James Martin Byron

POÏSON TEA.

DRIVER'S STRANGE STORY. SUBSEQUENT RETRACTATION.

A quantity of crysatls ware taken to the Government analyst by Constable Shaw of Flemington on Monday and tho analyst found that the crystals were composed of sufficient strychnine to poison several people.

A sensational story which at first sight suggested that mysterious and diabolical attempt had been made to poison a man was told the police when they were handed the strychnine. James Martin Byron, driver, living in Flemington street, Flemington alleged that the poison had been placed in his tea. Detectives Napthine and Brophy were yesterday detailed to make inquiries and they saw Byron, who is employed by Messrs Gngg Bros, of Ascotvale. He made a statement covering five pages of foolscap in which he furnished the detectives with most elaborate details of what he described as the determined attempt to kill him. He said he was a married man but was living apart from his wife. He had figured in many court cases as the result of domestic infelicity and on Sunday last he went to see his children, but was refused permission. His wile lived with her people.

When he went to work on Monday morning said Byron he hang his lunch in the harness room in the stables Included was a tin containing sugar and tea. On his return to the harness room 10 minutes latei he noticed that the tin had been removed. A man was then in the room and Byron gave the detectives his name adding that his actions made him suspicious. Rhe tin was found in the straw and Byron then saw that the strychnine crystals had been mixed with the tea and sugar. After informing Mr. Gngg who happened to walk into the harness room when Byron made the discovery the man reported the matter to Constable Shaw.

On this story Detectives Napthine and Brophy yesterday evening cross-questlond Byron for some considerable time at the Flemington police station. Eventually he broke down, and, picked up a pen Byron added to his sensational statement: - "I don' t want the police to do any more in this matter as mv statement taken by Detective Napthine is not true." He then signed his name in full. Beyond this Byron would make no other admissions so Detective Napthine reported to Inspector O' Donnell last night that it was purely a matter for conjecture as to how the poison was included amongst the mans tea and sugar. No further investigations will be made into the case bv the detectives.

THE ARGUS (Melbourne) 17/9/1913

BYRON, V. BYRON.

Augusta Thursey Byron, of Pridham street, Newmarket. 28 years of age, domestic, sought a dissolution of her marriage with James Martin Byron, 40 years of age, on the ground of desertion. Mr. L S. Woolf (instructed by Mr. J. Woolf) appeared for petitioner. The parties were married on August 21 1907. and there were three children. Petitioner's case was that respondent had knocked her down and kicked her, and she had been compelled to leave him on April 23, 1913. In October. 1913, she caused a warrant to be issued for his arrest, and it hail not yet been executed.

A decree nisi was granted

THE ARGUS (Melbourne) 19/10/1916