The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-03-13 00:00:00

THE PIKLICO POISONING CASE:

Mrs. Adelaide Bartlett and the Rev. George Dyson
again appeared before Mr. Partridge at the West-
minster Police-court on Friday afternoon on a charge
of causing the death of Edwin Thomas Bartlett. As
on previous occasions, every available part of the
court was filled with spectators, most of whom were
ladies. Mrs. Bartlett looked paler and more worn
than on former occasions.

At the commencement of the pioceedings Mr.
Braxton Hicks, the coroner, was recalled, and read
over the depositions of the Rev. George Dyson taken
down at the inquest, to which Mrs. Bartlett listened
with marked attention. It will be remembered that
Mrs. Bartlett was taken into custody before the
evidence of her fellow prisoner was given, and con-
sequently she had not previously heard his
depositions.
Mr. Leach, recalled, said he saw Mr. Bartlett twice
on the 31st of December, once at witness's house, and
once at Claverton-street. On the morning of that day
he asked him what he had taken to drink, and was in-
formed that he had taken some wine.

Was there anything said about the possibility of
taking poison ?—Yes.
What did you say ?—I asked if by any possibility
he had got hold of any poison.
What did she say ?—She said, "What poison?" I
said, "Prussic acid, perhaps." She said, "No ; he
could get at no poison without my knoyledge, and
then she mentioned his having asked for two opium
pills that she possessed.
Did she say she had given them to him ?—She said
"No, she had not." She showed me the pills. The
post-mortem took place on the 2nd, in the bedroom,
by Dr. Green atd Dr. Murray. The cardiac and of
the stomach was deeply stained, and the epithelium
softened and in one part corroded. The rest of the
stomach was of a greyish green, with tenacious
mucus. The appearance suggested inflammation in the
cardiac end. There was an ounce of semi-fluid con-
tents in the stomach, remarkable for a smell of
chutney and a pungent odour, suggestive of chloro-
form. The same smell was noticeable in the intes-
tines, but in a less marked degree. Witness was
deputed to communicate the result of the post-
mortem to Mrs. Bartlett and all the rest in the
house. Mr. Dyson was present. The words he used
were: "We have very carefully made this post-
mortem examination and cannot find any pathological
cause of death. We think the contents of the diges-
tive organs should be preserved and further inquiry
made. He also said that the contents of the stomach
were suspicious.
. _ .

Who ;mid that ?—Some of us did. I don't know
who.

Was anything said as to how it was suspicious?—
When I fetched the relative up stairs to hear the re-
sult of the post-mortem I spoke to Mr. Dyson, and
then said, "The doctors have discovered a smell of
chloroform in the stomach, but my opinion is that
they are misled by the smell of chlorodyne." Mr.
Dyson had previously asked, "What have they dis-
covered."

Mr. Moloney: When did you see the prisoners
after the 2nd of January ?—I saw them both on the
following Wednesday.
The prisoner Dyson, rising in the dock, exclaimed,
"I won't stand here and be lied at. It is a lie—look
at his face, sir."
Mr. Partridge: Sit down, sir.
Mr. Dyson: Is there no protection for me, sir.
Mr. Partridge: You must communicate with your
solicitor.

Mr. Leach: May I ask in what way I have
lied?

Mr. Partridge: He had no right to interrupt you.
When did you next see the prisoners ?—I saw Mr.
Dyson first at my own house.
What occurred?—l do net remember clearly, but I
said, "Have you come for the keys?" He said,
"Yes." I said, "You shall have them." I sent for
them, and after giving them to him, said, "Do you
think it is wise that Mrs. Bartlett should remove any-
thing from the house at present?" He said she was
acting under Mr. Wood's advice. I answered if that
be so it must be all right. I received the keys on the
day of the post-mortem, in the presence of the
doctors. I saw Mr. Dyson on the same day, about
an hour later. He returned with Mrs, Bartlett. I
also saw Mrs. Matthews on that diy. Mrs. Bart-
lett remained with me about three-quarters of an
hour.

