The Sun.
London, England, 1865-09-25 00:00:00

MELBOURNE AND HOBSON BAY UNITED.

The traffic receipts of this company for the four
weeks ending the 20th of July last amounted to
£5,027 for passengers, and to £2,571 for goods—
total, £7,598 ; and for the corresponding four
weeks in 1864 to £8,395, showing a decrease of
£797.

Extraordinary Death of a Musical Pupil.

(From the Leeds Mercury.)

Mr. Emsley held an inquest yesterday in the Leeds Town
Hall, on the body of Harriet Matilda Firth, aged 21, who
acted as housekeeper to Dr. Mayne, Boar-lane. Considerable
interest was felt in the inquest, rumours being afloat to the
effect that the young woman had been poisoned. The
result of the inquiry, however, proved this to be entirely
untrue, the medical evidence being to the effect that death
had been caused by natural causes. Mr. Arthur Blackburn
watched the case on behalf of Dr. Mayne.
Sarah Jane Firth, wife of Charles Firth, residing at No.
88, Queen's-place, Camp-road, stated that the deceased was
her husband's sister. Deceased was 21 years of ago. She
had been, for the last five years, in the service of Dr.
Mayne, Boar-lane. The last time she saw the deceased
alive was three years since. They had been at variance
since that period, and witness's husband had forbidden her
to see deceased.

Dr. Mayne stated that he was both a physician and a
surgeon, and that he resided in Boar-lane. Deceased had
been in his service four years and two months. Before she
came to his house she was his patient, and as ho wanted a
maidservant he asked her to come to him. After she had
been with him about twelve months he found that she was
not fit for her duties. She was very destitute, her friends
would not assist her in any way, and as witness discovered
that she was possessed of an unusually fine voice he resolved
to endeavour to improve her musical talent. He sent her
to two or three instructors, who also entertained a high
opinion of her talents. She was with Mrs. Wood, Miss
Richardson, and Mr. Inkersall, and latterly with Dr. Spark.
As he was expending upon her a great deal of money which
she had little hope of being able to repay, it was arranged
that he should insure her life. It was made a regular
business transaction between them. In April, 1863, he
insured her life for £2OO in the North Briton Insurance
Company, but afterwards the policy was transferred to the
Volunteer Company, of which a friend of his was the
manager. At that time she was being educated as a lady;
she was introduced into the society of ladies, and was
brought up in a style to which she had before been unac-
customed. Since then she had devoted herself entirely to
a musical training, and it had been arranged that she would
shortly appear in public. Last Tuesday week she pleaded
hard to be allowed to visit her native place, where several
of her relatives reside. She went on the afternoon of that
day. She was in excellent health and spirits, and she was
to return on Tuesday last. On Monday he received a tele-
gram from Mr. George Firth, the uncle of the deceased,
asking him to come to Barnsley directly, as Miss Firth
was very ill. He went by the first train, and found de-
ceased alone in her uncle's house. She was in a state of
high fever ; her skin was as hot as fire, and she was toss-
ing about in her bed. He asked her if she had nothing to
take, and she replied, " No ; I am so glad you are come to
take me home." He sent a girl who was in the shop below
for some wine, and after deceased had taken some of it
mixed with water she appeared to bo greatly refreshed. As
she was suffering from vomiting and purging he went to a
druggist close at hand and obtained a saline draught, and also
a chalk mixture, with half a drachm of the tincture of opium
or laudanum. The deceased took two tablespoonfuls of this
mixture at half-hour intervals, and she rallied so much that
she pleaded hard to be taken to Leeds. He expressed some
doubt whether she would be able to travel, but her constant
cry was, "Take mo home, take me home." lie took a cab to
the station, and another on arriving at Leeds, and she did
not at all complain of pain throughout the journey. He ad-
ministered wine freely to her, and caused his pupil to remain
on a sofa in her room all night. His female servant was a
new one, and the deceased asked that his pupil who knew
her habits might attend upon her instead of a stranger.
Although the vomiting and purging had ceased she passed a
very restless night, and on Tuesday was very ill indeed. She
had some tea, which seemed to. refresh her, and in the
course of the morning she fell into a calm sleep. When she
awoke she seemed better, but she became worse towards
evening, and passed another bad night. Her mother, who
had been sent for, came on Wednesday morning, and as she
then appeared to be dangerously ill, Dr. Hobson was called
in. He approved of the treatment she had received; but
was of opinion that she was thoroughly exhausted and
could not live. She died at 11 on Wednesday. Witness
did not think before Wednesday morning that deceased was
in danger. He had forbidden all her relatives with the
exception of her mother, to come to the house, as he did not
approve of their conduct. She had been subject to bilious
attacks, and the disease which she suffered under when he
attended her before she came to his house was diseased

