The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-07

proved to be powdered opium, and they were
stuck all over the mucous membrane and so
numerous as not to be counted. The liver was
healthy, the pupils Of the eyes dilated, the brain
and membranes congested, but otherwise healthy
and without any signs of inflammation. 1t was
quite possible the deceased had taken strong
narcotic as we'll as the essential oil of almonds.
but the latter was the cause of death.
AT this point the butler was recalled and re-
lated what the reader already knows in regard
to the bottle delivered at the house by the drug
gists assistant; and the next witness was Mr..
brewer, the druggist himself. who related the
incident of Mr.. Needham's call and purchaJe OF
the essential oil of almonds
The coroner remarking that it was pity such
articles should be sold even by authorized per-
sons and in such large quantities. Mr.. brewer
said the essential oil of bitter almonds was sold
by every confectioner in the kingdom.
For what purposea"
''Well, replied Mr.. brewer it is used COM
monty in cooking, for favoring custards and
| other purposes. Indeed confectionery, such as is
generally sold, contains poisons of all kinds.
Indeed! Is that SOL A nice reflection for
those who eat confectionery. Laughter
shall take care to give my cook some advice upon
this point the moment | return home. Laugh
teri At the same time allow me to remark
am not jesting, and that this is not theater: 1
must request gentlemen present to control their
emotions"
| Witness continued to state that he could not
understand at the time for what possible purpose
Mr.. Needham's groom might require essential OIL
of almonds in the stables. Arsenic quite as
deadly poison, would of course have been an
entirely different matter. 1t is common thing
| to give arsenic to horses among their corn, to
| improve their coats and condition On the con-
| tinent it is a very common practice, and it is
| fact known to science that, with regard to the
administration of arsenic to horses, and the
taking of it by human being that if it is discon-
| tinued the constitution breaks up with just the
az DrOduCed
| arsenical poisoning The sufferers die from the
want of it, but with every appearance OF being
| the victims of poison.
| Mary Atkinson the parlor maid, was then
| called If you have been present at serious
trials for murder at equally painful inquests.
| you must have noticed Oh the part of the spec
| tators a tendency to be amused. 1t is as If the
mind, weighted with the tragic story, sought re-
| lief in the merest suggestion of comedy. The
| clever dramatist, dealing with pathetic situa-
| tion understands this well, and seeks to give
his audience the quick relief of an excuse for
| laughter Mary Atkinson came upon the scene
at Hampstead with the reputation of humorist
She had according to the butler, a habit of de-
scribing people whom she did not quite under
stand as being ''mad a halter" Mary was
an intelligent brightlooking young woman,
with snub nose and snowy bonnet; and she
was received with a general smile of approval.
She related with minute detail particular in
terview she had had with her late master on the
afternoon of his death.
"And you said he was madV'
YES sir. l beg his pardon" Laughter.
"Why did you think he was madF
'Tt was such hodd thing for him to ask me-"
ITO ask you whatF
IF I'd ever been to the opera"
"And so you thought he was mad because he
asked you if you had ever been to the opera97
"Well, sir, did beg his pardon. Laugh
teri.
Don't beg his pardon, poor gentleman; he is
beyond that. And | must request the officer to
fhAa I1rf = thnnH r1Ohfn
Eyes, sir I'm very sorry wasn't laughing,
and it's no laughing matter for me, losing a
good place and good master"
And here she began to cry.
"There, there, that will do, said the coroner.
pray control your feelings. Was there any
thing peculiar in Mr.. Needham's manner that
should lead you to think he was not in his right
mindp
mo more than what have said, as it seemed
so curious he should ask me if I'd ever been to
the opera"
"Oh, yes, yes; we've heard that before
Laughter. mean in his appearance or in his
mannerp
mo. sir, can't say as there was. But to say
as he would give me and the others tickets, and
he should see US there was something so odd
beg his pardon" Laughter.
Very well. That will do"
Eyes, sir; thank you, sir" said Mary, retiring
| into corner to be upbraided by the cook for
making fool of herself, land making all of us
look as silly as you are" e-.~
Then came the evidence of Mr. Nolan. He
described his visit to Mr. Needham on Saturday
from Dublin relating to some financial business,
which he thought it desirable Mr. Need
ham should see. Mr.. Needham was
in financial difficulty far more
serious than he; his solicitor, had contemplated,
although serious enough to give him great
anxiety. He found Mr.. Needham not in his
usual state of health, but depressed-looking
very weary and tired, yet full of intellectual
and mental resource. He shouldn't say that he
exhibited the slightest tokens of insanity. 1t
was not his intention to stay and breakfast with
Mr. Needham, but he remained. and they talked
over great many business matters in relation
both to the London and the Dublin banks, and
to some questions of mortgages and other secu-
rites. He left Mr.. Needham about half-past
3 in the afternoon, and that was the last
time he saw him alive.
Henry Needham, brother of the deceased,
next gave evidence of an unimpOrtant character
with the exception of the production of the let
ter, with which the reader is already acquainted
The witness was very much affected during the
reading of the letter, and once or twice was so
| overcome that he paused and turned away his
head to wipe the tears from his eyes The dead
silence in the court was ample evidence of the
deep sympathy that was felt for the witness and
other members of the family.
Horace Bvles, of the firm Byles, Grant &
Byles, solicitors, Lombard street, deposed that
on the morning of Friday preceding his death
the deceased, John Needham, called upon him,
and asked for financial assistance in the interest
of the Needham Joint Stock Bank, showing him
some Geographic messages he had received from
Dublin on the subject of their wants, proposed
several schemes for witnesses consideration in
regard to raising money, and after he (Horatio
Byles) told him they were not such schemes as
he could recommend or adopt, Needham grew
very excited, and exclaimed, Great God! If
the bank fails it will be my fault, and the ruin
of thousands" He walked about the office with
hoY6 %n hioh had 10 Ill
him. He had not been on very friendly terms
with Needham for some time previously to
this interview, on account chiefly of disap-
pointment in money matters. About a
month before his death he remembered that
security Needham had given him upon
which he had found money for the Irish bank
had not been registered, and after Needham left
on Friday he determined to have it registered.
dos