In keeping with the old saying: “Everything old is new again”… readers will find echoes in modern times of this story from the late-1800s.
The following story was published in The Daylesford Advocate of Thursday 9 February 1882 is quoted from The Ararat Advertiser of the day.
Serious Poisoning Case at Landsborough
An extraordinary poisoning case is the cause of much discussion in this quarter, no less than five persons having narrowly escaped death.
It is reported that a young woman named Jessie Mair brought home to her mother’s house a tin of white powder, which she called baking powder, on Friday last. She suggested to her mother the advisability of making some scones with the baking powder she had brought home. This was done, and two lads of the name of Harlow having just dropped in just as the scones were cooked, they were invited to sit down with the family and eat them.
No sooner had some of the scones been swallowed, than fits of vomiting simultaneously attacked all those who had partaken of them. Suspecting that something was wrong, Mrs. Mair threw the remainder of the scones outside, when a number of fowls were immediately killed through eating the poisonous stuff. The remainder of the powder was then thrown into the fire, and medical assistance obtained for the sufferers, five in number.
With the exception of severe internal pains for about twenty-four hours, no evil effects have been felt by the poisoned ones, and they are therefore out of danger.
The strangest part of the affair is that the young woman referred to above refused to eat the scones after advising her mother to make them. The police are now endeavouring to ascertain where Jessie Mair got the powder that so nearly effected a most disastrous tragedy.
From the Daylesford and District Historical Society. https://daylesfordmuseum.net/