What took place ?—I asked Mrs. Bartlett to put
n.e in a position to furnish evidence to the coroner
on the next day. She then gave me a detailed ac-
count of his history from the time he left the dentist
until the time I found him dead.

What did she say ?—She said he returned from
the dentist, and had a good supper, and went to
bed about ten. She was sleeping beside him. She
woke and heard him snoring, and afterwards found
him apparently dead.
Witness continued that he read to her parts of the
notes of the post-mortem, especially that concerning
the contents of the stomach.

What did she say ?—I think she said, "Can he have
died of chloroform ?" I said I thought he had not
died of chloroform, but that the odour was from his
having swallowed chlorodyne. She said, "But be did
not swallow chlorodyne." I replied, "He probably
did when he rinsed his mouth with it." She said, " No,
it was his habit only to rub it on his gums." I argued
with her that he must have taken chlorodyne, and I
am sorry that I did so. I wrote to her subsequently,
and I saw her next day at the inquest, but we had no
conversation. On the 26th of January she came to
my house in consequence of my writing. By that
time I had heard a rumour as to the result of the
analysis. The interview I had with her was a long
one—an hour.

Did you inform her what you had beard ?—Yes; I
said," Mrs. Bartlett, I have some good news for you:
Rumour now says that the contents of the stomach
will be reported to contain, according to one account,
a poisonous dose of acetate of lead, which is non-
sense; according to another, pure chloroform, which
is improbable. But if it be chloroform it is a very
fortunate thing for you, for had it been one of the
secret poisons you would have been seriously accused
of having killed your husband." bhe said, "I wish it
were anything but chloroform." I told her not to rely
on it too much, and I think she said, "I'm afraid it is
true."

Did she say anything further ?—Yes, she made a
statement.

The witness then deposed to the statement of Mrs.
Bartlett as to the peculiar relations between herself
and husband, the particulars of which have been
already published.
The case was then adjourned.
The Beal asked that the female prisoner should be
taken to the House of Detention in a cab. She was
in a very weak state.

Dr. William Henry Netherclift was called, and de-
posed that he had examined the prisoner and con-
sidered that her removal in the prison van would be
prejudicial to her health. She was sick and giddy
after each journey.
Dr. Pearce, the divisional surgeon, said that Mrs.
Bartlett's heart and pulse were weak, and he thought
she should be conveyed to the House of Detention in
a private vehicle.
Mr. Partridge made an order on the medical evi-
dence, the prisoner having been kept back till 6.30.

The hearing was resumed on Saturday. Before
evidence was given Dr. Leach asked that he might be
protected from "flourishes of rhetoric "like the pre-
vious day. Mr. Partridge hoped that there would be
no unseemly interruptions, and reminded the witness
that he would be protected by counsel.
Dr. Leach then further deposed: Mr. Dyson called
and saw my notes of the post-mortem examination
between the 2nd and the 6th of January. On that
occasion he was alone. The keys referred to on
Friday were those of Mr. Bartlett's drawers. Mr.
Bartlett never exhibited any tendency to suicide. I
do not know whether he or the prisoner possessed a
medicine chest. On the 31st I accompanied Mrs.
Bartlett and her husband in a cab to the dentist's.
While in the vehicle I remember a conversation on
the subject of marriage. I said that a neighbour of
mine was about to marry. Mrs. Bartlett said, "We
hear of so many people getting married, that Edwin
and I this morning said we almost wished we were
not married, in ord6r that we might have the pleasure
of marrying each other again." I said that is very
complimentary to you, Mr. Bartlett, after 14 years'
experience of you.
Did he answer anything P—Yes. His mouth was
muffled, and I requested him not to talk; but beneath
his muffler he replied, "Yes, we agree very well in
our ways," or our "views "—I am not sure which.
We then reached the dentist's. _

