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INQUEST AT NOARLUNGA.
An inquest was held at the Jolly Miller Inn,
Noarlunga, by Mr. R. Budgen, J.P., on the
body of Dr. R. Smales. A Jury of 14 having
been empannelled, Mr. Holmes was chosen
Foreman, and the following evidence was
taken:—
Thomas Dungey, publican,deposed—I know the
deceased. Saw him last alive last night between
5 and 6 o'clock. Thought him more low
spirited than usual. He was quite sober, and
asked me to do some rolling for him before I took
my roller to Hackham. He bad two glasses of ale,
but had not been in my house before for a
fortnight.
Alice Pedler said—I am housekei per to the
late Dr. Smales. He roused me about 20
minutes to 2 o'clock this morning, and told me
he had taken a dose that would settle him,
but would not tell me what he had taken. He
said, " I shall be dead before daylight; I know
it is a great sin, but I hope the Lord
will have mercy on me." I went and called
Mr. Cox. When I returned he was almost
dead. From the time he called me till
he died was about three quarters of
an hour. He would not say what he had
taken for fear I should tell. He said " I shall
soon die; if you can't stand here go away and
come back again directly." I went back in a few
minutes, and he was then unable to sit up. He
asked for a drink of water, but was unable to
swallow it. When he first called me be sat up,
drank the water, and laid down again. When I
first went into the room he said, " Mrs. Pedler,
I am going to die out of the misery that is coming
on me. I wish you good-bye; send Rebecca in
and give her my Bible." By Dr. Maurau—After
he called me I believe he was quite sensible
up to the time of his death. He was in great
pain, and breathed hard and called out. I did
not see him in convulsions. He lifted his arms
and threw them down. Forthe last two or
three weeks I have noticed he seemed much cast
down and concerned. He has eaten scarcely
any food for the last fortnight and been drinking,
but not excessively, and appeared to be very
weak. I believe he was very poor. He has
made frequent applications for assistance from
friends in England. Believe he was refused.
He said a week or two past (since
the mail came) that if he did not get
assistance from home, he believed he should
go cranky, and that he would rather be dead
than in such misery. He has several times
knocked me up, and told me he has taken a
dose, but that dose has always been laudanum.
He told me it quieted him. It seemed to do
so. He had no laudanum in the place for two
or three days. I did not think anything was
the matter when he told me he had taken a dose.
I noticed a pill slab produced. He had been
making something up on it. By a Juryman—
On going to bed he appeared east down
and stupified, the same as he has
been for the last two or three weeks.
I do not think he slept at all. The globe and
chimney of the lamp were very hot when I took
them off to light it. By the Jury—He was not
sober when he came home, and yet I cannot say
he was drunk. He drank two glasses of ale
after he was in bed. When he called for me
he said it was no use to send for any one as they
could do him no good. I heard no noise in the
house before he called me. .
Henry Cox stated—This morning I was called
by the la-t witness at about a quarter to 2
o'clock. He said "Come with me and see
the Doctor, I think he is dying, he
has taken some poison." I said if he
has taken anything of that sort I am
not going by myself. I called Mr. Candy, and
he went with me. When I got there he was
shaking his hands. He endeavoured to speak,
but could not, and then laid down and died
quietly. The last time I saw him alive was
yesterday morning about mail time. Witness
then corroborated the evidence of last witness
as to deceased's appearance. By the Jury—He
appeared more temperate lately. I' think he
recognised me this morning.
W. G. Candy corroborated the evidence of the
last witness.
Thonas Farrell, police-trooper, said—At a
quarter to 4 o'clock this morning 1 received inlormation
that Dr. Smales had committed
suicide by taking poison. I enquired of the
messenger if the doctor was quite dead, and he
said yes. Shortly after 8 I was at the deceased's^
residence. The body was lying on a bed in a*
natural position, with tbeexceptiod of the hands
which were very much contracted. I uncovered
the body, but saw no marks of violence. I made
a careful search in the room, but could find no
papers that would any light upon the cause of
death. In his trousers I found Is. and a pair of
spectacles. On the table in the room I found
the pill slab (produced), upon it I found the
portion of powder (produced), also another
powder (produced). A knife was lying between
the powders, with a portion of the brown
powder adherring to it. In searching among
the drugs in the surgery where the body
was lying, I found the bottle labelled
strychnine." I identify the body as that of the
late Dr. Smales. By Dr. Maurau—The pillslab
looked as if it had been recently used.
There was a tumbler of water standing beside it
rather discoloured, which I account for by its
coming off a paling roof.
L. J. Maurau, M.R.C.S., deposed—I have
known the late Dr. Smales for the last six or
seven years. Saw him last to speak to two or
three months ago. I was summoned at halfpast
5 this morning, but hearing that
be was dead did not go til after
breakfast, I made an external examination of
the body. There are no marks of violence on
it. It is in a state of tetanic spasm, as if the
doctor had died from the effects of strychnine.
I have seen the pill-slab and powders, and
tested the so-called brown powder, and find it
liquorice-powder. I believe the white powder
to he crystals of strychnine, partially crushed.
I dare not taste them, and have no means of
analysing them. There is no doubt in
my mind that the doctor died from
the effects of strychnine, being in crystal
and mixed up with iiquorice powder it would be
longer in acting, but would be hastened by the
water he drank. As far back as last winter I
knew the deceased was in pecuniary difficulties.
He spoke to me on one occasion that he would
be compelled to go to the Destitute Asylum. I
assisted him then, and he was further assisted
by a gentleman in Adelaide, an acquaintance of
his relatives. He was well connected in London,
and complained bitterly of his not being assisted
by them. I found on his shelves perhaps
two drachms of powdered opium, and think
it strange if he deliberately meant suicide,
he did not use that in preference to stiychinine,
which he must have known to be the most
painful death of any.
The Jury returned the following verdict:—
"That the deceased, Dr. Richard Smales. came
to his death by a dose of strychinine administered
by his own hand. The Jury cannot
aeree as to the state ef the deceasee's mind at
the time of the act."
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