The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-10-18
The Inquest on Israel Fisher.

The jury sworn on Friday last TO IN
vestigate the circumstances attending
the death OF Israel Fisher, consisting Of
Msssrs. H. Hart, c. Vibrans, G. Engle
hardt, H. T. DevoH, J. Magoon and J.
Webb, commenced taking evidence on
Saturday afternoon, Deputy Marshal
Dayton, Coroner, presiding.
VI. Goto, VI. D., deposed to having
attended deceased for leprosy for about
twelve months past. At the time Of his
death he was nearly cured OF the disease,
and witness had written his discharge
from the hospital. The cause OF death
was congestion of the brain, arising from
some poison. Saw him at seven minutes
past 4 o'clock on Wednesday afternoon
he was unconscious, and restoratives
were applied, but without avail. De-
ceased had told witness that he was
tired of living, and that he had twice
tried to kill himself. The attempt that
had resulted in his death was, therefore,
the third.
Mrs. Jacob Fisher, daughter-in-law of
deceased, stated that he had gone to
Molokai about February, three years
ago, and it was some two years since he
had returned. The first time he took
poison was in August, 1885; witness be-
Heved it was laudanum on that occasion.
The second time was a little over u
month ago.
Charles NJ. StilWell had known de-
ceased fifteen years. The latter had told
him that he took morphine and laudanum
the first time he tried to kill himself.
He used to object to going out, as people
would be snubbing him; and he often
remarked that he wanted to get out OF
here. On one occasion he got a small
bottle of choral from a friend, and came
to witnesses house at 2 a. m, saying he
had not had enough, but would get more
next time. He had read an article in
paper about a death from choral, and
sent and got some by the Australia He
told witness he had enough for two of
them. He always spoke well of DIR.
Goto.
Sister Marianne, President of the prin-
cipal room at the Branch Hospital, gave
evidence concerning the previous at
tempts deceased had made to poison
himself. He used to take One-eighth of
a grain of morphine when he was
nervous. DIR. Goto stopped the supply,
and he had had none from the office for
two months.
A letter found in possession OF deceased
was read. 1t was addressed: "Explana-
ton, to whom it may concern, as near as
/ can remember" and was dated 1st
September, 1886, just before his second
attempt to commit suicide. During the
interval he had mentioned this letter to
Deputy Marshal Dayton. The style of
composition was very disconnected, but
in substance it was as follows: In order
that there might be no Misrepresentation
in the course he had taken, he desired to
give an explanation. In October, 1885, |
His Excellency Mr.. Gibson, President of
the Board of Health, went to deceased's
house and promised to place him under
the treatment of DR.. Goto for the leprosy. !
Deceased undertook to adhere strictly to !
the doctors directions. During the ten |
months he had been under the doctors |
treatment he had made splendid pro- |
gress, increasing his weight from 1870 |
lbs. to 100 lbs. There had been a slight |
misunderstanding between deceased and !
DR.. Goto in reference to a surgical opera |
ton performed upon the former prepare !
tory to his discharge from the Leper !
Hospital, arising out of a remark he had |
made about it. He had told the doctor
that life was not worth living for after
his discharge from the Leper Hospital
people would naturally shun him. He
had merely gone through the ordeal for
DIR. Gotos satisfaction, as that gentle
man deserved every credit for what he
had done for deceased and others. He
certainly had done wonders at the
Branch Hospital. Things there were
quite the reverse of what had been
by a writer in Tuesdays
" Gazette" presumably August 31st).
The letter concludes with an acknowl-
of the kindness of the Sisters
and His Excellency Mr.. Gibson.
The jury returned the following YER
diet: g That Israel Fisher came to his
death on October 14th, by taking some
unknown poison, obtained from some
source unknown to us outside of the dis
pensary at the Branch Hospital, as extra
precautions had been taken by the
Sisters and medical attendant to guard
against any such casualty"