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EXTRAORDINARY SUICIDE OF
AN AFGHAN STUDENT.
Dr. Danford Thomas held a lengthened
enquiry on October 20 at the Sfc. Giles's
Coroner's Court into tho circumstances at
tending the death of Mahomet Ismael Khan,
M.K,U.S. and M.±t.U.r., an Afghan student,
whose age was supposed to be twenty seven.
Alfred Charles Seeden, a dealer in stocks and
fihares, residing at Montagu-place, stated
that the deceased, who occupied apartments
in his house, had studied medicine in the
University College^ and in June last suc
ceeded in gaming his qualification as surgeon
and physician. He was a well-behaved,
quiet man, but had been greatly disappointed
in obtaining an appointment. He was very
reserved as to private matters, but witness
had an opinion of his own with regard to his
Eecuniary affairs. The other evening when
e came home he seemed rather excited, but
nothing occurred until the following morn
ing, when the housemaid came to him at a
quarter-past D and said something had hap ?
pened to Mr. Khan. He immediately went
upstairs and found the deceased in bed with
his hand across his body, quite dead. On &
chair at the side of tho bed there [were three
small blue bottles, all of which were labelled
' Poison.' The stoppers were out of each,
and they were empty, with the exception of
one which contained a small quantity of
prussic acid. A tumbler was lying on its
ride and a wineglass was standing up, also oa
the chair. On the toilet table there were
two letters, one addressed to witness and the
other to the Coroner, which witness bid.
taken to the office on the previous day. In
answer to the Coroner, witness said that on
more than one occasion he had heard tho
deceased say a man had a right to take away
his own life, and lie should never mind doing
so. He had also expressed an opinion that
poison should be used as a means of puttiaR
murderers out of the world. When he found
deceased he called Dr. DeSouza, another
lodger, who when he saw him stated that
death had occurred several hours. The
Coroner said the letter which had been sent
him by the deceased was a very lengthy one,
covering four sheets of paper, closely written.
He would read extracts from it to show thnt
the deceased had thoroughly argued tho
matter in his mind for a considerable time.
The letter, which was addressed from
Montagu - place, was commenced some
days before. He left his things to Mr. and
Mrs. Seeden for their kindness to him, and
after death he wished the University Hos
pital to have his body for dissecting purposes,
and afterwards his skeleton to be placed itt
the museum of the College as the ' Afghan
Skeleton.' The letter went on to say :— ' I
have of my own free will committeed this
act by taking a large dose of prussic acid.
At the age of thirteen I was prepared for
this, and again at twenty-one I intended
blowing my Drains out for a real grievance,
but was prevented by the sagacity of a lady.
I am born of a noble family, and might have
been a ruler some day in my own country,
but I would not be dependent on friends.
After having doubly qualified myself I deter
mined to remain in this country, and applied
for numerous posts, but could not obtain
them owing to my name and colour. I adver
tised in the Lancet, but directly my
name and nationality were known I
was refused, except in one case, when
a dishonourable quack at Middle
borough engaged me to prescribe
for his patients out of six coloured bottles,
and sign death certificates forpeople I had
never seen. I have applied to Earl Granyille
for a public appointment, but never received
any answer to my letter. I have' tpent
£1,500 in acquiring my knowledge, and nave
no money left to start in practice. I cannot
ask my mother for money she may want her
self, and I have none left to pay my lodgings.
I shall take all the bottles, although the con
tents of one will be sufficient, so that there
shall be no mistake. I slept well last night,
but not so well as I shall sleep to-night. I
shall take the poison at 3 a.m. I had a good
dinner yesterday, but not too much, as that
would spoil the post mortem.' The Coroner
said he had only read tbe part3 of the letter
which had any bearing on the ca3e. The
other parts consisted of deceased's theories
upon suicide, quoting philosophers who en
tertained the opinion that to commit suicide
was a Bane act. Mr. De Souza, a native of
Bombay, stated that he lived at Mon
tagu-place, and had known the deceased for
about three months. He always seemed very
reserved, but he had noticed at times he was
very excitable. He had uo doubt whatever
that death had resulted from prusaic acid
poisoning. A Juror stated that he Iiad known
deceased attend Bloomsbnry Chapel with a
lady of colour some time since. Did Mr.
Seeden know if it was hia wife, or if not,
some relation ? Mr. Seeden Baid he had not
heard of his having^ a lady acquaintance of
that description. He had lived with witness
five years as a single man. The Coroner said
there was no doubt that continued dtesap
pointments had caused deceased to become
[n a desponding state. There was no direct
insanity in the matter, as the whole tenor of
his letter showed his sanity. The Jury then
returned their verdict that the deceased
committed suicide while suffering from
mental depression produced by his continued
disappointments in life.
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