The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1860-07-24 00:00:00

Doroctsbire.

ADJOURNED INQUEST ON THE BODY OF
MR. DODSON.

The adjourned inquiry into the death of the late
phitip Dodson was resumed on Wednesday last,
a$ the Whine Hart len, before If. Lock, Erg., deputy
ner. A considerable number of persona were pre-
Kith to listen to the proceedings, which evidently ex•
aised the greatest possible intense The court haivng
been opened in the usual manner,
The Cur ner said that on the evening of the 10th July
e inquest was adjourned till that slay, for the purpose
ail; having the contents of the stomach of deceased an.-
by Mr. Redwood. analytical chemist to the Phar•
niaceutical society, Mr. Griffin feeling that he would
refer that ; he not having sufficient confidence iii
to perform the process. Dr. Redwood had
node the analysis, and he was. present to-day to tell
thrm the result of the tests to which the substance had
1,0 put.
superintendent Lislisury said: I received the contents
of the stomach of the deceased on the evening of Tue.-
hat, sealed up, and kept it in lily possession till I
delivered it up on Wednesday, the 11th Mat.. in the
maa, date as I received it, at the office of the Plianna-
,..otical Society, No. 17, Bloomsbury -square, London. I
—I
have inquirea of all the chemists in the town, but the
selv thing I can trace is —Mr.Rerling states that he sold
Mr Do.bon some arscuic about 4 years ago to kill a dog
with.
Theophilos Ile 'wood said : I am a P.D. and pmfessor
of chemistry to the Pharmaceutical Society, London. On
Weines,lay, the 11th inst., I received the contents of a
stomach in a white earthen jar, tied over with a bladder
da,i,a,aled. On opening the jar, lat once perceived a
faint smell of prouic acid, which determined me as to
the course of examination which should be made. A
aa,aii portion of the stomach was put into a retort with
donned water, and about 20 or 30 drops distilled over
into , rectiver. A portion of this was put into • watch
glass, and to it a few drops of solution of nitrate of silver
added. .1, white precipitate was formed. The solution
WV{ then transferred to a test-tube, and • few
grops of strong nitric-acid added, —then heated over
the flame of a lamp, when the solution of the pricipitate
/..,b place. The prpitate was cyanide of silver. A
further portion of the liquid which had been distilled
sas put into another glass, and to it sea put a solution
J mink pot-a,ll, idol to it a solution of sulphate of
iron, and two or three drops of hydochlone acid were
1d,1,4 A preeipitatc of I russian blue now appeared,
awing the precruce sif prussic acid in the solution.
T.,. further portion of the original solution a few drops
ol sulphate of ' were added. The solution was
bond over a water-buth till it became milky, and •
drop of chloride of iron aside], when an intense blood-
ied colour was produced, proving again the
weaence pruuic acid in the originally distilled
liquor. These results were considered to prove con-
clusively the presence of prussic acid in the substance
under examination. Taken together, they leave no poop
obit doubt as to the presence of prussic acid. The only
renainii4 question is, as to the state the prussic acid
may have been in when taken. As found by me it was
certainly in the free or uncombined state, but it is diffi-
cult to say it was in that state when taken. It might
base been in a state of ootubination, and the free acid
el the stomach may have set it free. These tests are
absolutely conclusive. The nitrate of silver less than
the other, but the other two are absolutely conclusive.
The quantity of prussic acid I found led use to the con-
slusion that it must have been the cause of death.
pousic acid is a very volatile poison. We should not
expect to find all the acid that was taken. Had
the stomach itself been analyzed sonic portion
might have been found in the stomach. Here was an
appreciable quantity, sine as touch as is usually found when
analysis is nude under !similar circumatancea. It was
more than a mere accideutal quantity. The quantity
c. he adaniuistered by • medical man to be taken would
te 6or 8 drupe. A drachm would be sufficient to cause
death ; hut there are some discrepancies as to the exact
quantity which would cause death. To the blood-red
odoureil solution caused by the silver solution, two or
three stoma of corrosive sublimate were added, which
destroyed the colour, proving again the presence of
prussic • id. I examined the stomach fur metallic sub-
stances, especially for arsenic, but found none.
Ilsdrosianie or prussic acid, in its pure state is a colourless
liquid; under the ordinary conditions of our atinoepliere
eta-elitist!' volatile, and having a strong odour, some-
what rewinhling bitter almonds. This, when combined,
sty for instance, with potash, would form a solid salt, would
use all its odour, cease to be volatile, and would become
aged. In this state it is used for photography and
ether purposes. It would still be a powerful poison even
in this state ; mud if this cyanide of potassium came into
contact with the touristic acid contained in the stomach,
it would become decompoud, told the prussic acid would
be set free. There is a cyanide of potassium used in
medicine which is crystalized, but not resembling salts. ,
The revolt of a full dose of sorusisic acid is to deprive a
p non immediately of !sensibility or voluntary emotion ;
hut there is • case recorded where death slid not take
phce till 4i minutes. In the case of animals poisoned
I.c prtio,ic send, death generally takes plaoe in 5 Of 10
minutes. There is usually a spasmodic shriek before
death takes place
. . .

