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MYSTERIOUS DEATH AT HOOLE.

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MYSTERIOUS DEATH AT HOOLE. FATAL STRYCHNINE POISONING. EXTRAORDINARY CASE. Tho West Cheshire Coioncr (Mr. J. C. Bale) wag occupied for several hours on Monday at the Urban Council oftices, Hoolc, in conducting an adjourned inquiry into the mysterious cir- ouuj;ui.neo8 surrouudiag tiia sudden death on Saturday, the lOiii Feb., of Bertha Mabel iarmorey, agvd 32 yoais, the wife of William Arthur Farmerey, licensee of the Be-e Hive Hotel, Hoolo. The proceedings had been twice i adjourned to allow of a post mortem cx:anlJn3. t:on of the body and an analysis of the contents of tiio stomadh to be made. Mr. E. S. Giles, solio tor, was in attendance on behalf of Sir. Farmerey, the husband of the deceased; Mr. R. T. Moi gan repic tented '"the interested parties," whoso names ho did not mention, while tlie poiioa were represented by Supt. Hicks and Dotective Hoole Before opening the proceedings the Coroner sa d they would be obliged to wait until the aicdical lDilll coiiec-mcd in the cese had had a con fee once. He did not. wish to proceed until lie was able to see them, as he did not know what their evidence would be. The Coroner then left the room for a few moments, and returning in oomp:1ny with the u1üd,w! i;1:nt],cm0:1, he immediately proceeded to address the jury. THE CORONER'S STATEMENT. Deta img tho cireum>ta.noes of the case, he asked the jury to give their carefill attention to evidence that would bo called, because it would be largely of a professional nature, and might- be a little difficult- to understand. On tho 23rd of January deceased went to see- Dr. Butt at his surgery on account of some skin irri- un iou, a-nd again visited him on the 31st. On the latter day, after her visit to the surgery, Dr. Butt wont to the Bee Hive and saw her. Sh-c was then suffering from a. skin irritation, and up to the time of her death the doctor did not fo!' a moment consider that her ailment would terminate fa-tally. On the 31st ult. he prescribed medicine for her, and this medicine contained nothing which could in any way refer to her don.th On the 2nd February be was ag-ain summoned, when deceased made no comprint of feeling in any way different from usual, although the day previously she bad been suffer- ing from a chill. He then prescribed a change of nio(I and deceased was supplied with throe battles of that medicine—the first about the 2nd of February, the second on the 6th. a.nd the third bottle on the evening before she died, All that medicine- was supplied according to one proscription. Dr. Butt continued to see deceased up to the Friday (the Gtb), and she was then recovering from the irritation. Ho advised her to keep in bed and take a rest, but he had no apprehension of any serious result of what she was suuering from. When Mr. Farmerey wont to bed about 11 50 Oill Friday night his wife complained of being very hot, and said "I feel my head beating." About 3.20 in the morning she awoke her husband and •I HAVE A TERRIBLE PAIN in mv Atoniaoh." Mr. Farmerey asked if he should fetch the doctor, and she replied. "No; give me a drop of gm and peppermint." lie did so, and s-ne went qu et. but kept twitching and asked for drinks. At 5.20 he got up and at- tended to his business, when, his wife asked hhn for a drop of brandy. This he administered, but as she went WOiSo0 lie sent for D¡'. Butt shortly after six o'clock. According to the hus- band's statement, after deceased was attended by Dr. Butt ho went i-imta;i- to shut the bed- room door, which had been left open. "I did not like the look of my wife," he said, ,'and called Dr. Butt up again, and he said, 'She is dead Dr. Butt would tell the jury that his imprecision before death was that deceased was apparently suffering from strychnine poisoning, and he sent for Dr. Hamilton. When Dr. Ham- ilton cam,.? they both examined tbe patient, and after careful examination (taking into view the great improbability of strychnine having been taken by the deceased) they came to the con- clusion that she was suffering from some ner- veils epilepsy. The doctors then went down- stairs. Dr. Hamilton leaving, and Dr. Butt re- maining ioli-ilstaii-, to write a, prescription. He bad finnhed writing this when Mr. Farmerey went upstairs to his wife's room a.nd called Dr. Butt up. The doctor went upstairs and found Mm Farmerey was dead. These were shortly the facts that had been given. As to the medi- cine supplied, lie (the coroner) would point out that the prescription given on Feb. 2 by Dr. Butt contained, among other things, tincture of nux vomica. This was an extract from the vomica nut, and contained a certain percentage of strychnine The tincture of nux vomica kept by chemists was a standard preparation, and contained one-eighth of a dram of