The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1910-07-23 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

EGREMONT WOMAN COMMITS SUICIDE.  IXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES.  An inquest was held by Mr. J. C. Bate (Coroner for West Cheehire). at the Presbyterian Schools, Churoh-road, Seacombe, on Thursday, for the purpose of uivestigating the circumstances attending the death of Martha Donaldson 35 years of age, the wife of Alexander Donaldson, a litst-olass pilot, residing at 28, Wright-street, Egremow.. Tile deceased died at about 11.30 on Tuesday morning after taking u quantity of sa:.ts of lemon. Deceased's husband stated that when he left home at 8.43 ou Tuesday morning his wife w..s stil, in bed. She had been ailing for five 4.4 six years, and had been attended by a doctor. She appeared to be in just her usual condition. He was called home later the same morning and found his wife very ill. Two medical men were sent for, but she exiised somc time afterwards.  Daisy Beatrice Bell, sister of the deceased, said that the latter had been ill for some years. She was sometimes in bed two or three months at a time. After having been ill in bed about three months she had been up &theist a week on Tuesday. She got up at nine o'clock and left the house at about 9.30. She returned about 10.20, and shortly afterwards witness heard a scream and on entering the dining room with another sister, Dew the deceased lying over a chair. She seemed to be unable to speak. On the sideboard was an half emptied bottle labelled "Salts of Lemon." They removed her to the much and sent for medical aid. Witness asked deceased what she had done, but she did not reply. Before leaving the house, deceased was talking just as initial. Emily Bell, another sinter of the deceased, said it seemed to have preyed upon her mind that she was always ill in bed. When she returned after going out on Tuesday morning she said she bad been to Butterworth's the chandlers. -Just afterwars, deceased shouted out "Oh I" Witness throw down her sewing and entered the front sitting room. She there saw deceased apparently in a collapsed state. Deceased smelled of brandy. She said: "I'm dying." She died about 11.30. Ernest Sanderson Taylor, chemist, 34, King-street, stated that on the previous night deceased's little girl enteied the shop and asked for seine salts of lemon. He refused to serve her, saying that an adult must come for it. The nest morning Airs. Donaldson entered and said is-ho required the spirits of salts for the purpose of cleaning the pan of the convenience. The poison was very often used for this purpose. He ' gave her the usual caution as to how to use it and to keep it away front the childiva. The woman appeared to be quite rational.  Dr. Seymour Davies said that in response to i• telephone message he went round to 28, Wright-street Khortly after 10 a.m. Ono of Mr.;.Donaldson's sisters said die did not think th4ceasert had taken anything, but was trying to frighten them. AVitnem thought She said that. deceased had tried to fri*.ten them before like this. Deceased had apparently taken about Mime ounces of salts of lemon and was in a critical state. Witness gave her remedies to counteract. the poison, but she died at 11.30 from shock, consequent upon taking the poison. Deceased was in a weak Mate at the time.  The Coroner pointed out that all the witnesses said that deceased seemed to be quite rational. It could not be said it was a sudden fit of insanity because sho sent her Lite girl the night before for t.ome spirits of salts, and went out for the erpress pc/poste the next morning of put, c.basing it herself. The jury returned a verdict nf cide," but thought there was insufficient evidence to show the state of deceased's naiad et the time.