By the Piry Supposing some cyanide of potassium
bad been put in the mouth and washed down with water,
nosh! the tebts have been the same ? Witness: No
doubt th. y would It would not be impositible for
cystn.le of potsmiunt being placed in some subatomic in
.altenut quantity, without the person eating or drink-
ing the oibtanee being COIIIiCiOUS of it.
Tie Ironer: Do you think a person could take cya-
nide of potassium in water or brandy down stairs and
r.. im sod undress nod get into bed before its eaking
effect!

WUne.g: I very much doubt it. I never heard of
such a ease. I have limird of a person taking
oil ,4 later al ds up stain, and coming
down stain before death occurred, but I queation in
sudi a case what you ask could have been done.
Hy Mr. Howard : I did not find sufficient in the
munch to cause death • but that would have been ac-
counted for so I have already stated. I can form some
idea of the quantity taken, from experiments I have
wale where fatal effects have been produced by prussic
etio in aniuials.
_ _

By Mr. Lundie: Two grains of pure cyanide of potas-
Wsui would be sufficient to cause death, but the cyanide
generally is often greatly aduliersted. Perhaps sor 6
Mins, or about as much as would Ile on a hl.-piece
mold be sufficient to cause death, if that which is
ordinarily used in photography were taken.
Hy Mr. Banter : The blood united with the froth at
the mouth wax ifloat likely caused by the biting of the
towns. In the case of annuals the teeth often become
riga
Ily Mr. Howard: One of the effects of prussic acid is
to rause fluidity of blood after death. I ant not a medi-
cal man, and I cannot say whether any internal disease
"would produce such a state in the stomach as was found
in the deceased. I believe the fluidity of
the blood applies to the heart as well
as other portions of the body. It would not be difficult
for • person to mistake cyanide of potassium, and drink
it off for other saline Nutotances.
Hy Mr. Baxter lam not in a position to state
whether the spasmodic appearance after death differs
whether the prussic acid were taken in • simple or corn-
bined state.

Mr. Baxter said the jury had not an opportunity of
viewing the body previous to a post.mortent CXAIIIIIII.
tioll having been made. What would lie the effect on
the body of a person being poisoned by prussic acid?
Witness There would be first rigidity, then flacci-
dity, and then ngidity again.
Ity Mr. Howard : The immediate effects upon ani•
mats I find from my own experiments are exceedingly
various. In aouio the poison armee' death 111 five
minutes ; in others ten.
Frederick Charles Griffin: I am a B.A. of Oxford. I
produce a bottle, being a portion of the chamber utensil
in the bedroinu of the late Mr. Dodson. I brought it
awl, and saw it filtered. I added a solution of
aautic potash, and added to it a solution of sulphate of
iron, diluted with hydrochloric acid, and the
effect was a bright green cohnir. After allow-
ing it to stand a little while a deep blue precipitate
was formed, leaving a liquid of • bright yellow. The
blue precipitate is prinsian blue. I should imagine,
Iris the quantity I examined, that supposing the
whole contents in the chamber utensil were equally dif-
fused, there would be originally 20 vain+, if it were
cyanide of potassium. One third the amount of prussic
acid would be equal to this quantity of cyanide of potas-
sium. This witness then detailed other experiniente
•hich were similar to those made by Mr. Redwood.
When the body was opened I observed a peculiar smell,
which produced • feeling of oppression in the cheat, and
giddiness. I was not certain it was the odour of prussic
acal at the time. I obrierved a small glass stream jug
standing on the wash-hand-stand. !think it would hold
os:at half au ounce.
. _

