1937 Norman Maurice Oddy,"Jim" married Miss Alma Joy HOAD, in TUMUT - (Ref:- NSW BDM 22196/1937)

INQUIRY INTO DEATH OF WOMAN SYDNEY. Tuesday.-When the inquest on Mrs.Vera Doris Watt was resumed today evidence was given that at Tumut in the middle of this year she had been housekeeper to Donald Donald Pagett, 47, who is charged with the murder of Mrs. Watt.

Mrs. Watt died at Manly on December 1 after taking what she believed to be a headache powder. Earlier evidence stated that she had died of strychnine poisoning.

Norman M. Oddy, of Tumut, said he had worked with Pagett as a telephone linesman. They had set poison baits for rabbits, and had left 400 baits lying on the ground. Pagett had told him that he suffered from headaches, and on 2 occasions he had bought APC powders for Pagett.

Oswald H. J. Bullock, Tumut Shire employee, said that in April of this year he had prepared a quantity of rabbit bait for Pagett containing strychnine.

Mrs. Ethel McDougall, of Mayfield, sister of Mrs. Watt, said that last September she had met her sister at Central Railway Station. Pagett was standing beside her, and she was upset and trembling. The inquest was adjourned. - (Ref- The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848-1954) Wednesday 31 December 1941)

A.P.C. POWDER CASE Woman's Death

The Citv Coroner yesterday continued his inquiry into the death of Mrs. Vera Doris Watt, of Kent Street, Collaroy, alleged to have been caused by strychnine. She died at Manly Hospital on December 1, after stating that she had taken an A.P.C. powder which tasted bitter. She also said that she had found the A.P.C powder in the letter box at her home at Narrabeen. Donald Donald Pagett. 47. of Epping, is charged with having murdered Mrs. Watt. pbFrederick Harold Johnson/b said Pagett was his tenant at Tumut from January to June, 1941. Pagett told him that the deceased, whom witness knew as Mrs. Knox, was his house-keeper. Pagett used to live there during the weekends. Pagett and the deceased seemed to be on friendly terms.

Norman Morris Oddy, telephone linesman, said he had arranged with Pagett last Easter about buying; baits to poison rabbits. With this exception he had never known Pagett to be in possession of poison of any description. He had seen Pagett taking A.P.C. powders, but he had not seen him with them in a carton.

Ethel McDougall, sister of the deceased, said that Mrs. Watt was married at the age of 22 years to a man named Knox. Knox, she said, was a ship's bosun, and was killed in an accident on a ship. ElIen Edith Mcinnes, of Wilson Street, Newtown, said Mrs. Watt used to take A.P.C. powders frequently. She had never known her to have poison in her possession.

Oswald Hope Joseph Bullock, employed by the Tumut Shire Council to destroy rabbits, said he used thistle baits with a preparation of strychnine for poisoning rabbits. In April, 1941, he prepared some baits for Pagett. who. was a telephone linesman. Wit Iness bought an ounce of strychnine at Tumut and used it all for the baits. He gave none to pagett. John Clifford Dixon, bus conductor, said that when he arrived at Manly wharf from Narrabeen on December 1, he was told there was a woman who was ill in the bus. The woman told him she had taken an A.P.C. powder before leaving home, and that it tasted bitter. As she could not walk, he carried her to a chemist's shop. - The inquiry was adjourned till Friday. - (Ref- The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842-1954) Wednesday 31 December 1941)

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