MRS. HEARN'S TRIAL OPENS AT
BODMIN. MAAR
TWO CHARGES OF MURDER BY POISON.
COUNSEL'S HISTORY OF THE CASE.
The trial of Mrs. Sarah Ann Hearn upon two charges of mur der opened before Mr. Justice Roche at Cornwall Assizos, Bod min, on June 15,
Mira. Hearn, whose age is 48, is charged with the murder by arsenical poisoning of her sister, Lydin Marin Everard, aged 52, who, on July 9, 1920, died in the home she stared with Mrs Hoara in the village of Lewannick, near Launceston, and alad with the murder of Mrs. Alico Maud Thomas, aged 47, the wife of a neighbouring farmer at Lewannick, who died in Plymouth Hospital on November 4, 1030
Mrs. Hears pleaded not guilty to both charges.
Counsel ara, for the prosecution, Mr. H. du Parcq, K.C., and Mr. Patrick Devlin; for the defence, Mr. Norman Birkatt, K.C., M.P., und Mr. D. M. Foot
"When her husband returned, Mrs. Thomas mentioned to him that she hid'n sweety' taste in hor mouth, and Mr. Thomas bought her some" banának," "Átja quarter to
even they started to return. Some where between soven and a quarter past Mrs. Thomas began to be sick.
Half an hour before the trial opened, they placed a card promin- ently on the gates of the court boar ing the words "Court Fall." An usher called out "Blue "tickets to "Sho was at the side of the road the left; white tickets to the right." in that condition for about half At the opening of the trial Mr. an hour. They went on to Laun Birkett contended that regarding ceston, and Mr. Thomas parked the the alleged murder of Mrs. Thom- car and went away to do some busi us, evidence on the other indictness. When he came back and met ment was neither relative ncr ad-fre. Hearn and his wife, he found that his wife had been sick again. missible. He also submitted that 'n
They loft Launceston between 20 curtain didry was inadmissible.
Mr. Justice Roche said that ho minutes and half-past nine, and
drove to Trenhorne. Farm. would give his decisions later.
"It was obvious that Mrs, Thomas was very ill, and Mr. Thomas went to get some brandy for her and also to send for a doctor. Mrs, Hoarn was a friend of the family, and it "Mrs. Thomas, with whose mur suggested itself to him that, as she der Mra, Hearn is charged, died was living alone, she might be wil on November 4, 1930. The submising to help in this eraergency, and sion of the prosecution is that she she was asked to stay and look died on that day as the result of after Mrs. Thomas. poisoning by Arsenic, and that that arsenio had been administered to her without bor knowledge on October 18, 17 days before she died, "On a day which it is thought must have been before October 20 she was given, in the prosecution's submission, a second dose of ar- senic.
Counsel's Opening Statement, Mr. du Parcq then opened the case, and stated:
"She did so, and it is a point. which you ought to have in your minds, and will become important. when you hear the medical evid- once, that from that time to October 20 all the food Mrs Thomas had was cooked by Mre Hearn.
HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 1931.
Blame Ons of Us "Apparently Mr. Thomas said that there had been a post-mortem and there would be an inquest. According to Mrs. Hearn, Mr. Thomas then said: They are going to send some organs for analysis and they will find but what it is. They will blame one of UB. The blame will come heavier on you than on me. People ars saying so, and a detactive may bo here at any time. Whataver bhore in they will find it out."
Mr. Thomas doos 'not agree with all that she said he said, but
I think he may have said something
CORRESPONDENCE.
[All letters intended for publica tion must be accompanied by the name and address of the writer, not for publication, unless to desir ed, but as evidence of good faith- ED.]
AN APPRECIATION: THE LATE HON. MR. CHAU SIU KI.
DAILY PRESS."1
to the effect that one of them was (TO THE EDITOR OF THE likely to be blamed, and that she would be more heavily blamed than he would in.
| Mrs., Hearn, returning to Tren- horne House, seems to have said to Mrs. Spear (who shared the house) that she had come back because people at the farm all thought that tinned food was poison.