Mr. Griffin, &lir. aid; He washed out the jug and
lulled no poison in it.
Origin Jan.. said : Ho could distinguish an odour
creilsr to what he had experienced before. The
ckeuber utensil in which the poison was found
,ssii Not within reach of a person lying in
the bed.

u 1 Hr. Howard: It wan about three
o'clock when I discovered the liquid in the
clisinber utensil. The jug was quite empty. I did not
°lssuer any ornaments on the mantel piece.
Ur. I:riflin, &Dr., was re-examined. After his for-
mes evidence had been read over, he said: (hi my first
r4nx the room of the deceased, between 7 and It
4•. clock in the morning, I examined a chamber utensil,
was unil-r the bed of the deceased. It was nearly
f4ll of fluid, and was within reach of the deccaseil.
4 hi the surface of the fluid was floating a piece of paper,
lj inch square, and on it were remains of
'‘'.ll and minute particles of hair, evidently
owing it was the paper on which the deceased
ad wiped his razor. There was also • large expectora-
-400, as if a person hail coughed, and spat in the utensil,
4,4 I Os.- • • strong odour of prussic acid I
•• from almond soap, which de-
After the pod-murk= examii
ined the chamber utensil, and
A, with the intention of bringing
At the bottom of the utensil 1 dis-
ly of saline matter. Going down
man there, I have found out the
There is plenty remaining
' and she suid "that was
put in the utensil." She said
to bring up some salt to place on
up some and was told that would
• salt which she took up ; it was
anted, and she then threw that
is in the chamber utensil, and went
cup was along way from the bed,
•ut, and found nothing in it. I
and put the conteuta in
'---ssf it and found it contained
...ion which I saw in the
evidently the last act the
hash was quite empty, and if
by mistake he might have
ch. But for the biting of the
supposed the deceased died a

- • use (Amerced
probably are
clued had shaved wit
ti'ot"lt; I again etas
'ttled off its coutem
tq the last inquest.
large (iusw
'tun( I semi to the '
oude 4 death.
A, the chamber
"It which she had h,
the' she wee ordered
tie body. She took
tc do; it was cow'
"nl salt that was
,
she first took ui
more. The glass
`ell he washed it ot
!edits! out the jug
e.ck Louie amd
iTthtek. Tie ex
`fueber utensil er
ellumed did. The
bed taken WMc
t. 40.0 it off his
'Vie I should I
44Wrel death.
'Jr. Redwood re-
.iutoot llanide
diseerniu
j.j,,
.4te Row augd
L''rebest.r. r
1411 Years'

a now,

:lamined

uafltit

wuiliati

hersilf

COILII.O

wanted,

analysed

cpect<;rstiun

btomach

!umething

stoulith.

Lave—

ismined : A person could not take
1 potassium equal to • dose of ealia
Ise difference.
I am a corn merchant residing
deceased was an old friend of mine
- I have observed for the past

Maadiag.

