Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-06-29
DR. NoRrHwICK rEsTIFIEs.


the heart; thickening was perceptible in
the left ventricle; the right auricle of the
heart was disteaied with bl )o1. the left
au-icle empty; no o1or Of essential oil of
al monds ell over the boly The stomach
contained undisestsd food, and imbeddei
in it numerous black particles percepsib
to the nakei eye On examination thsy
proved to be powdered opium, and they
were stuck all over the mucous membrane,
and So humorous a no5 20 be counted The
liver was healthy, the pupils of the eyes di-
lated, the brain and membrane co1gestei,
hut other wise healthy and withou5 any
signs of inflammation 1t was quite possible
the deceased :lad taken a stron, narcotic as
well as the essential oil of Almonds but the
latter was the cause of death.
Al this point the butler was recalled and
related what the reader already knows in
regard to the bottle delivered at the house
by the druggists ass .t1nt; and the next
witness was Mr. Denver, the druggist him
self, who related the incident of Mr. Need
ham S call and purchase Of tine essential oil
of almonds
The coroner remarking that 1t was a pity
such articles should be sold even by author
lied persons and in such large quantities,
MIR. brewer said the essential oil of bitter
the kingdom.
For What purposeF'
''Well,' replied Mr.. brewer, 1T is used
commonly in cooking, for favoriny GUS
taris, and other purposes Indeed confec-
tionery, such as is generally sold, contains
posons of all kinds"
''indaed! Is that so! A nice reflection
for those who eat confectionery. laugh
ter l shall take care to give my cook
some lvice upon this point the moment l
return home. Iaughter) At the same
time allow me to remark d am not testing,
and that this is not theatre 1 must re-
quest gentlemen present to control their
emotions"
Witness continued to state that he could
not understand at the time for what posi-
bic purpose M Needham's groom might
require essential oil OF amonls In the
stables. Arsenic, quite as deadly poison,
would OF course have been an entirely
different matter. 1t is a common thing to
| give acsenic to horses among their corn to
| improve their coats and condition Ga the
continent it is very common practice and
| it is fact known to science that with re-
| gard to the admin stration OF arsenic to
horses and the taking of it BY human beings
| that if il Is discontinued the constitution
breaks up with just the same symptoms as
| those which ara produced by arsenical pois-
oning. The sufferers die from h. want of
it, but with every appearance Of being the
| vic inns of poison.
| Mary Atainson, the parlor maid, was
then called. If you have been present at
| serious trials for murder, or at equally
! painful. inquests, you must have noticed on
the part OF the spectators a tendency to be
anu sed. 1t is as if the mind, weighted
with the tragic story, sought relief in the
| merest suggestion of comedy. The clever
| dramatst, dealing with pathetic situa-
| ton, un1 Ter stands this we'll and seeks to
| give his audience the quick relief OF an ex.
cuse for laughter. Mary Atkinson came
upon the sc9n, az Hampstead with the rep
| u alton OF humorist. She bad, ACCORDING
to the butler, habit of describing people
whom she did not quit, understand as being
''mad as a halter Mary was an intelli-
| gent, bright-iooking Young woman, with a
| snub nose an a snowy onnaa; AMI she was
received with general smile of approval.
She related with minute detail par5 icuar
interview she had 1al with her late master
| on the afternoon of his death.
| ''And you said be was madf"
Eyes, sir, beg his pardon" laughter).
'Why did you think he was madf'
1T was such odd thing for him to ask
me"
| ITO ask you whatT
If I'd ever been to the OPERA
| And SO you thought he was mad because
| be asked you if you hal ever been to the
! oreraf
''NelL sir, I did beg his pardon"
| Uauyhter)
Don't beg his pardon, poor gentleman:
be is beyond that And must request the
of1cer 10 clear the court if there is any
moro laughter"
'sYes, sir. Pm very sorry. wasn't
laug hing, and its no laughing matter for
me, losing 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 anything peculiar in Mr.. Need
hams manner that should lead you to think
che was not in his right mind!"
No mere than what l have said, as Il
seemed so curious he should ask me IL I'd
ever been to the OPERA
''Oh, yes, yes; we We heard that before.
| Uaughter.) l mean in his appear or
! in his mannerf
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"
| Uaughter)
Very WELL That will do
| Yes, sir; thank you, sir" said Mary,
retiring mt corner to be upbraidei by
the cook for making fool of herself, .,and
making all OF US look as silly as you
| are.n
Then came the evidence of Mr.. Nolan
He described his visit to Mr. Needham on
| Saturday morning he had received q
telegraphic message from Dublin relating
to some financial business. watch he
thought it desirable Mr. Nsedham should
see Mr.. Needham was in financial diff
| cufties far more serious than be- his sollci-
tor, had contemplated, although serious
enough to give him great anxiety. BE
tonnd Mr.. Needham not in his usual state
OF health. but depressed; looking very
weary and tired, yet full of Intellectual and
mental resource. BE shouldn't say that b,
| exhibited the sights tokens of insanity.
1t was not his intention to stay and break,
fast with Mr. Naadh ham Int ha rnyre{r.d