The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-07-29 00:00:00

iggk -1-13.11FIAM MYSTERY."

Oft-Monday-Mtlaj..—theiney-engsgea thin . _
meanp by which the late Mr. Charles Delauney Tiiiner Bravo
camel by his death re-serembled at the " Bedlord Hotel,"
Balham, before .air. Carter, the Coroner, with Mr. Barleigh
Muirlas legal assessor. This was the tenth day. ot the sit-
tings,. and the first evidence taken was that of Dr. Payne,
regarding too post-mortem of deceased. This evidence had
been delayed in consequence of Dr. Payne being absent in
Edinburgh at the time the medical evidence was taken
Mr. Gore, Q.C., and' Mr. Poland appeared on behalf of
the Crown -, Eiir Henry James, Q.C., and Mr. Biron appeared
for
a
re.' Charles 'Bravo, the widow of the deceased; Mr.
Mur y, Q 0., and Mr. Bray for Mrs. Cox; Mr. Sergeant
Parr., and Mr. Archibald Smith appeared for Dr. Gully; and
Mr. George Lewis, jun. watched the case fur Mr. Joseph
Brawl, the stepiather of the deceased, and for the retaiians
of the deceased.—We take the following account of the pro-
c,eediirgs from The Tinier : .
' - Joseph - Frank Paytie,! of 8, Saville-row, Fellow of the
Royal College of !Physicians, examined by the Coroner,
deposed: I knew the deceased Mr. Bravo slightly. I .bad
seen hini in life a feet times. I did not see him during •liie -.
last illness. I was asked by Mr. Royes Bell to make a post='
mortem exanieation of the body of deceased, and I niadtft
this on the 22nd of April. There were present De. G. Jobs?.':
son, Mr. Royes Bell, Dr, Moore, and Mr. Harrison. The
body. was well maim ° and muscular, and perfectly well
nourished. There was no external wound or braise, or
other injury. On opening the body I found that the lungs
Were healthy, except that they contained a large quantity of
liquid blood, and I tonna that the air passages contained
blood-stained fluid, owing to the transmutation after death.
The heart was of moderate size, the substance soft, the
valves naturaL Both sides contained dark-coloured blood,
chiefly liquid. In regard to the abdominal organs, the
stomash contained liquicrmatter and gas. The wa,ls of the
stomach were natural, except that the mucus membrane was
softened, pale, and of a yellowish colour.
The witness, who was reading his evidence, was here asked
by Sir Henry James as to whether he was reading his original
note.. The reply was that the notes were ex-vended in a re-
port to a medical j )urnal, and after handing his original
notes t 3 his questioner,
The witness proceeded :—There was no appearance of in-
flammation, congestion, or ulceration in the stomach. The
ttomach contained about Boz. of thick gruel-tike matter of a
yellowish colour, this containing small solid lumps, and had
the odour of alcoholic fermemation. The acrophagus (the
gullet) was natural, and contained some of the like matter
which the stomach contained. The first portion of the
bowels was very soft, being torn in tying It; but in sub-
sequant axaminatlan it showed no perforation or ulceration.
The surfece-was pate and yellowish, like that tif the stomach.
The w.r,ole of the small intestines was like this, except the
lower part, where there were some red spots. This part of
the .bowels contained yellow, "pasty matter," without any
admixture of blood. The large intestine at its commence-
ment was of deep red colour, and contained clots of
bkicid:— Sebsequent examination showed in a portion
called, the cce.mm several email ulcers from which the
bleeding had evidently arisen; but there was no perfora-
tion. The remainder of the large intestine was very deeply
blood stained, but without ulceration. The contents of the
taiga intestine were of a red material, composed of fecal
matter mixed with blood, The liver and spesen were
natural, as were also the pancreas, kidneys, and other
abdominal organs. There was no appearance of hernia or
rupture. On opening the head the skull aid the membranes
of the brain were found quite natural, containing only the
usual ameunt of blood. The brain substance was also
natural, and contained DO excessive amount either of blood
or of watery fluid. lhe mouth and lips were natural, except
that the pupil es at the back of the tongue was somewhat
more prominent than usual. There was no other appearance
of diseate in the body, except whet has been noticed.
lhe Coroner: Was there any natural cause for death
shown in your examination of the body?
Witness,: There was no indication (at any natural disease
Which could have caused death. The appearances described
might have been produced by some irritant poison ; but it
would not have been possible to say from these appearances
alone what that poison was. I placed the contents of the
stomach and intestines in a jar, which was sealed in the
pretence of Mx. Reyes Belt lam not quite sure whether any
et the other . doctors were there then. I also placed in
another jar the various portions of the digestive organs and
other parts, and in a small bottle I placed a special portion of
material from the bowels. These jars were sealed at the
same time as the others. On the same day I took to Pro-
fessor Redwood's in Bloomsbury-square, the first-mentioned
jar and the small botrle, and delivered them to Professor
Redwood's assistant. Some days afterwards, I am not
sure of the day, I also took to Protestor Redwood the other
jar.