strychnine in every drain of the tincture. This medicine was supplied in six-ounce bottles, and was labelled "To be taken one tablespoonful three times a day" This would moan tha.t each dose would oontain l-96th part of strychnine—an kifiji-itesi- mal dose. From this the jury would see there was no quantity of strychnine in the medicine prescribed that would account in any way for a person's death. The first bottle, as stated, was supplied on 2nd February, containing about twelve doses, which would I&at till about the 6111. On the 6th the battle was taken to the chemist (Mr. Carter) to be refilled. The medi- cine had thus apparently been taken in the way presoribod. On the following day tho bottle was returned for tlie addition of some other ingredi- ent; the cbemrst weighing tlie contents and putting in the additional ingredient and re- turning the medicme. The bottle then con- tained ten doses, and the chemist conside-red there were sufficient doses to last three days afterwards. The patient would therefore be ex- pected to finish the bottle some time on the Saturday night. Mr. Farmerey told them, how- ever, that on the Friday at noon he saw the bottle, and so far aa he could judge there were; two doses left. His wife told him she wanted more medicine, and another bottle was got from the chemist. He (the coroner) was sorry to say they had no evidence as to how deoeaised took tho. medicine, or when she took it, there being- no one i.n the bousso who appeared to have seen her take it. On the Saturday morning the bottle contalning the last medicine was found, and one dose had boon taken from it. The second, bottle was also found, a.nd that was empty. He d;d not know that that, oiroumstanoo bore very materially on the case, but at the same time there was the fact that she had taken the second bottle and one. dose out of tho third bottle in much quicker time than she ought- to have taken it. That might probably be accounted for by the varying capacities of the tabiespoon. Some tablespoons were larger than others, and de- o:a«ed did not. use a medicine glass. When these facts were reported to him he thought there was no other course but to order a post- mortem. This had been made by Drs. Butt a.nd Hamilton. Tlie stomach was sent to the county analyst, who found it contained from l-7th to l-10t;h of a. grain of strychnine. It would be for the jury to consider from the evidence whether that. quantity, and the probability of a further quantity having been absorbed into the system (for it wa.s the quantity absorbed into the system that killed, and not that which lay in tho stomach), was sufficient to cause death. If tliey found death was due to strychnine poisoning, they might be able also to say if there wa.s any evidence to shew how the strychnine got into the woman's syst(\o111. THE HUSBAND'S EVIDENCE. Evidence was theci called. Wm. Arthur Farmerey, the husband of the deceased, said his wife had been under the care of Dr. Butt about- a fortnight before her death. There was nothing to eattse him any anxiety as to her condition before the Friday. His wife had complained of a cold shiver, and seemed to be going into hysterics. Deceased asked him to send for-Dr. Butt, and the latter prescribed for her. On the Friday (the day before the death of his wife) he went for a third bottle of medicine for his wife. Ho bad previously seen tlie fiiEt bottle which had contained medicine in the kitchen. On Friday Mrs- Farmeroy had been up and bathed tlie boy, and witness did not think anything Wi; seriously wrong wit.h her. When he went to bod shortly before 12 o'clock his wife complained of a throbbing head. Wit- ness advised her to go to sleep, but about 3.20 x in. his wife woke Wm and complained of pains in her head and stomach. At her request wit- got lier some gin and peppermint. His wife's condition did not improve, and about five ■o'clock she complained of being thirsty. He lent for Dr. Butt, who on arrival said something jerious was the matter, and asked that Dr. Hamilton should be called in. This was dbne, and about seven o'clock, when both doctors came downstairs, Dr. Butt said in reply to wit- ness that deceased seemed to be in hysterical convu'is:oiis. While Dr. Butt was writing another prescription witness went upstairs to his wife's room., and noticing she was in a serious condition, he immediately called Dr. Butt np- stairs, but his wife wan dead. Witness did not see his wife take any of the medicine, and he -c thought she had taken the doses when alone. The Coroner: Have you noticed her to take any medicine which was not- prescribed by the dootor Y Witness: She has always been in good health, and I never took any notice of what- she took. So far as you know she has not taken any- thing except this med'cine?—No. She had no other bottles of medicine in the room on Friday evening?