The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette. — 1881-11-01 (Dorchester, Dorset, England)

SAD SUICIDE OF 4 YOUYO MAY.  - - - - - An ingest was held on Tuesday evening on the body of William Cambridge Ellis, f Market Lavinds ton, near Salisbury, an aseietant to Mr. William Penny, chemist, of High-street. Mr. Norbury was the foreman of the ju y, and the Doe ugh Coroner, 13. B. Aldridav, Esq., conducted th enquiry. After the j iry had viewed the body, which presented a very calm and placid appearance, and was that of a young man apparontly about 22, the following eridanoe wee :  Eliza Best, housekeeper to Mr. William Penny, ot High-street, chemist, stated the decease I had been with them about three mouthy, and during thst time he bad n re appeared particularly strange, although at times she thought him rather hila I h The had never heard that he had quarrelled with anyone, and had never complained to her. By the Foreruan : He seemed at times rather  • Mr.—S4illiarn Penny, member of the Pharmacuetical Society of Great Britain, in whooe employ the &ceased MK sta.° I he had been in his employ since the &at week in July. and had proved himself one of the most valuable as iaants he hid ever had. He was • very steady young man—in fact, he was a hetotahr. He always seemed in good health until Monday, the 10th of this month, when, after a whit to Bournemouth, he returned with his hands looking perfectly blue. He said he had been put into a damp bed there. Pe was suffering from an ulcerated throat, and be (witness) seat for Dr. Lawton, who, having examined him. said that he was weak in his head, and he must not study. Deceased became we unwell that he sent for hie mother, who came over from &mrnemouth, and she th-n t .Id him the father of the dens ,snd hal died in a lunatic asylum. lie mother thanked him (Mr. Penny) for his kindness to her sun, and stated that he hat implement himself as very happy in his situation. They had never had an uuplessata word. The deceased at times seemed abstracted. About half-past four that same morning the deceased came into hie bedroom and said that tee had beard that a cabman at the London Hotel had cut his throat. ilia was the first instance of aberration be had Peen, lie quieted him, and got him to go back into bed. At breakfast time th s morning he asked him what hut happened, and he said be did not know as hi. bead was perfectly confused. This morning deceesed ate a wall breakfast, and went to his work as usual. About 11 o'clock a medical gentleman came in for half-an• ounce of Schield'a Prus.ic Acid to poison a dog. lie supplied him with it, and put the bottle, from whit be took it, at the back of the shop, so that no one could get at it. Ale .ut half MI hour after, he found the deceased's &woe on the counter, amid thought be had gone to the closet. Shortly after that, his (wahine's) housekeeper came in and said she heard awful groans ill the yard. lie instinctively looked for the bottle of Prus•ic Acid, and found it was gone. He ruohe 1 out stud found the deceased in the closet c. Id and pulselees. He was evidently dead. He sent for Dr. Lawton and Dr. Mackint eh, and they eudeavoured with him to restore animation, but without avail.  By the Coroner: The dectated must have taken enough p Aeon to kill 12 men in five minute'. Dr. Healy Nfacitiotosh, surgeon, practiaing in Poole, said about lialf•pait 11 this morning he was called in to Mr. Penny's. He found the deceastd in the water. closet, seated on the fib ir with Lis head thrown bock and his knees doubled up. He WWI dead, hot how long he had been he could not tell. His pupils were dilated, which indicated he had not taken an opiate. lie and Dr. Lawton endeavoured to restore him, and De. Lawton, on vouching his pocket, found in it two bottle., one of which c iutained prussic acid, and the other a tincture of mix routine—both deadly poisons. The symptoms all pointed to his having taken the former.  Dr. Lawton said some fortnight previous be attended the deceased, and told Mr. Penny his opinion that he was not perfectly sane, and that it would be very desirable he should leave him as soon as possible, but that it should be done quietly, unless the excitement should cause him either to commit suicide, or make some fatal mistake in dispensing. Mr. Penny, he believed, acted on the advice. This morning, he was sum. mooed hastily t Mr. Penny's, and found the body of the deceased lying as described by the previous witness. On searching the pockets, he found the bottles that had been spoken to. By the Coroner: There would be time and only just time for the deceased to have drunk the contents of the bottle. and then to have returned it to his pocket. If appli.A to the eye of • rabbit the poison would be fatal. Twenty drops would kill anyone. Olive Cherrot, servant to Mr. Penny, stated that the housekeeper having told her she had heard a noise, she went out to see what it was, and, on going to the closet, she saw a boot of the deceased's, and then ran back to Mr. Penny and aeked him to go out as they thought the e was something the matter. He seemed rather childish at tim.e, but nothing worth noticing. Mr. Penny added that the deceased had filled several good situations, am flg others that of Beach and Barnicott. of and from each he had received good teseinsoniala The jury returne I • verdict that the deceased cornmi,ted suicide whilat in • state of " Temporary Ine.nlty." and will undoubtedly make agood fight, but unless it is wished Canford should have • hand in the ruling of the roast, however much they may personally like Mr. Budge, electors will do well to withhold their vote. from him.  Wi h re,rard to Mr. Wanhlll, Mr. Yeatman, and Mr. Oakl-y, there is nothing to be said again 4 either of them personally, but It should be rememb•red that they represent Toryism, and in Poole Toiyiim means Canford.