KONG KONG
618-To my few words at the unveiling of the tablet at St. Stephen's, I would add that from a clerkship of $30 per month Mr chau Siu Ki became a director in Looking at the matter now, I eight companies and a member of submit that the fact was that Mrs. the Legislative Council. His charac Thomas had died from arsenical teristica were, an aptitude for and poisoning, and that there had benn a dose of arsenic in those sand attention to business, directness of wiches; that those sandwiches had speech and great care of money, been prepared by Mrs. Hearn and and of any interests entrusted him that no
one else had the opporby others, whose confidence he tunity of preparing them,"
Up to October 29, Mrs. Hearn thereby onrned. Es freely sought had the opportunity of giving on advice, but having once entered on other dose or doses to Mrs. Thomas, and no one else had a like oppora scheme was not unduly olated by success nor depressed by failure, tunity
neither did he cherish ill as revenge- ful feelings for injury or misrepre sentation.. Mr. Chau Siu Ki was ever mindful of the under-dog and
Wood-Killar.
Mr. du Parcq produced correspon- dence indicating that Mrs. Hearn had purchased a certain amount of weed-killer froin a local chemist.
of those less fortunate, and especial- Whether that weed-killer was usoth for the purpose of destroyingly mindful of any whe did their weeds, he could not say. Mr best for him. Hearn had not mentioned that and had used it either to Mr. Thomas or to Mrs. Spear. A few grains of that weed-killer, which contained 70 per cent of white arsenic, could be used quite simply or in the form of a solution, and would not be detected by any person who might take it..
As previously stated, the record of Mr. Chau Siu Ki was his bond, and of all these qualities I could Bive many examples. When success- ful Mr. Chan Siu Ki spent I think little on himself, but gave what he could for education and for the The polics had investigated any training of his sons, and I well re other possible source of arsenic which might conceivably have any member how his eyes lightened up thing to do with the case. They when telling of his son's' progress discovered that in 1923 a sister of at Oxford. Mr. T. N. Chau spesk- Mrs. Thomas, who lived 14 miles ↑ing so well at St. Stephen's, and "At 8.30 that evening Dr. Saunaway, bought a quarter of a pound with his father's voice and manner "Mr Thomas was the wife of ders arrived. He was told that of arsenic powder, which she used took my memory back some thirty a farmer who was living at Tron- Mrs. Thomas had eaten fish sand at once for the destruction of years; how proud would his father horne Farm Louannick They wiches, and the obvious explana magpies had been married about 20 years.tion occurred to him that she was suffering from some form of food Mrs. Thomas was a healthy woman, a fortunately healthy woman, and poisoning. she had had very few ailments of: any kind.
"About 180 yards from Tren horns Farm is a house called Tren horne House, and in the autumn of 1925 Mr. Hearn came to live at that house, with her sister, Lydia Everard
"On July 1, 1930, Lydia Ever. ard, who was always known as *Minnie, died, and from that time on Mrs. Hearn was living alone. For four or five years previously there had been a friendship, ho tween Mra. Heart and Lydin on the one hand and Mr. and Mrs. Thomas on the other..
He found his patient auffering from cramp in the legs, pain in. the abdomen, and a rapid pulse, and he proscribed the medicine Keolin, a refined form of china clay, and said that at was to live on whitebait and water. She was nursed in accordance with thosa directions by her husband, who gave a great deal of time and care to her, and by Mrs. Hearn.
Mrs. Hearn's Journey.
15
forms. He had some of Cooper's, Mr. Thomas had arsenio in two worm tablets used to give to dogs, and he also had some Cooper's sheep dip, which he last used two years ago when he washed his dogs, He kept this arsenic always locked
up.
7
Mrs. Hearn's Letter.
Mr, du Parcq then read the letter which he said Mrs. Hearn wrote to Mr. Thomas on November 10. He described it as a very remarkable letter.
It read:
"Dear Mr. Thomas: Good-bye. I am going out if I can. I cannot forget that awful map and the things he said. I am innocent, innocent, but she is dead and it was my lunch she ate. I cannot
have been to see his son' and that school!.
