The Cannock Chase Examiner. — 1876-11-03 (Cannock, Staffordshire, England)

AND DUDLEY.  SUPPOSED SUICIDE BY POISONING:  On Tuesday, Robert Tamlyn, aged 48, Dunstoll-lane, druggist's assistant, died at the hospital from taking poison. He had been in a desponding state of mind for some time past, and it is conjectured that on the previous evening he endeavoured to destroy himself by taking morphia. On Thursday an inquest was held at the Newmarket Inn, Wolverhampton, before W. H. Phillips, Esq. Amongst the witnesses called was Robert Tamlyn (14), son of the deceased. His said that on Monday night his father came home and sat down to dinner and tea together. He appeared to be somewhat strange, and after he had had some words with his (witness's) mother, he said that he was "wild," and that "his brain was turned." Witness saw him mix some white stuff, from a packet which he took out of a pocket book, with some butter on the point of a knife, but did not see him take it, for he went directly into the kitchen. Witness saw him throw the paper of the packet away, and it west in the direction of the fireplace. He went upstairs and told his mother what his father had done, but she said she did not think he had taken anything to hurt him. Witness afterwards went with his brother Henry to Mr. Hudson's, a chemist, and to Mr. 'Wedge's. He subsequently fetched an emetic from Mr. Pratt's, in Staffordetreet. His father, on the matter being mentioned to him, said "Fetch it." It was administered in a glass, but it had no effect in making deceased vomit. Deceased did not take the emetic very willingly. He was rather drowsy. Witness had heard his father threaten to destroy himself many times. He also carried little things about with him, and first said they were poisons, and then that they were not. Henry Tamlyn, an elder brother of the foregoing witness, deposed that on Monday night last he came home shoot seven o'clock. He went upstairs and and found his father undressed and in bed. Witness asked him what was the matter with him, but received no reply. He could not have been conscious, as heeubsequently asked witness whether he was going out, but he seemed to be in a sleepy condition. On going down stairs into the sitting. room, witness picked up a piece of paper from the asheS of the fire-place, which had written upon it "15 grains of morphia," and some other word of which he did not know the meaning. It also had printed on it "Heade Brothers, wholesale and retail druggists, Wolverhampton. Witness immediately went to Mr. Hudson, a chemist, of King-street to inquire as to the nature of morphia, and Mr. Hudson, being ill, he applied to Mr. Tiedge, chemist, of VictorMstreet, who advised 'him to go at once to the family doctor, Mr. Bunch. He did so, and Mr. Bunch said the best thing to be done was to administer an emetic. Mr. Bunch also promised to call, but did. not do so. His brother, he believed, went for an emetic, but witness was not present when he returned or when it was administered. His father said, in witness's hearing, that if they fetched twenty doctors he would not have one. His father had been • in a very depressed state of mind lately. Witness ascribed it to depression of business. If any unpleasantness occurred between deceased and witness's mother, deceased always used to say he would destroy himself. Ellen Wood, a nurse at the Hospital, deposed to deceased being brought in on Monday night in an almost unconscious condition. Every means was taken taken to rouse him, including the administration of! ' mustard plasters, and slapping his arms with a wet • towel, but he never recovered from his drowsiness, and died on Tuesday night. . At the adjourned inquest, on Friday, Mr. Hawkins, , hospital physician, who had made the post-mortem examination. declared that the deceased had died from opium poisoning. An assistant to Messrs. Read, , chemists, remembered serving the deceased with 15 ' grains of morphia. No entry was made of the sale, because deceased was a registered chemist. The jury returned a verdict that decea,ed hal poisoned himself while in an unsound state of mind.