Questioned by Sir Henry James, the witness said: I
have made a large number of post mortem examinations, hut
I have only seen a few cases where death has arisen from
irritant poisons; I have...only seen about four or five deaths
setting from mineral poisons I have a special knowledge
of chemistry from having held the position in regard to the
teaching of chemistry at Oxford. As to the quantity of
poison which had canted death in this case I cannot say
the amount which caused the death except as speaking of
a special poison. Assuming that antimony caused death it
must have been a very large dose—much larger than a
quantity given as medicine I should say that about 20 to
10 :erains had been given in this case. The appearance of
tnq stomach would show, I think, that the quantity must
have been large, but greatly (Wilted. In estimating the
quantity taken, I have assumed that a quantity has passed
away in vomit, and otherwise. Under some circumstances, .
vomit would remove different quantities, larger and smaller '
in different calms. My estimate of the quantity is not wholly '
conjecture, but upon estimation and observation. The
effects produced by antimony are very various, more so than
In any other poison. The effects vary according to its state
—*bather it is diluted in a great quantity of fluid or in a
concentrated form. ma post mortem of death from antimcny
I should expect to find traces of antimony first—going from
the mouth down—in an Intl intsnation of the stomach—speak-
ing of the stomach as distinsuished from the lower bowel;
but 1 fennd no inflammation in the stomach of Mr. Bravo.
In this case the inflammation was in the lower bowel.
Sir Henry James said the reaeon of his question was this
—that he bad received a great number of letter., from medical
men alto others suggesting that the antimony might have
been iej.,cted.
The witness in answer to further questions said : The
poison could have got Into the 'blood if it had been itjected
jest es much as lit had beer swallowed. To fiud inflamma-
tion of the lower bowel would, of ceuree, not be Moen-
siatent with the injection into the bowels. I don't think
there was atyihing in the post-mortem precisely incon-
sistent with the idea of !ejection of the emetic tartar; but
I could not say that_there_was an .absence in this body of
all thq signs L should expect to find when antimony is
taken by the mouth, and I cannot say even that I shouldl ,
expect to dud inflammation generally, in cues of this kind
in the stomach. For Instance, if before commencing the
post-mortem examination, I had been told that Mr. Bravo
Dad taken some thirty grains of antimony, and I had been
asked whether I should expect to find any signs of that Irri-
tant poison in the stomach, I should have answered
"Probably, but not certainly," and, moreover, I should not
have expressed a view that there was a high dezree of pro-
bability (of so finding the inflammation or isritation in the
stomach). I have stated in my written report, speaking of
the morbid appearance, "All of them do not coincide with
the published accounts of the effects of antimony as shown
aft, r death." I observed no signs on the liver ot antimony;
bat there would be no outward signs on this organ, and I dia '
not make the chemical examination. What I saw would
not show in what form the antimony was taken, except,
judging from the appearances. I say it must have taken a
diluted form—a form not highly concentrated. That is a
matter of judgment. That must have been the case (its
dilute form) if taken by the mouth, but I cannot say what it
could have been if injected. Butter of antimony is, I think, the
popular name of chloride of antimony. I don't believe that
butter of antimony could have been administered, for it is
exceedingly corrosive, and would have caused gi eat inflam-
mation to the organs of passage. It would have caused In-
n tmmat ion of the mouth, and could not have been swallowed.
As to its having been injected, there certainly was inflamma-
tion of the lower bowels, but there was no inflammation of
the parts which would have been inflamed if this butter of
antimony had been injected. If an irritant like tartar
emetic had been injected there would have been v smiting,
just the same as there is from swallowing it, so I should
expect. There is absorption into the blood just the same,
and the effscts are produced just the same.

In answer to Mr. Lewis, the witness said,—is to the ap-
pearance of the stomach, this indicated that the poison was
taken in a highly dilute form. The brain was quite natural ;
nothing therein, or in its appearances, indicated an abnormal
condition', as there would have been in a case of insanity. I
have read the evidence of the medical men in this case—of
Dr. Moore, of Mr. Reyes Bell, and of Dr. George Johnson—.
that before any injection (of the brandy and water) the
vomit was made by the deceased—that there was vomit on .
the leads outside the Priory, a vomit half of which contained
five grains of antimony. That fact is altogether lecensistent
wide idea that the antimony was administered in the in-
jection.
Sir Henry James said he was not suggesting the injection
of the antimony as a theory to account tor tee presence of
the piisen, and had put the question in consequence of the
letters he had received.