bowels. [At this statement, the first witness, who had
sobbed hysterically several times whilst the doctor was
giving his evidence, called out loudly, " Shame, shame.")
The Coroner—You maintained her, I suppose, from a
feeling of charity ?
Dr. Mayne—Entirely so. When the assurance was en-
tered into I had no hope that she would pre-decease me.
I told her she might dispose of the insurance in any way
she pleased. The insurance will not cover by £lOO what I
have expended upon her. I attribute her death to biliary
fever, to exhausticn from excessive bilious diarrhea. Dr.
Hobson wasorof the same opinion. I administered no other

medicine but a chalk mixture containinghalf a drachm of

opium, a little gum arabic, and a little ether, and a little
saline medicine. I prepared the medicine and administered
it myself. When at Barnsley witness a,sked deceased whether
she had taken anything to disagree with her, and she
stated that on the Sunday she had partaken rather freely
of brambleberry pie, and that diarrhoea had commenced
almost immediately afterwards. As to the insurance, he
had consulted Dr. Hobson before he entered into it. That
gentleman, who felt a great interest in deceased, quite ap-
proved of what witness intended doing. As soon as he
thought there was danger he sent for Dr. Hobson.
Mr. Nunnelay, surgeon, stated that he had made a post
mortem examination of the body of the deceased. There
was no unnatural appearance about the external parts of
the body. The lungs were quite healthy. The heart was
a little flabby, and wanted firmness in its structure. There
was about an ounce of blood fluid in the heart sac, or peri-
cardium. There was a little mark on the liver which was
not natural, but which he did not think was in any way
connected with the death. The stomach contained a con-
siderable quantity of a dark gruelly-looking fluid, having
a smell of wine. There was one small patch of effused
blood on the mucous membrane of the stomach, but the
rest of the stomach appeared natural. The brain in its
structure was quite natural and healthy. All the appear-
ances were compatible with excessive purging and vomit-
ing, and it was evident death had resulted from this cause.
He thought Dr. Mayne had adopted a very proper treat-
ment ; and if that gentleman had not mentioned the fever-
ish state in which he found deceased he would have said
that it was a case of cholera. At present diarrhoea was
very prevalent, and the eating of blackberry pie would be
very likely to produce it.
Mrs. Frith, mother of the deceased, stated that she went
to Dr. Mayne's on Wednesday morning, and remained with
her daughter until she died. Deceased experienced the
greatest kindness from Dr. Mayne, and never had any
complaint to make.
Mr. Blackburn said that before this inquest closed he
wished the coroner to hear the evidence of witnesses from
Barnsley as to the condition of the deceased before she
was brought to Leeds on Monday last. Notwithstanding
the clearness of the medical evidence, there were some
people who were sceptical enough to think and malicious
enough to say that Miss Frith had died by unfair means.
It was due, therefore, to Dr. Mayne, and due to the public,
that all the evidence bearing upon the question should be
laid before the Court.
The Coroner said that if Mr. Blackburn wished an ad-
journment in order to obtain the attendance of witnesses
from Barnsley, he would be most happy to grant it.
Mr. Blackburn said he had telegraphed to two people
from Barnsley, but they had not come. Ile therefore ap-
plied that the inquest be adjourned for a few days.
The Coroner
granted an adjournment until Wednesday
next.

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