“Yes. I should say quite definitely that the tube in question contained hypodermic tablets of apomorphine hydrochloride 1/20 grain.”
“Not morphine hydrochloride?”
“No, it could not be that.”
“Why not?”
“On such a tube the word Morphine is spelt with a capital M. The end of the line of the m here, seen under my magnifying glass, shows plainly that it is part of a small m, not a capital M.”
“Please let the jury examine it with the glass. Have you labels here to show what you mean?”
The labels were handed to the jury.
Sir Edwin resumed:
“You say this is from a tube of apomorphine hydrochloride? What exactly is apomorphine hydrochloride?”
“The formula is C17H17NO2. It is a derivative of morphine prepared by saponifying morphine by heating it with dilute hydrochloric acid in sealed tubes. The morphine loses one molecule of water.”
“What are the special properties of apomorphine?”
Mr. Littledale said quietly:
“Apomorphine is the quickest and most powerful emetic known. It acts within a few minutes.”
“So if anybody had swallowed a lethal dose of morphine and were to inject a dose of apomorphine hypodermically within a few minutes, what would result?”
“Vomiting would take place almost immediately and the morphine would be expelled from the system.”
“Therefore, if two people were to share the same sandwich or drink from the same pot of tea, and one of them were then to inject a dose of apomorphine hypodermically, what would be the result, supposing the shared food or drink to have contained morphine?”
“The food or drink together with the morphine would be vomited by the person who injected the apomorphine.”
“And that person would suffer no ill results?”
“No.”
There was suddenly a stir of excitement in court and order for silence from the judge.
VII
“You are Amelia Mary Sedley and you reside ordinarily at 17 Charles Street, Boonamba, Auckland?”
“Yes.”
“Do you know a Mrs. Draper?”
“Yes. I have known her for over twenty years.”
“Do you know her maiden name?”
“Yes. I was at her marriage. Her name was Mary Riley.”
“Is she a native of New Zealand?”
“No, she came out from England.”
“You have been in cou