V.R.C.). Pr. F. Jay (1st East. Rambridge (E.M.S. Ambrose), J." Mar- Surreys), Pie F. Cooper (15 East Surreys), A. R. Azan (Naval Yard, Kow. Joon), L-Sgt. Codner (H.M.S. Carlinte), L-Sgt. Keslake (1st East Surreys), E. P Souza (V,R.C.).
THE VERDICT. YOUNG WOMAN FOUND GUILTY. THE JURY'S LONG DELIBERATION.
LIGHT WEIGHT (10 st.)-L T. B. Emer The Jury retired to consider theit verson (H.M.S. Marazo), O. S. J. Bland dict.at 5 pm, and two hours and twenty. (H.M.S. Despatch), O. SE Purdy (H.M.B. Despatch), J. Stewart (V.R.C.). five minutes elapsed before they returned Pte. A. Porley (1st East Surreys), Cpl. Surreys), Pte, to Court with their finding. During the Nolan (1st East long absence of the jurors the young Muskoll (1st East Surreys), Pre Piper woman sat is the dock looking a picture (1st East Surrey), Pie. Brazier (1st East of abjeet misery and for the most part Surrey), Pt. Lucas (1st East Surreys), Gr. Harding (91th Co., RG.A), Lee. of the time wept quietly to herself.
Cpl. Williamson (1st East Surreys). "We find the prisoner Guilty' with answered a recommendation to merry. the Foreman to the usual query of "Guilty or Not Guilty."
2
WELTER WEIGHT (10 stane 7 lbs.)-Marine! Fordhand (H.M.S. Carlisle), Lee.-Cpl. Barber (1st East Surreys), Gr. Lucock (94th Co., R.G.A.), Gr. Shannon (Otth Co, E.G.A), J. Soares (V.R.C.), Pte. C. Pooley (1st East Surreys), A. Butt V.I.C.), Loo-Cpl. Robbins (1st East Surreys), Pte. Traynor (1st East Surreys).
the stomach was non-toxic should saying, despite the fact that they had plenty that to be near to the leaves gave one a Chadwick went home, so the much desired of experienced men in the Colony. Dr. fever. In spite of this the prisoner in stop ber nose from bleeding. Then again "As for Mr. it was also curious that when certain Dovey," continued Mr. Frosser, he leaves were placed before her in the box has rather gone out of his way in giving she said "This is not ho-man-fung." As evidence. I say that he is not com-
to the finding of the fragments of leaves petent to form an opinion as to cause of found in the parse by Inspector Dorting death and I wish he were here that I ton and Mr. Hazlerigg they had been told might tell him so. Even if his test were they were ho-man-tung, this being so it everything that he seemed to desire: seemed a remarkable corroboration of even if this one grain of poison was
the story as told by the prosecution. found in the stomach. I say that Mr. Dorcy was not a competent man to say that death was due to poisoning. The case I have got to meet is a very weak from a medical stand point that I think it would be pos. The witness: Yes, quite easily. That sible to find. Dr. Minnett, we are told, is just over an ounce in weight-hout took out the stomach and sent it to the Government analyst for examination. I say he should have sent all the vitals of the body to the analyst. To say that You don't dispute that Mr. Dovey is all the poison was contained in the a competent chemist.
atomach because the man died within two and a half hours is ridiculous"
Mr. Prosser also objected and the until days had passed after the Continuing, Mr. Prosser said that not
Attorney-General did not press the point stomach had been examined were the ilis Lordship explained to Mr. Wilson other organs sent for. I would like to that the deceased's stomach was examin-ask Dr. Minnett," he said, "if over, the ed by Mr. Davey 25 days before the last 50 years he can tell us of any criminal other organs of the body were examined poisoning.case where all the remains have and asked if Mr. Wilson agreed with Mr. not been sent for full examination direct ly the body was discovered. I wish time Dovey that the toxic properties could not was of no importance. I would tell you be found in the other organs apart from that this work is carried out at home the stomach. in other, words they would carefully and with accuracy by the most have broken up" with the decompost skilful men in the land, so that not the tion of the body.
