Poison plot
On 3 January 1878, Richard Welch was tried at the Perth Supreme Court for administering poison with intent to murder William Palmer. Palmer and Welch were both servants employed by Mr Lockyer at Nickol Bay, and on the morning in question had quarrelled over an Aboriginal woman named Ellen. According to Palmer, Welch had later suggested they forget the matter and offered him a glass of rum. Soon after, he became violently ill with symptoms consistent with strychnine poisoning. However, the judge in his summation counseled the jury to consider whether Palmer could have accidentally poisoned himself while baiting traps, or whether he might have manufactured the allegation out of jealousy over Welch's relationship with Ellen. The jury found Welch not guilty.
This trial report is from The Western Australian TimesDownload from Trove