six months that be was fast failing, and I have repeat-
edly hail converrations with hint on the subjeet. He
has complained of violent pains in the head and sinking
of the stomach. Since this melancholy circumstance
has taken place • circumstance has. occurred
to toy recollection. He came to my office sonic five or
six months ago looking exceedingly low and dejected.
He said that one evening after his men had left the
yard and he was alone in the office, he was taken with a
fit of sickness, but I forget whether or not he said that
he fell against the desk. He said he became very touch
alarmed, being alone, fdating be might not be able to
make any one hear and not be able to reach I . I
frequently urged him to draw his business within a
smaller e pains, an he felt that it was becoming
too much for him, and he had no family
to provide for. The teat tune I saw him was on June
25th at his office. Ile Ittoked exceedingly ill, and I was
touch struck with his appearance. Ile sem.' to he
labouring under great dejection of spirits. He said he
was going to Southampton. We walked down stain.
together. I turned to go to St. Thomas-street, but we
rent by the backwater to time school he was building
for Mr. Greaves. I parted with him at the corner near
his house. Thinking a great deal of the state I found
him in, tuy mind has not been free from it since, and
intended next time to speak to him seriously on the
subject, bat I have never seen hint mince.
Sarah Dunn re-costumed . I know the glass jug now
produced. It was Penally kept in Mr. Dodson's sitting
room. I believe I saw it last, during his life, on the
nionting of the 9th instant. I SIM IL again the next
morning in the bed-room shortly after I opened the
door of the betbriaint and found Mr. lksbou in bed.
I did not look into it. T. no( last woran to Mi.
Dodson on M lay evening, the 9th, respecting his
breakfast •nd his health. lie replitsl as usual, "Sarah, get
what you like." I cleared the table and took away the
water and everything else. Ido not think the deceased
shaved the night before. The slops were not emptied
that day.

The Coroner said that he had directed the sergeant of
police to maks a further examination of the room, but
nothing had resulted in the search.
Sarah Dunn, re-examined by Mr. Howard, said: Mr.
Dodson had a gold watch which belonged to Mrs.
Dodson, and which he gave to Inc re than 12 this
ago for waiting on Mrs. Dodson. The watch which Mr.
Dodson wort was going on Tuesday morning.
By the Coroner : I was in the bed-room about 9
o'clock on Monday night to pull the blunts down.
At this stage of the proceedings the jury adjourned
for an hour.

On the reassembling of the jurv, Mr. Howard ad-
dreased them at considerable length. He said that lie
appeared, there on behalf of Mr. Thomas Dodson, the
nearest relative, who, no doubt, by the position he held
in the town, had created agaiost himself much bitter
and rancorous feeling, as well as securing many warm-
hearted and zealous friends. But they had that day to
Forget all his sisal and bad qualities, and to confine them-
selves atrictly to the evidence before them. It wasevident,
according to the evidence that had been given, that the
jury could return hut one of three verdicts—viz., that
the deceased destroyed himself while in a sound state
of mind, which would be felo-de.st, temporary insanity,
or that he bad taken the poison by mistake, which
would be accidental death. With regard to the first,
named verdict lie thought that could be disposed of in
a very few words. piers was not • tittle of evidence
for them to come to such a supposition, mid •Ithougt
he knew such verdicts were sometimes given, he held
that it was utterly impossible for any man to be in a
right state if mind to destroy his life. It hail
been rumoured that the deceased was involved in pecu-
niary difficulties as being a cause for committing
the rash act, but he held in his hand • private letter
from Mr. Burden to Mr. W. C. Wdliains, from which
it was quite evident that such rumour was uttterly
devoid of foundation, but that the deceased was in more
easy circumstances with regard to money matters than
he bad been for several ytuars past. Then came the
other two questions, was it temporary icsanity or sect.
dental death, and he held that the last of these was
highly probable. There was no evidence that the
Jemmied had ever purchased prussin acid in any of is
combinations, although every inquiry had been
made both here and at Dorchester. Tl.e
probability was, that whatever was taken, had been
taken in mistake, and that the deceased had tried to
bring it off Ids stoutach. Evidently but a small quantity
hail been taken, the rest had been thrown into the
chamber utensil, probably on discovering that there had
been some mistake; or, had it been taken intentionally,
why was not the whole, or at all events, a iiineli larger
portion taken. He trusted the jury would take the
same view of the ease as he did—that the probubilties
were, the substance was taken accidentally, or by mis-
take ; but in the event of their thinking differently,
then that the diseased state if deceased's brain waa
sufficient to account for temporary insanity.
The fuller/Mg are • few extracts from the letter
referred to by Mr. Howard :