Mr. Lewis 'aid he had received a number of letters on this
and other points.
In reply to Mr. Gera% the witness said;—l altogether
negative the idea of chloride of antimony having been used
in this case. Ido not think, if there had been any infiamma-
tien of the stomach ansing from this administration of.:
antimony, that those effects would have passed Away. I know,
no hing of the common sale of this poison before the sale of,
Poisons Act of 1869. I do not think that the poison is,
commonly used to procure abortion. I cannot conceive that'
it would be used for that purpose.
By the Jury: I cannot cenceive it possible that Mr. Bravo
could have retained, for two hours, the Burguniy had
eontained antimony. I do not think Burgundy with antimony
could have been retained that time. If he Ind tekeu
antimony in water in his bed-room, when he was gOing to
bed, it is possible that he would have become side in abopt a
quarter of an henr.
Mr. Gorst : Do you think that tartar emetic in solution
Would produce sickness in so short a time as five or six
minutes?
Witness: The time usually given for a medicinal doze is
about fifteen minutes. A large quantity might, I should
think, produce an eft_ ct in five or Az minutes. I sey I shoule
think, because one has no direst experience as to the effect
of very lerge doses.
Mr. Goret : Would immediate and copious sickness be
likely to prevent the fatal consequences of taking a lerge dose
of antimony?
Witness: It would be likely to do so, It has been known
to do so in some cases
A Juror: Suppose he had taken, when in his room, 20
grains of atitimeny in a tumbler of water, would it have pro-
teueed the ff..ets thaerlbetil
Witness: The fact of Mr. Bravo having been sick and his
having fallen down insensible would be consistent with his
having taken a large dose of 30 grains just before—say a
quarter of an heur before.
• Mr. Gorst : Are not the vessels of the stomach particularly
absorbent about two hours after dinner?
Witness: They are so, and the stomach contains then a
larger quantity of blood than at any other time, and the
absorption into the blood is much quicker then.
In answer to further questions, the witness said: I do not
know what difference hi the effects the administration of
antimony would have upon persons who were or were not
subject to sickness. The administration of "butter of elite
mohy " must have produced local infl munation and irritation,
no signs of which were found on the post mortem.
John Meredith was then called, and examined by Mr.
Poland, he deposed : I am a chemist carry tug on business
at Brecon. In 18)9 I was avistant to Mr Clark, a chemist
at Great Malvern. The entry in the book produced (Mr.
Clark's book, kept under the Sale of Poisons Act) is in my
handwriticg. with the exception of Bridges and Griffith.
Looking at this entry I am able to say that I sold the
quantity-2oz, Of emetic tartar as entered in this boot, and
iron the entry I conclude I sold the ordinary emetic
tartar, and sold it by avoirdupois weight. Ibis name of
" Dr. Gully" is here against ties line of "name of pur-
chaser I do not remember knowing Dr. Gully ; but I
knew that a person of • thai' name kept the hedropathic
establishment there. I do not remember having sold
emetic tartar except on this Occasion in so large a quantity.
I do not think I had sold any at all before I sold this, gni I
had then been a chemist seven years. I have not the slightest
recollection -of that particular sale. I have had-George
Griffith pointed out t me this morning, but Ido not recog-
niirsce coachmanulslduianacatitsaGlolr.featlht
this
trn remember him as Dr. Gully's
I have nitt cannot
oli rceacnttoceion ,d mind :11:37
ey
letter having been brought from Dr. Gully. 1 know Mr.
Bridges who signed the beok as Wien. Ido not tee 'Beet
whether the tartar emetic was pet(' tor at the time or not
Qnestioned by Sergeant Parry, witness sate,—l have no
indeetnoent ne<mory of the sale of tartar emetic to Griffith,
arid lint ter the fact of the entry I should have known
nethitig of the transaction. By the book it can be seen
that there are entr es where poisons have been mid without
an " introdtider," and that is where I have known well the
person who purchased the poison. in such- a ease one may
sell ppisons without an "introducer." Bridges is a respect-
able Men, and I know him well Antimony is used -mixed
with a variety of other articles, for horse meole
cities. I leave not sold antimony inmy TqCOUeee
lion by itself. I . don't know ebythintt of Captian '
Ricardo, or of ears. Ric srdo, or that they did not
came to Great Malvern MUM August, MO. I have heard of
" Yonett on the Horse." (flee learned counsel read from the
book directions for the use in horse medicine of oxide of
antimony, foxglove (digitalis), and other poisons to test the
witness's knowledge of horse medicines and the witness
said that the administration of these medicines would have
the effects stated in the book). The witness proceeded : I
have heard of "bets" in horsea They are insects which
come opt .ip seasons al the year—spring and early summer.,--.,
on' the horse.

VeslVitrf.i;