The Commonwealth. — 1866-07-21 (London, England)

THE SUSPICIOUS DEATH OF A LADY AT BRIGHTON. On Monday evening the Brighton borough coroner resumed the inquiry into the death of Mrs. Ellen Vivian Warder, wife of Dr. Alfred William Warder, who had died under saeoicious circumstances. Dr. Taylor and Dr. Wilkes were row present, and made their reports. Dr. Taylor said the result of a most minute analysis was that there was no trace of any mineral or organic poison detectable by chemical tests present in the viscera. Portions of the tongue and gullet and the blood from the heart were examined with the same result. The contents of the stomach and intestines deposited no mineral matter, nor any sediment of a suspicious kind. Under the microscope there was nothing unusual. The chemical and physiological tests concurred in showing that there was no aconite and no alkaloidal poison remaining in tho contents of the stomach, and intestines of deceased at the time of her death. The result was, however, quite consistent with the death of the deceased from poison, especially such a poison as aconite. The only chance of finding it in the contents of a stomach would be in those cases where a comparatively large dose had been swallowed by the deceased shortly before her death. If small doses had been given at intervals—a fact to be indicated by symptoms—and none had been given within two or three hours before death, none would be found in the oontents of the stomach; but in all cases, whether poison remains in the stomach or not at the time ef death, the cause of death can only be determined by a knowledge of the symptoms from which the deceased suffered while living, and in the appearances found in the body after death. Dr. Wilkes gave the details of his examination of the intestines, the result of which was that he found inflammation of the internal mucous membrane of the kidneys, and evidence of previous inflammation on the mucous membranes of the tongue and gullet. He found nothing in the organs to account for the death of the deceased. Dr. Wilkes and Dr. Taylor afterwards minutely questioned Dr. Taafe as to the general condition and symptoms of Mrs. Warder during his attendance. He said her illness throughout was one of remission; and as regarded the strangury, there was a perfect inter. mission of the symptoms. She continually complained of pains in the stomach, but there was no diarrhcea, on the contrary, there was some constipation. Dr. Taylor then said the symptoms detailed by Dr. Taafe and the appearances after death appeared to him to show that the death of deceased arose from poison. The symptoms were not consistent with any disease that he had either heard or read of, but they were consistent with such as would be produced by tincture of aconite given in small doses, or any other vegetable irritant; but they were more consistent with aconite than any other poison he knew of. The condition of the brain, stomach, and lungs were such as had been produced by tincture of aconite in the body. The contents of the stomach and bowels being tinged with blood showed there had been strong irritation. Dr. Wilkes said he was unable to connect the death of deceased with any known disease, and could not avoid the inference that it was due to some vegetable poison. He should not like to speak to the nature of the poison, or to whether several might not have been combined, but he was inclined to agree with Dr. Taylor that death was mainly due to aconite. In the course of replying to some questions from the jury, Dr. Taylor said that Dr. Warder had been connected with the Grosvenor•place School of 'Medicine, London, and no man better understood how to administer aconite, or any other medicine, either healthfully or mischievously, than he did. At the time of Palmer's trial, Dr. Warder was one of ,the school who came forward strongly to defend him. The coroner then summed up the ease to the jury, putting two issues to them—whether deceased met her death from poison, and if so, whether or not the poison was administered by her husband. There certainly was no strong motive apparent in the case, end the fact, as far as it went, was to be taken in the husband's favour. As to the absence of some of the symptoms of poisoning by aconite, he recalled to the recollection of the jury Dr. Warder's statement to Dr. Taafe that aconite was the only remedy that gave relief to the strangury. Now, if he had administered oantharides to induce the strangury, he might easily persuade her not to mention the tingling in the limbs to Dr. raafe, on the ground that it was the only thing to give her relief, and she might depend on him for proper doses. The jary consulted but a very few minutes, and then returned a verdict of wilful murder against Dr. Warder (who committed suicide last Monday night). The foreman said that the jury were of opinion that deceased died from poison given her by her husband, most probably aconite in small doses.  The authorities of Marga,te are entitled to great credit for the excellence of their regulations for the order, decency, and safety of the bathers. A, boat, with, the words "Police Boat" in large characters en 'elic..broadEide,-Ir?ew watch at a proloor distaa,:e.