"July 13, 1860. Newcastle.
"Mr. W. C. Williams,—
I am in receipt to-dayof a Wey-
mouth paper, with the inquest. ke., on Mr. Dodson,
from which I presume I must thank you. The reading
of that paper has lightened my I very much. I see
in the surgeon's evidence, and that of others, quite
sufficient to account for death, from several causes.—The
state of the lo•ain would account for death, but not the
congested state of the 41,111111.11. but Mr. liodaon bad
suffered much from Imils, which he wrote to on: Abut
Now, there is no reason why these things should not
attack the internal parts as well as external -Hies. •
• • • • • •
Any difficultiex in business were nothing to those he had
gone through for the last eight or nine veers. Ile was
nut the man to give up for a trifle, II lie had been in
great difficulties, he would have been sure to have
named it to me. • • •
I know that money matters were going very well with
him, he having got settled to a large extent with the
railroad. His mind was easy on that subject, and there
was nothing before him to frighten I.
" W. W. BURDICN."
The Coroner, in summing up, referred to the painful
nature of the inquiry,and the welbltuown position of the
deceased. In referring to the three verdict* they might
return, he observed they would have no difficulty in
deciding as to the cause of death. He then pointed out
the circumstances which would warrant • verdict of
feb,.de.w, which he maid was not usual, but the jury
might be satisfied with a slight amount of evidence to
enable them to bring in a verdict of temporary insanity,
and alluded to the probabilities that such was the
state of deceased's mind. He concluded by referring to
I the it...teamed.' political position, which might have made
I both friends and enemies, and reminded the jury that
by their oath they were to show no favour or affection
on the one hand, nor of ill will or malice on the other.
The jury returned the following verdict :—" That
the late Philip Dodson came to his death from the
effect of prussic acid, or some preparation of prussic
acid, and that when he took the same he was labour-
ing under the nanenee of temporary insanity."

SOCIETY FOR Tile PRoPAGATION OF TUE GOSPILL
IN FOREIGN Pmers.—On Sunday last sermons in
aid of this society were preached at Trinity Church,
in the morning by the Rev. H. C. Hustable, late
principal of the Sawyerpooram mission, Southern
India, and in the evening by the Rev. A. O. Morris,
B. A. On Monday public meetings were held, morn.
ing and evening, when the chair was taken by the
Earl Nelson, and interesting addresses delivered on
the progress of the panel in India, Africa, and other
Colonial ions of the British Empire, by the
Ven. Arc deacon Mackenzie, of the Central African
Mission, the Rev. H. C. Hu:table, and other gentle-
men. The meetings were largely attended by fashion.
able audiences, and the amount realized in aid of the
tuisgion fund amounted to £34 Its. 30.
Tile YAcIITINO REGATTAS.— The Royal Yacht
Squadron confluence their annual meetings at Cowes
on Tuesday, the 31st init., on which day the Prince
Consort's cup will be competed for by cutters belong.
ing to the Royal Yacht Squadron over 50 tons ;
time race, Acker's scale. IVedneaday, August I,
the Ito:. al Yacht Squadron annual dinner. -Thurs.
day, August 2, Her Majesty's Cup, for schooners of
the Royal Yacht Squadron above MI tons; time
race, half • minute per ton. Friday, August 3, tho
Royal Yacht Squadron annual ball. The Royal
Yacht Siituulron prize of .ClOO, open to yachta daily
squadron, to be sailed for on a day to be named
during the regatta. The Royal Victoria Yacht Club
commence operations on Tuesday, August 7. with a
prize, value k5O, open to small yachts belonging to
any Royal Yacht Club, decked veuels of any rig or
class, not over 60 feet in length on or below the
waterline. Second vessel, £lO. A graduated time
race, about one minnte per foot. Wednesday,
August S, the annual dinner. Thursday. August 9,
a prize, value £5O, open to all cutters belonging to
the Royal Victoria Yacht Club ; time race, half
Acker's scale ; A:10 for the second vessel. Same
day a prize of £5O, open to all schooners belonging
to the Royal Victoria Yacht Club ; £lO fur the
second vessel ; time race, half Acker's scale.
Friday. August 10, the Royal Victoria Yacht Club
annual ball.

1