—No; on:y what have been taken away. By Supt. Hicks-: One night wheal his wife awoke him 'nor body was as cold as could be from her feet to her hips. She, had complained of her stomach a great deal longer than a fortnight. Mr. Giles, having informed the coroner that Mr. Farmerey, for whom lie appeared, was very anxious that titere should be a full and careful inquiry into the circumstances of his wife's death, which were- very painful to Imn, then put a few questions to witness. Mr. Giks: Your wife has been fairly healthy during all your married life?—Yes. It lias been a happy married life?—Yes. There have been two- children, one of whom 6 u rv i ves ?—Yes. You have been in the habit of going out driving with your wife and child?—Yes. Up to the time she consulted Dr. Butt latterly had you any idea she bad a constitutoaia-1 ail- ment?—No, but I did not think she had itad proper health for a considerable time-. Dr. Butt was attending her for a month before Christmas. During the time she- was under Dr. Butt's c-aie had you inquired what the character of the medicine was that he wa.s prescribing for her?—No; I asked him what .was the matter with lier when we sent for him tlie la6t. time, and he simply told me she was suffering from irritation of the skin. Replying to further questions, witness said that, during her last illness he prepared Ins wife's food, the doctor giving certain directions as to lier diet. Mr. Giles: On the Friday night she com. plained some: time before 12 o'clock. Did you notice at that time a-ny twitchinge?—No. Or when she awoke von at half-past three?— No. she complained of pains in her head a.nd stomach. Do you remember her saying anything to you then about the length of her life?—She told me several times that she did not think she would live long- On the Saturday morning, about halt-past three, she sard "I do not think I am gong to live, Will"?—Yes. Continuing, witness said during Dr. Butt's visits boo told him all he knew or bis wife s con- cjtion, mentioning her complaint about the it; pahis in her head and stomach. By tiie Foreman Witness did not think his wife kept any homeopathic medicines in the house. He received no wai'ii'»g as to the* way in which his wife should take her med-cin.es, and he did not know that she received any warning. Ernest Shufliebotham, a duly qualiifed chemist, and manager of Mr. The mas Carter s branch dispensary at Flooke-rsbrook, gave detailed evi- denc,3 as to the prescriptions he dispensed on Dr. Butt's orders for Mrs. Farmerey Ik* sonailv dispensed' all the medicine. The medi- cine supplied on the 31st January contained one- half ounce of cpsom salts, carbonate of mag- nesia two diams, and peppermint water added to six ounces. There was also an ointment for out- ward application. On the 2nd Feb. Mr. Jar- moiey brought another prescription, w-hicn con- tained three drams of carbonate of potass, tinc- ture of nux vomica one dram, spirits of chloro- form one dram. Witness described other medi- cines and ointments he dspeaiscvd for deceased. One bottle had added to the ingredients already named some solution of arsenic, and another One bottle had added to the ingredients already named some solution of arsenic, and another had sal volatile in it, The Last-named was or- dered by Dr. Butt by telephone to be added to the mixture. The doctor then -aid !\IrF. FL,. merey was complaining of pains in the stomach, and he asked witness if there- was ANYTHING IN THE PRESCRIPTION likely to cause them. Witness read the pre- scription over to the doctor, and he said it was ail right. All the doses were directed to be taken in doses of one tablespoonful three times a day in water. All the medicines had been dis- pensed correctly. There were 3 of a grain of strychnine in all the medicine that he supplied. The Coroner: No more?—Witness: No. Con- tinuing, he said that when a bottle that had previously contained medicine was returned for a further supply it was the regular custom to always thoroughly wash it before refilling. By Mr. Morgan: Even if the bottle had not- been washed there would not have been suffi- cient nux vomica left in it to injure the patient. All the labels on the bottles contained a warn- ing not to exceed the dose prescribed by the doctor, also to use proper measures. When poison was used in prescriptions, the poison was always put into the bottle last- Mr. Joseph Carter jbeil, the county analyst, deposed to analysing the stomach and its con- tents. He found about 1-IOtii of a grain of strychnine altogether. At the came time he received a six-ounce bottle containing the medi- cine decea.sed had been supplied with, and he found it contained gth of a grain of strychnine. He was also supplied with the brandy, gin and peppermint- that were found in the sick room, but neither contained strychnine. The strych- nine found in the stomach would not have caused death, but that which