FULL TEXT (Article 1 of 4): Sydney,
Sunday. – A Camperdown boarding-house proprietress, Mrs Marjorie Coleman, 42,
was charged on Saturday with having administered poison to two men and a woman
with intent to murder them.
The charges followed the secret
exhumation of the body of Robert Walker Reynolds, 48, at the Northern Suburbs
Cemetery, almost two years after its burial, and a subsequent autopsy performed
the day following its removal.
The three persons concerned with the charges are Reynolds, to whom
poison is alleged to have been ad- ministered in October, 1942, with intent to
murder him. Muriel Joan Bewhey, 26, a former waitress, to whom poison was
allegedly administered between May 16 and June 26, 1946, and William Patrick
O’Dea, to whom poison is alleged to have been administered between January 30
and August 30, 1946. Mrs. Coleman was remanded without bail until November 15.
[“Woman Charged With Poisoning Three Persons,” The Canberra
Times (Australia), Nov. 11, 1946, p. 2]
***
FULL TEXT (Article 2 of 4): Constable
William Patrick O’Dea said in Central Police Court yesterday that soon after he
became ill, Mrs. Marjorie Coleman, (charged with having administered poison with intent to murder
O’Dea and two others) suggested that he make a will.
O’Dea said he told her that he would
make out a will one day, and it would be in her benefit and his brother’s.
Previously he had told her he had been informed he would be the beneficiary in
a considerable legacy some time in the future.
A Public Trust officer said Mrs. Coleman had claimed she held a
will made by Robert Walter Reynolds, who died in 1942.
Marjorie Coleman, 43, domestic, is charged with having administered poison to Reynolds between
October 14 and October 31, 1942; to Muriel Joan Bewhoy between May 16 and June
26, 1946; and to Constable O’Dea between January 30 and November 28. 1946.
~ SUSPECTED SUICIDE ~
Constable O’Dea said that after he
went to live at Mrs. Coleman’s residence in St. Mary Street, Camperdown, she told him
about a man named Bob. She said Bob had done her a dirty trick at one time. He
died after an illness, and she suspected he took his life by poisoning.
Some months later, continued O’Dea,
he asked Mrs. Coleman what she thought Bob died from, and she said pneumonia. She
said Bob had left a will in her favour, but she had destroyed it.
Witness said that Mrs. Coleman, when she asked why he
himself did not make a will, said she did not really want it, but Mrs. O’Dea
had not treated him so well and was not deserving of it.
He first noticed a change in his
health on January 31 last, whilst he was residing at Mrs. Coleman’s house, he continued.
In the morning, he said, he had a cup of tea with Mrs. Coleman and Miss Bewhey. After
taking the tea he ran out and had violent vomiting attacks.
He left for Balmain Police Station,
but was too ill for duty and went back to bed. Next morning he had another cup
of. tea, and was sick again soon afterwards. He resumed work a few days later,
but after a day became ill again. He was taken to Balmain Hospital, and
remained there about five weeks.
~
“DISCOLOURED” WATER ~
O’Dea said he made a slight implement
in the hospital. He then returned to St. Mary Street, and after two weeks
became sick again.
One day, when brought a glass of
water lo his bedroom he remarked that it was discoloured. Mrs. Coleman said the light was
bad. He drank the water and told her she must have put sugar in it. She replied
that his taste was out of order as he was ill.
After that drink, witness said, he
began to vomit and had turns during the day.
About September 5, he saw Dr Potts,
who took samples of his finger nails, toe nails, and hair Later he went to the
police station and was informed he was suffering from poisoning. O’Dea said Mrs. Coleman saw him in Bnlmam
Hospital in September, and said “Why don’t you take the blame for this poisoning? I would do it for
you, and it would clear the atmosphere.”
Mrs. Coleman, he continued, then said “You could say you took it yourself
and Muriel could say she picked it up by accident or that she took ill herself
because Tommie the sailor would not marry her
She added that she wanted him to protect Charlie, her hus- band, from
‘bother’ with the police.
O’Dea said that last Easter he
intervened in a dispute between Mrs. Coleman and Miss Bewhey. Two weeks later
Miss Bewhey started vomiting and lost the use of her limbs She went to hospital
and later lived with friends.
Mrs. Elsie May Boyd said that Robert
Reynolds and Mrs. Coleman seemed to be very much in love when she knew them After
Reynolds’ death Mrs. Coleman appeared to be very upset.
[“Talk Of Wills In Treble Poisoning Case,” The Sydney
Morning Herald (Australia), Dec. 3, 1946, p. 3]
***
FULL TEXT (Article 3 of 4): Sydney,
Tuesday. – Mrs. Irene Gladys Crocker, trained nurse, said in the Central Police
Court. to-day that Mrs. Marjorie Coleman once told her that Constable William Patrick O'Doy
was giving her arsenic by soaking fly targets in water and giving her the
liquid.
She said Coleman was employed by her as
a cook from July till September, 1916. At one
time she was away for about 10 days. She said she
was ill from arsenical poisoning. She also said that. O' Doy gave her arsenic in her drinks.
Marjorie Coloman (43}, domestic, is charged with administering poison, with intent to murder,
to Robert Walter Reynolds between October 14 and 31, 1942, to Muriell Joan
Bewhy between May 10 and June 20, 1940,
and to Contstable O'Doy between January 30 and
November 28, 1946. Reynolds died in 1942.
[“Alleges Constable Tried to Poison Her,” The Advocate (Burnie, Tasmania), Dec. 4, 1946, p. 5]
***
FULL TEXT (Article 4 of 4): Sydney,
Friday. – Mrs. Marjorie Coleman, 42, who was com mitted for trial last December
on three charges of attempted murder by poisoning, was released from gaol on
Tuesday.
The State Attorney-General (Mr.
Martin) has decided not to file a Bill.
Charges against Mrs. Coleman were
that she administered poison to Ronald Walter Reynolds between October 14 and
October 21, 1942, with intent to murder; ad ministered poison to Muriel Joan
Bewhey between May 16 and June 26, 1946, with intent to murder; and
administered poison to Constable William Patrick O'Dea between January 30 and
November 28 1946, with intent to murder.
Her solicitor has been advised that
the Crown has decided not to prosecute further.
[“Poison Cases Dropped,” The
Courier-Mail (Brisbaine, Australia), Feb. 22, 1947, p. 3]
***
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