Death in a Teacup

The Caroline Grills Poisoning Case

By Elliot Lindsay

Read More About Balmain

Sydney, in the early 1950s, was a city on the cusp of post-war transformation. The harbourside beauty masked a darker underbelly of crime and deception. Among the whispers of underworld dealings, sly-grog and prostitution, a peculiar case gripped the public’s attention—a case that redefined betrayal and malice cloaked in familial affection.

The Friendly Auntie

Caroline Grills, known as "Auntie Carrie," was the picture of domestic kindness. Born in Balmain in 1888, she was a plump, smiling grandmother beloved by neighbours, friends, and especially her family. Caroline’s habit of visiting relatives with gifts of cakes, pies, and jars of preserved ginger seemed harmless, even endearing. But in 1953, the sweetness of those gestures would curdle into horror.

For years, unexplained illnesses had plagued Caroline’s family. Elderly relatives became inexplicably weak, suffered severe hair loss, and complained of strange, cramping pains. Some went blind. Doctors scratched their heads, diagnosing anything from old age to severe neuropathy. But when a pattern began to emerge, the sick and dying seemed to have one thing in common—they had all shared food or drink with Auntie Carrie.

Suspicion and Shadows

The tipping point came in April 1953, when 67-year-old Eveline Lundberg, Caroline’s sister-in-law, fell gravely ill. Blind, frail, and convinced she was being poisoned, Eveline confided her fears to her son-in-law, John Downey. Downey, suspicious of Caroline’s peculiar behaviour, acted. On April 20, as Caroline served Eveline a cup of tea during her routine visits, Downey secretly removed the unfinished cup and preserved its contents in a jam jar.

The liquid was sent to the Government Analyst’s Department, where traces of a deadly substance—thallium—were identified. Commonly found in rat poison, thallium was colourless, tasteless, and slow-acting, making it a preferred tool for murderers with patience.

When confronted, Caroline dismissed the allegations with laughter. "Why would I poison my own family?" she reportedly said. But detectives were less amused. They delved into Caroline’s history, exhuming bodies and re-examining medical records. Each case seemed to bear the hallmarks of thallium poisoning: hair loss, vision loss, and excruciating pain leading to death.

A Chain of Deaths

The police uncovered a chilling pattern. Caroline was linked to at least four suspicious deaths:

• Mrs. Christina Louisa Adelaide Mickelson (87), her stepmother, died in 1947.

• Mrs. Mary Anne Mickelson (60), her brother’s widow, succumbed in 1949.

• Mrs. Angelina Thomas (84), a family friend, passed away in 1948.

• John Gerhard Lundberg (76), Eveline’s husband, died in 1948.

Each had been in Caroline’s care or presence shortly before their deaths. Detectives also found that Caroline had benefited modestly from the victims’ wills and estates.

Caroline maintained her innocence, though her credibility began to unravel. She admitted to owning thallium-based rat poison, "Thall-Rat," but claimed she had only used it to kill rodents. Yet traces of the substance were found in her clothing, home, and even the food she had prepared.

The Trial

Caroline Grills’ trial at Central Criminal Court was a media spectacle. The Crown’s case was devastating. Witnesses, including John Downey, described Caroline’s odd behaviour, such as her insistence on serving specific family members food and drink while avoiding the same herself. Doctors testified to the symptoms of thallium poisoning and the matching medical histories of Caroline’s alleged victims.

The defence, led by Mr P. Hidden, portrayed Caroline as a loving, kind-hearted woman victimised by circumstantial evidence and a vengeful family. Her demeanour in court—a grandmotherly figure with a perpetual smile—made it difficult for some to reconcile her image with the sinister accusations. But the evidence was overwhelming.

On October 15, 1953, after a trial lasting seven days, the jury deliberated for a mere 12 minutes before finding Caroline guilty of attempting to murder Eveline Lundberg. Justice Brereton sentenced her to death, remarking, "Under the guise of friendship and loving-kindness, but with apparently motiveless malignity, you administered poison."

A Grim Legacy

Caroline’s death sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment, and she was sent to Long Bay Gaol. Despite the horrors attributed to her, Caroline remained an enigmatic figure, maintaining her innocence until the end. She became a macabre celebrity among her fellow inmates, earning the nickname "Aunt Thally" due to her weapon of choice.

On October 6, 1960, Caroline Grills died of pneumonia in the police ward of Prince Henry Hospital. She was 70. The mysteries surrounding her motives and the extent of her crimes lingered, leaving an indelible mark on Australia’s criminal history.

The Woman Behind the Smiles

The case of Caroline Grills captivated a nation. Was she a cold-blooded killer who found joy in the slow demise of her victims, or was she the victim of a cruel twist of fate and suspicion? The truth, known only to Caroline, went with her to the grave.

For those intrigued by the dark corners of history, the case of Caroline Grills stands as a chilling reminder that evil can wear a friendly face. If you would like to delve deeper into this case and others like it, Tanya Bretherton’s award-winning book, The Husband Poisoner, offers a riveting exploration of the era and the psychology of women who used thallium as a tool of murder.