had been absorbed into the system. The Coroner asked what in witness' opinion was the minimum dose that would cause death. Witness replied that it varied very much, from one halt to two grains. The tincture of nux vomica was a standard preparation, con- taining about gth of a grain of strychnine to the P, dram. There were twelve doses in each of the bottles, and each dose in witness' opinion would contain about l-96th of a grain of strychnine. The whole bottle would contain about c,th of a grain of strychnine. By Mr. Giles: If deceased had begun one bottle on Wednesday and finished it on Friday, and taken one dose out of the third bottle, she would have taken 3th and 1-Sot-h of a grain of strychnine. He could not tell how it came about that he actually found in his analysis moie strychnine in the stomach than was actually contained in ail the medicine that was supplied from Wednesday. If deceased had not. shaken the bottle she would have taken a larger dose of strychnine with her last dose than at all other times By the Foreman: Witness had no idea of the quantity that had been absorbed into the system. Dr. Francis John Butt said lie treated deceased for a skin complaint on 21.,t January. On the 1st February he found deceased suffering from a chill, and prescribed for her, tlie medicine to be taken three times a day. The mixture contained one dram of nux vomica. On the first bottle being consumed a second was ordered. This treatment- was continued from the 1st February till the 7th. On the morning of the 7th the hus- band asked witness if his wife had complained of pa-ins in the stomach, and witness answered in the negative. Believing the medicine might have something to do with it, witness slightlv altered the prescription. On Friday morning', the Stii, wimees again attended Mrs. Farmerey, but there was nothing- unusual in her appear- ance. He did not see her again until the Satur- day morning (the morning of her death), when lie was summoned to the house about 6.15 a.m. An examination shewed that in witness' opinion the patient wa's suffering from spasmodic con- ditions of the muscles. Witness had A PASSING SUSPICION that deceased might be suffering from strych- nine poisoning, and with the husband's consent he called in Dr. Hamilton. In a case of strych- nine poisoning there were usually intervals of complete relaxation, but this symptom was not pre&ent in deceased's ca&e. The spasms con- tinued almost incessantly, but after a time wit- ness oame to the conclusion that his patient was suffering from a nervous fit from which she would recover. After conferring with Dr. Hamilton witness left the room and went down- stairs to write a prescription. While in the act ot uoing this he was called by Mr. Farmerey to the sick room, and 011 re-entering ho found Mrs. Farmerey dead. Dr. Hamilton was again summoned, and both of them agreed that they could not give a certificate of death. Later he and Dr. Hamilton conducted a post-mortem ex- amination, \vhich shewed that. all the organs of the, body were healthy. The appearance of the blood in the heart, liver and other organs was consistent with death from asphyxia. The Corona-; Do convulsions or fits produce the same effect? Witness replied t.hat it. depended whether the person died with a f-par.ru or from exhaustion, He should say in this case that the patient evidently died in a spasm. The glottis shut out all air and produced that condition in which the organs were found. On account of his sus- picions witness took possesion of all medicine in the room, and it had been forwarded to the analyst. When he found the woman dead he changed all his previous opinions. The Coroner: What is your opinion as to the cause of death? I Witness: My opinion is that Mrs. Farmerey DIED FROM STRYCHNINE POISONING. I Continuing, witness said the dose of strych- nine he prescribed in the medicine was one-third of the maximum dose usually prescribed by medical men. Each of the three bottles prescribed would contain about gth of a grain of strychnine, so that the whole quantity deceased took, viz., two bottles and one dose, would be only a shade over a quarter of a grain. Medical opinion shewed that strychnine was very quickly elim- inated, and in witness' opinion the quantity found in the stomach must have been taken, presumably, within twelve hours of death. The quantity found residue in the stomach had noth- ing to do with the cause of death. Strychnine killed when it got into the blood and attacked the nervous system. The Coroner: In your opinion the quantity found in the stomach could not have been ob- tained from the prescription given by you if it had been properly dispensed?