Cross-examined by Mr. Beal: In fact, they always
appeared to be on most affectionate terms. Going
back to the condition of Mr. Bartlett when first I
was called in, I say that he was suffering from ex-
treme nervousness and great prostration with the
other symptoms. The salivation I have spoken of
was very slight. I don't remember whether the
teeth were very painful at first—they were more
painful later. I saw him three times on the 10th of
December. I consideiel him to be an hypochon-
driacal man. He complained that he could not sleep.
I considered his disease was one of nervous depres-
sion and exUanstion, but I don't stop there.
Mr. Beal: Only answer my questions, please.
Did he not say to you that he had been overworked
in his business? - -

Witness s. I must ask leave to correct or
qualify the previous answer. I consider the nervous
depression and exhaustion to be part of his disease.
Mr. Beal asked for the prescriptions given by wit-
ness, and they were produced and read.
Witness: By the 12th of December, Mr. Bartlett
was a great deal better, but I attended him twice that
day. On the following day I injected morphia,
either for slesplesPness or pain in the gums. After
detailing other treatment, witness proceeded: On the
17th of the month deceased had two injections of
morphia, and I also prescribed a
.10 per cent, solution
of hydrochlorate of cocaine to paint his gums, which
were very painful. He had 11 stumps extracted that
day, and they were much decayed. • On the 18th, on
the occasion of a visit, Mrs. Bartlett opened a con-
versation by saying that her husband's partner was
complaining that the patient's absence was keeping
several employis out of . work, or something to that
effect. On the 19th I paid two visits, one in consulta-
tion with Dr. Dudley. The patient was treated with
chloral hydrate, bromide of ammonium, and solution
of hydrochlorate of morphia. I agreed with Dr.
Dudley that he was suffprinz from the remains of sub.

acute gastritis—it was not prominent then—and a
depressed mental condition. He complained of
great sleeplessness and I think of overwork. On
the 21st he had four more teeth extracted.
He suffered from hypechondriasis till he died,
but that is more a man's nature than a disease.
About that time (the 21st) Mrs. Bartlett said her
husband still talked about dying and not recovering.
She spoke in his presence. I think it was on the
24th that Mr. Bartlett complained that a worm was
wriggling up his throat. On the 28th, in answer to
questions as to his condition, Mr. Bartlett said:
"When my wife was asleep in the chair I rose from
bed, and stood for two hours over her with arms out-
stretched thus"—he showed me, and I now put my-
self in the attitude—" and I felt the magnetic fluid
being drawn out of her into me and kindling my own
vitality."
Did you ask Mr. Bartlett about his fits of crying?
—Yes, when told of them. I think he let it go by
implication that Mrs. Bartlett's account was right.
Very likely he said he could not help it.
Is it a fact that you have walked into the room to
.see your patient without waking Mrs. Bartlett?—
Yes, but I don't know when. It must have been early
in my visits.
Cross-examined by Mr. Lickfold : I said before the
coroner that Mr. Bartlett's symptoms during the last
few days of his life were alarming. He was in bad
health and worse spirits on the 10th of December,
when Dr. Dudley was called in, but he was much
better than on the 10th. He was not bad enough to
lie in bed, and he ought to have gone out, which was
advised by myself and Dr. Dudley. The statement
I made as to his symptoms during the last days of
his life being alarming only refer to the condition of
his jaw. I don't speak of his general symptoms. The
narcotics I prescribed were in fairly strong doses.
Have you ever heard of sudden death when per-
sons suffering from gastritis have taken a hearty
meal?

Witness: Yes; and even less than a hearty meal.
Chloroform sometimes is not an active poison, on
other occasions it is.

After tho witness had been cross-examined at great
length as to the composition and action of chloro-
form,

Lick fold asked: On the occasion when you
met Mr. Dyson on the stairs will you swear he
used the expression, "What has been discovered?"
Were not the words, "What was the cause of
death ?"

Witness: Quite as likely.
Re-examined: The symptoms of gastritis were
practically gone by the 17th of December, although
I won't say that during the remainder of Mr. Bart-
lett's life he did not have ordinary dyspepsia.
The case was adjourned till the following Friday.