FULL TEXT (Article 1 of 6): Sydney, Sat. — The exhumation of the body of a man who died four years ago was followed today by the appearance of a woman in the Central Police Court. The exhumation took place at night in the northern suburbs cemetery where the man was buried in 1942.
It was carried out in the strictest
secrecy under the supervision of detectives. The woman charged is Marjorie Coleman (42). Her occupation
was given as domestic duties.
The charges against her are:
1. That between October 14, 1942, and
October 31, 1942; she did feloniously administer poison to Robert Walter
Reynolds with intent to murder.
2. That between January 30, 1946, and
August 30, 1946, she did feloniously administer poison to William Patrick O’Dea
with intent to murder.
3. That between May 16, 1946, and
June 26, 1946, she did feloniously administer poison to Muriel Joan Bewhey with
intent to murder.
Of medium height, slim build and with
dark hair brushed upwards, Marjorie Coleman wore a black coat over her brown frock.
Magistrate Oram remanded her to
November 15 and refused bail. Prosecutor-Sergeant Forde said that a coroner’s
inquiry would be held in relation to Reynolds.
Marjorie Coleman, who tapped the rail of the dock with her fingers throughout
the proceedings, was escorted from the court by a police woman.
An examination of the exhumed body
was made by Government medical officer Dr. Percy, who directed some parts to be
sent to the Government analyst.
Inquiries revealed that the man died
after a short illness. A certificate stated that the cause of death was gastro
enteritis and pneumonia.
[“Woman On 3 Poison Charges,” Daily
News (Perth, Australia), Nov. 9, 1946, p. 8]
***
FULL TEXT (Article 2 of 6): 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 administered 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 3 of 6): 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 Bewhey 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 to 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 Balmain
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 husband, 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 4 of 6): 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’Dea
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’ Dea gave her arsenic in her drinks.
Marjorie Coleman (43}, domestic, is charged with administering poison, with intent to murder,
to Robert Walter Reynolds between October 14 and 31, 1942, to Muriell Joan Bewhey
between May 10 and June 20, 1940, and to Constable O’Dea 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; spellings of proper names have been changed to match those found in other articles]
***
FULL TEXT (Article 5 of 6): Sydney, Wednesday: -- Mrs.
Marjorie Coleman, 43. was committed for trial at Central Court to-day on three
charges of administering poison. Bail was refused. Mrs. Coleman was charged
with administering poison to Miss Muriel Bewhey and Constable William Patrick
O’Dea this year, and to Robert Walter Reynolds in 1942.
When committed, Mrs. Cole man said:
“I am not guilty and I reserve my defence.”
Miss Bewhey said that after taking
two mouthfuls of tea on May 16 she shuddered, and remarked to Mrs. Coleman that
the tea “was horrible”. Mrs. Coleman had then filled another cup of tea for
her. This also had a horrible taste.
Mrs. Coleman drank a cup of tea at
the same time. Miss Bewhey said that shortly afterwards she felt very sick in
the stomach.
“I left for work with Mrs. Coleman,
feeling very ill. Mrs. Coleman before alighting from a tram at Broadway advised
me to return home if I felt no better.
“I continued to my place of
employment but shortly afterwards returned home and went to bed.”
~ Cups of Tea in Bed
When she got out of her bed and told
Mrs. Coleman about her loss of feeling, Mrs. Coleman had said: “It must be
caused by weakness through being in bed.”
Miss Bewhey said Mrs. Coleman gave
her cups of tea while she was in bed. She could only take two mouthfuls of the
tea, which tasted ‘like musks’.
Later, on Mrs. Coleman’s advice she went to a doctor, who told her that nothing could be done for her. She
returned home and went to bed.
“During my illness Constable O’Dea
used to bring my tea, which tasted like musk lollies. Everything I drank at
that time tasted the same.
“I got on well with Mr. and Mrs.
Coleman, but not with Constable O’Dea,” she added.
~ “Mrs. Coleman Kind to Me”
To Mr. Thorn (for Mrs. Coleman), Miss
Bewhey said she had written a letter saying: “I would like you to understand
and believe me when I say I definitely do not believe Marge (Mrs. Coleman) was
the cause of my illness.”
“Mrs. Coleman has always been kind to
me and I know of no reason why she would want to poison me.”
Miss Bewhey said she had often seen
Constable O’Dea draining water from a fly trap, but she did not know what he
had done with it.
To Mr. Thorn’s suggestion that the
fly traps might have contained arsenic, Miss Bewhey said she would not know
arsenic if she saw it.
An earlier witness, Mrs. Edith Ellen
Gaffney, said she had known Mrs. Coleman for about three years. About last
Easter she heard a few words between Mrs. Coleman and Miss Bewhey in a Newtown
Cafe, where Mrs. Coleman was night manageress.
Mrs. Gaffney said that Mrs. Coleman,
with whom she had not been to friendly said to her: “I can’t understand what
Muriel has done to me. If she riles me much longer I will do her in”.
[“Woman For Trial On Charge Of
Poisoning Three,” The Daily Advertiser (Wagga Wagga, Australia), Dec. 5, 1946,
p. 1]
***
FULL TEXT (Article 6 of 6): Sydney,
Friday. – Mrs. Marjorie Coleman, 42, who was committed 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; administered 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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[1086-7/23/20; 1240-12/1/21]
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[1086-7/23/20; 1240-12/1/21]
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