Born 1884 in Dangaragan, Western Australia [15] [39: 13-Aug-1913]
Daughter of John Hugh Stanton MCVEE and Susannah LARWOOD [15]
Married "Harry" Henry McCLYMANS in Dandaragan in 1903 [15]
Resided with her husband and children in Muchea prior to moving to Carnamah in April 1912 [39: 13-Aug-1913]
They resided in a house in Carnamah, had the PARKIN family as their neighbours and had three boarders [39: 13-Aug-1913]
The boarders were fettler Ernest GALBRAITH, storekeeper James ARNAUD and school teacher Alexander MACLEAN [39]
Helped prepare the excellent supper at the farewell in Carnamah for the stationmaster and his wife on 7 May 1913 [9: 16-May-1913]
She kept the boarders and after a time her husband began to get jealous and later suspicious of ARNAUD [39: 13-Aug-1913, 5-Sep-1913]
Her husband secured a transfer from Carnamah in June 1913 but she said "You can shift. I won't. I like Carnamah." [39: 13-Aug-1913]
On the morning of 9 July 1913 she told her husband she'd kicked the cat belonging to the PARKIN family and it had died [39: 13-Aug-1913]
Later that day her husband ate some of his lunch, which tasted bitter, and then spat out the rest and didn't eat it [39]
A short time later her husband staggered, had cramps, shook and twitched while a dog who ate what he spat out died [39: 13-Aug-1913]
Arrested in Carnamah on Wednesday 30 July 1913 on the charge of administering strychnine to her husband [39: 31-Jul-1913, 13-Aug-1913]
She went before the Moora Police Court over 12, 13 and 14 of August 1913 and was committed for trial [39: 13, 14 & 15-Aug-1913]
Her husband's lunch tin had been sealed with wax by the local stationmaster who was going to send it to the police [39]
When her husband returned home and seemed okay the stationmaster gave the lunch tin to her to take home [39]
The stationmaster later asked for the lunch tin, she gave it back to him, and the seal was unbroken and the lunch still inside [39]
She denied possessing strychnine however it was ascertained her brother in Dandaragan had sent her some to poison a dingo [39]
She confirmed that was true but said she had thrown the parcel in the fire when it arrived on account of her husband's behaviour [39]
After three days of evidence she was committed to trail during Criminal Sessions in September [39]
She was granted bail with two sureties of £75, which was paid by her brother Edward J. MCVEE and John ROBERTS of Moora [39]
Again went before the Police Court in Moora on 4 September 1913 accused of poisoning her husband with strychnine [39: 5-Sep-1913]
She couldn't read or write very much [39: 13-Aug-1913]
Mother of four children [39: 5-Sep-1913]
Reference: Carnamah Historical Society & Museum and North Midlands Project, 'Mary Jane McVee / McClymans' in Biographical Dictionary of Coorow, Carnamah and Three Springs, retrieved 19 December 2024 from www.carnamah.com.au/bio/mary-jane-mcvee [reference list] |
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