Referred to as a great man Mr. Chau Siu Ki was certainly an out- stafiding figure of his time on our small Hong Kong stage. I think of him with affection and respect and it is duo for me to so express myself.
Lives of great men all remind us Two can make our lives sublime, And departing leave behind us footprints on the sands of Time;
Footprints perhaps another sailing
oler Lifes solemn Main, A forlorn and weary, brother sco
ing may take heart again.
W. 8. BAILEY. Hong Kong, July 1, 1931.
Mr. du Parcq then described Mrs, Thomas's symptoms daily and said that on October 24 there appeared a symptom of great importance, On October 18, 1030, there was tingling of the, feet. In the later a temporary addition to the house stages of arsenical poisoning, he hold at. Trenhorne Farm. Mr. explained, there is a form of nouri-stay?
the statement which she made to the Thomas's mother was staying with tis and an affection of the nerves
"When I am dead they will be police. them. She was going back on that rather like what is called "pine sure I am guilty and you, at least, In this she said: "It appeared day, and her son had arranged to and neodles.*.
as if somebody was going to be drive her back. That resulted in "According to Mrs. Hearn's will be clear,
"May your dear wife's presence charged with murder. I could not an invitation by Mr. Thomas to statement," Mr. du Pareq continu- Mrs. Hearn to accompany them ined, "on the 29th Mrs. Thomas was guard and comfort you still-think of anyone but us two.
A. H. thought I would go my own way his ear.
sick. Mra, Parsons, the mother of Yours,
My life is not 'n great thing and take my life. "It was proposed that they Mrs. Thomas, arrived and slept
"I went to Looe with that inten- should make a little holiday of it, with her, and did all the nursing now dear Annie has gone. I shall and that, after dropping Mrs. and most of the cooking. The docbe glad if you will send my love tion and left my coat there, but Thomas senior at her home, theythe will tell you and the analyst to Bessie (a sister of Mrs. Hearn). found I could not do what I
thought of doing." should go on to Bude and spend the will say that, in his view, although Tell them not to worry about me.
Diary Excluded, reas of the day there. The result another does was given after Octo. "I shall be all right. My con-
At this stage arguments were was that at mid-day on October 18 ber 18, none was given after Oct. science is clear. I am not afraid
heard regarding the objectiona Mr. Thomas went over to Mrs. 29. On that day Mrs Parsons took of afterwards,
the Hearn's house and asked hor to charge, so to speak, although Mrs. "I am giving instructions about made by Mr. Birkett at
Hearn was still in the house, selling the things and hope you outset,, and the Judge decid accompany, them and she agreed.
"Between 9 and 9.30, on Novem-will be paid in full. That is all Ied not to admit in evidence. the diary of Miss Lydia Everard. He decided that he would allow evidence concerning the death of Mrs. Thomas.
ber 3, Mrs. Thomas's nose started to bleed, and the doctor was called in at 1.30 in the afternoon. Her legs and hands were worse, and there were no reflexes.
The Salmon Sandwiches, "The party left in the car at three o'clock. Meanwhile, some thing had happened which is of great importance in this ease. There
"Theroupon Dr. Saunders, realis. is no doubt Mrs. Hearn has her. self sixted it-that she prepared ing-and no one would blame him some sandwiches which were made for realising for the first time
that this was no case of food poison of tinned salmon.
"She prepared the "sandwiches, ing, enlled in Dr. Lister; a con- She was living alone, and those sultant from Plymouth, who saw sandwiches were made and in every her at 7 o'clock. He found her senes prepared by her. The salmon suffering from a form of neuritis she used apparently came from peripheral neuritis--a form of tin which she bought in the crdin-arsenical poisoning. ary course on September 3. When the party started I do not think that anybody except Mrs. Hearn know she had the sandwiches with hor.
Mrs. Thomas' Death.
"At 1.30 a.m.; en November 4, she was taken to hospital at Ply
can do now."