slightest thing is missed. Here we have Dr. Minnett--I am not going for him personally-sho says that that on the day of the post-mortem examination he had 14 bodies to examine that day. I do not think you would be able to get a medien! THE PRISONER IN THE DOX
man in the world who would say that The prisoner was then called by Mr Dr. Minnett could do his work correctly. Prosser. She stated that the "deceased "Why? Because he is overworked, and. was ter second husband and she was bis because a system does pet allow him to second wife. They had lived on good carry out his work as it should be carried terms with each other. Her habit was to out, are you going to find against work in the fields and she did not go woman who is charged with murder !". home at mid-day. Sometimes her hus As a Jury," added Mr. ProsSCT,
'you band returned and sometimes be did not. are entitled to bave these experiments On January 26th she left the house at carried out in a proper manner and you 8am. It was then raining. She return- ara entitled to have the results placed at Dr. Minnett admitted ed at 0a.m." to feed the pigs. She re. your disposal. turned at 0 p.m. There was no truth in quite frankly that he did not examine the suggestion that she left her house at the splual cord and then again there is 12.10 p.m. She returned with her sister ao evidence that these symptoms are not in-law at 6 p.m. when they drove the consistent with half a dozen over things. cows home. When she returned her hus I expect we all have some alkaloid in our hand was dead and this being so she stomachs and therefore it becomes of the eriod." There was no one present at the first importance to see that the stomach
other time. At 7 o'clock that avoning she was and the
origans be carefully examined. Dr. Minnett has said. 'I'can- arrested. She did not know why she was "arrested,
Her mother-in-law did not rot swent that death was due to other search her.” The, amah at Choung Chow than natural causes." That is as far as Pulice Station searched her,
The witness did not asscat to this state ment pointing out that certain poisons were most persistent and not readily
lecomposed.
he can go."
is
commendation to the proper quarter.
His Lordship: I will forward that re- Asked if she had anything to say, the prisoner burst into tears and replied by asking What have I got to say ". MIDDLE WEIGHT (11 stone 4 lbs.).-F. **Well would you like to say anything." Mullen (H.M.S. Titania), St. Harribus asked his Lordship in kindly tours, after (H.MS. Ambrose), Lee Cpl. Hal (1st East Surreys), Le Cpl. Sullivan Cig pronouncing the sentence of death,
My husband is dead," she said, "Fast Surrey), Ice-Cpl. Bennett (Ist East don't know why he died and I am arrest-Surreys), Cir. Coombs (88th Co., R.G.A.).. cd now."
CF. McKerran (88th Co.. B.G.A.), Gr "Tell her, Mr. Interpreter, that the Newman (88th Co. B.G.A.), Pte. Sullivan Jury after very careful deliberation of 1st East Surreys), Pt. Churchley (1st her case have found her Guilty of the East Surreys). murder of her husband."
"I did not murder him," she said in a voice choked with Robbing; "he died himself. It has nothing to do with me." "Tell her that she has had a very full defence, to which the Jury has listened very carefully," said his Lordship.
The prisoner: He committed suicide. The It has nothing to do with me. reason of his death is that his parents scolded him day and night and therefore he took his own life.
The prisoner was then removed from the dock to the cells below.
His Lordship thanked the Jury for their careful consideration of the case for very nearly a week. He had pleasure in excus- ing them from further Jury Service for the next two years,
· EOYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT.
INSTITUTION.
At the annual festival of the Royal Masonic Bonorelent Institution on Feb. 27th, it was announced that the stewards" lists totalled £88,001
HEAVY WRIGHT (over 100 lbs.).-Gr. farle (3rd Co., R.G.A.), Gr. Reade ($ith Co., R.G.A.), Gr. Eltringhan (04th, Co. R.G.A), G. Barker (84th Co, RG.A.) G. Mitchell (Bath Co., RG.A-), Pie. C Eaton (1st East Surrey), t
A large number of entries at all weights: have been received for the schoolboy can. tests. «
::
MARINE MAGISTRACY.
A number of charges were dealt with at the Marine Magistracy yesterday. Among them were four cases of obstruc tion. The masters of the motor-boats Tok Hung and Tin Sang wero charged with causing an obstruction to the Yau- mati Police Pier; they were discharged with a caution. A boatwoman was fined 33 for illegally lying up alongside the s.9. Loongsang. Fim boat people were cau tioned on a charge of illegally mooring off the Yaumati slipway. The fourth case concerned a boatwoman who anchored. her vessel in the Southero Fairway. She did not answer the summons, so ber bail of $5 was catreated.
*
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