—No. If death was due to strychnine poisoning it was not from the strychnine obtained in the medicine ao ordered by witness. Examined by Mr. Giles, witness said his wisest course was to send for Dr. Hamilton. There was nothing at hand that could have been administered as an antidote. He still main- tained that lie had rtcted in the wisest possible way. Strychnine poisoning was fairly rapid. Deceased was a healthy woman, and there was nothing to account for death except the strych- nine po'somng. He asked the woman three times whether she was in any pain, and she said no. Dr. Alexander George Hamilton gave evidence in confirmation of the above statements. After briefly examining the woman he came to the con- clusion that she suffering from a hysterical fit, having in view the fact that she had suffered from hysterical convulsions before. He was very much surprised when he was re-called and found the woman dead. Very few medical men came in contact with a death from strychnine poisoning, and thei: opinion on the subject was all gained from books. He COULD NOT ACCOUNT for the quantity of strychnine in the stomach. Asked his opinion as t3. i-ho cause of death, wit- ness replied "My opinion is she died of strych- nine poisoning." The Coroner: Can you account for the quan- tity in the stomach?—No. Do you 6ay it could not be accounted for by the medicine she took?—I do. Do you agree with Dr. Dutt as to the quick I elimination ?—Yes. LIVERPOOL SPECIALIST'S OPINIONS. Dr. Buchanan, residing at 6, Rodnev-street, Liverpool, lecturer on Foreneic Medicine at the Liverpool University, was next crJled, and asked if he could fern: any op nion from the symptoms described by the previous Vvitnesces. Witness replied that si, far as the evidence went the symptoms ckscribed were compatible with those of poisoning by strychnine. He could not say whether, if deceased took the amount of strychnine contained in the two bottles M one do^e that would be sufficient to cause death. He could not say that it would not have caused death, because it depended a great. deal upon the idiosyncrasy of the person. 'I It. might. take a very much less dose, to poison one person than another. He should ecy that ac- cording to the records it was not sufficient to cause death. If the death occurred through I strychnine poisoning, he was of opinion that it had not come out of tlie medicine if it- was properly made up. A person suffering from strychnine poisoning would either recover rapidly or die. If he did not die his recovery would be complete. Tins shewed that elimina- tion went on rapidly. He should think the strychnine which caused the woman's death must- have been taken a short time before she died. The Coroner: Can you put any limit on the time? Witness: I cannot, Cont inning, witness said it was quite possible that any doctor might have been mistaken with regard to the symptoms. He had never seen a person die of strychnine poisoning. He con- firmed the opinion of Dr. Butt and Dr. Hamilton that deceased died of strychnine poisoning. At present there wag no evidence to account for the presence of strychnine in the stomach. Dr. Butt (re-called) said he wished to explain that he had no knowledge of what the woman was suffering from. When he treated the patient he came to a conclusion which turned out afterwards to be wrong. He still thought he did the best under the circumstances by calling in Dr. Hamilton. The woman was only taking a medicinal close, and not such a one as would cause the symptoms from whicJi she died. Witness added that Mr. Farmerey had shewn the greatest solicitude towards his wife, and every attention was paid to her by him. They appeared to live very happily. This completed the evidence. The Coroner, in summing up, pointed out it was clear from the medical evidence that there could be only one cause of death—strychnine poisoning. In cases of this kind, although the evidence was of a somewhat technical nature, the jury were bound to accept the evdence given, unless there was good reason to believe otherwise. What- ever conclusion the jury came to, they were bound to say deceased died from strychnine poisoning. It seemed impossible to ascertain how the strychnine came to be in the stomach after death. According to the prescription given by Dr. Butt, it appeared that if deceased had taken in one dose the whole quantity of medicine supplied to her between 1st February and the date of her death it would not have been sufficient to cause death. It was perfectly im- possible that the whole amount prescribed could have been taken in those circumstances. They had NO SUSPICION OF FOUL PLAY, and if they found that deceased died of strych- nine poisoning he thought they were bound to come to the conclusion there was no evidence to shew how she contracted the poisoning. The jury, having considered their verdict in private, came unanimously to the conclusion that death was caused by strychnine poisoning, but that there was no evidence to shew how the poisoning was contracted.

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