"That is a most remarkable letter," Mr. du Pareq went on,
Mr. du Parcq then resumed his "and you will have to consider it carefully. You may think that Mrs. Heara, believing herself to be opening. He said that while Mrs. innocent, and, thinking herself to Hears was making a statement, be innocent, and thinking herself which she signed, she said in an to be under suspicion, and possibly undertone, which was heard only "Mr. Thomas Mr. Thomas too, was going to comby a police sergeant, mit suicide. You may think she is used to come every day with 'the' a miserable, unhappy woman, who papers, but, of is going to commit suicide, and not only a blind, our A woman who is going to run away and endeavour to conceal herself and to avoid justice.
Mrs. Hearn Becomes Kurso
"I am going to tell you what
mouth Her case was hopeless, and her movements were in this case, that you will judge whether, when she died at 9.35 in the morning.
"One can only infer that Lor-she wrote that letter, she really had
that was
Dealing with the case of Miss Everard, Mr. du Parcq said that she lived alone with Mrs. Hearo, though occasionally they had visi- fors. "Minnie" was an invalid in the sense that she was often ill.
"It is part of the case for the Crown that Minnis died of arseni cal poisoning, which, in her last illaess, must have been administer
"At five n'elock Mr. Thomas, his wife, and Mrs. Hearn went to have tea together at Littlejohn's Cafe death was due to the sandwiches the slightest intention of taking here to her in does not very large, There they were waited upon by she had eaten. The time and ecurse life, or whether her intention was but given wickedly and with intent a waitress who would give evidence of the illness wore both consistent to get away, to delude people into to kill over a period of about seven that she remembered the arrival with the fact that the poison was thinking that she had committed months. of a party which answered the de contained in those sandwiches." suicide, possibly to divert some of "I am bound to put it baldly
Mr, du Parcq added that Dr. the suspicion from Mr. Thomas if and bluntly that the case for the Beriation of this one.
Tea and cakes were ordered, Wordley. the county pathologis he showed the latter to other people, Crown is that over a period of and it was then that Mrs. Hearn conducted a postmortem, in which as he did.
"You must consider whether the seven months Mrs. Hearn had been produced the packet of sandwiches, he found the liver and heart affect
administering areanic to her sinter which were handed round. Mraod, and no symptom of natura wanted to get away deed to with intent to kill her. Thomas ate one or possibly two cf disenso, ..
neware also tint, if she was considered to bổ the sandwiches, Mr. Thomas had The organs wore analysed by Mr. dead, the matter would end, and
You will have to considerin this case," Mr. Du Paroq said, whether the evidence does not strongly suggest that Mr. Hearn may have given medicine to her. done as revealed by the post-sister which was not the medicine "After tes Mr. Thomas wont "Before the analysis, Mdo mortem examination."
Mr. du Pareq then described My Prescribed by the doctors at all, but
ont, and Mrs. Hearn had one Tickle, an analyst, who found as Mrs Hearn in another name might What happened to the rest I can of a grain of white arsenic, which continue to live elsewhere, escaping not tell you, but nothing was loft was form that could be cbtained the consequences of what she had behind on the table. Portage from wood-killed.
Mr du Parco mid that organ of the body to the total Hoche Lynch found arseno sa every amount of 76 of a grain
away for a little while. This may, Parcq continued, "there, was a con- Hearn's journey to Looe, leaving might have had arsenic in it
Mr. Thomas and Mrs. Hoarm Mr. He alleged a contour the while at Thomas hail Een to Plymouth, her arrival at Torquay, where the where he had seen his wifoidead 7 was employed by- Mr-Powell...-. the hospital: He had a conyersa- tic with Mrs. Hearn. »
maymayemkeker importaut-in this worsstion on Maxember betwcen..
Caso. He says that he felt funny in his inside-nothing very serious, He went to take what suggested Itset to him as a proper remedy, and had two whiskice hun
· He also described her arrest and". (uunjas szɔy to goof en panosung))
Bome formal uvidempe was called and the cam; was adjourned.
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