The Pontypridd District Herald and Rhondda Valley, Llantrisant, Caerphilly, and Mountain Ash News. — 1892-11-19 (Pontypridd, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

STRANGE DEATH OF A DOCTOR. -On Tuesday afternoon, Mr. G. D. Wyatt, coroner for the Southern Division of London, held an inquiry at the "George and Dragon," St. George'sroad, Peckham, respecting the death of James Andrew Murray, aged 32 years, a surgeon, lately residing at No. 49, St. Mary's-road, Peckham.— Albert Joslin, a vaccination officer, stated that he went with Mr. Hall, the lunacy officer, to the above address. The latter went in first, and shortly after beckoned to witness to come in also. After Mr. Hall had told deceased his business, he left the house to call on a Miss Plumer, friend of the deceased, who lives close by. Almost immediately he had left, witness was called upstairs by the servant, and found deceased lying on the floor of his bedroom. Witness also noticed an empty tumbler close to deceased's right hand. Deceased was fully dressed, and making a peculiar snoring noise. Seeing the revolver, witness at first thought that he had shot himself, bat finding no wound concluded that he was in a fit, and did what he could to restore him.— Septimus Hall, a lunacy officer, stated that from information received he laid a sworn affidavit before Mr. Biron, the magistrate at Lambeth Police-court, who signed it, and ordered Drs. Lloyd and Chabot to visit deceased and examine him. Witness went to the house, and saw the deceased, to whom he remarked, "You do not look well." Deceased replied, " What is that to do with you! Are you armed with an authority? —if so, produce it." Witness then showed him the document, and deceased said "You apparently know your duty, you ard only carrying out the Act of Parliament as it stands." Deceased then asked for the hot water, and retired to his room. Witness left the house, and upon his return shortly afterwards saw deceased as described.—The Coroner: From whence did you obtain your information I—Witness: From the police. —Coroner: How did they get it?—Witness: From a priest who visited deceased. An inspector is present and will explain matters.—lnspector Charles Stevens, of the P division, stated that last Friday Father Elzear, of the Monastery, Lowerpark-road, Peckham, called at the Peckham Station and said that he had received a letter from Dr. Murray's sister in Liverpool, in which he stated that before she received it he and his two children would have ceased to exist. Father Elzear also stated that deceased had been very peculiar of late, and considered he ought to be placed under restraint. In consequence of that Mr. Hall was acquainted with the facts of the case.—The Coroner: Did you see the letter ? Witness : No.—The Coroner: Then because somebody swears that somebody else is mad, the officer is informed, he gets an order from a magistrate, and off they go.—Mr. : No. I always make inquiries first. In this case, I saw the servant first and questioned her, and also Miss Plumer. —The Coroner: Then, before any medical man saw him, strangers go into his house, and upset him. It's enough to give any one a fright. Do you always go to the patient's house before a doctor sees them I—Witness : If I anticipated immediate danger a magistrate's order would not be necessary. —The Coroner: All you have to work on in this case is the bare word of a stranger. I know what I should do if a stranger entered my house. He's go out quicker than he came In. If you are only drunk, I suppose, you will next be considered a raving lunatic, and at once carted off. It seems to me that anybody has the power to lock up another person at 10 minutes' notice. You have only to let the relieving officer know, and somebody swoops down upon the individual immediately, but you must make your tale bad enough. I should advise you, gentlemen of the jury, to keep friendly with your neighbours.—Mr. Hall • I should not take a person out of his house, unless he were a raving lunatic, until he had been examined by a doctor. —Dr. H. Chabot, medical offieer at the Camberwell Infirmary, stated that he received a magistrate's order to visit and examine deceased, but upon witness's arrival life was extinct. He had subsequently made a post-mortem examination of the body, and found no trace of poison. The cause of death was syncope, consequent upon a diseased heart accelerated by excitement.—The Coroner : Whose idea was it that the deceased was a lunatic? Witness: We understood that he contemplated suicide. I know no more than what the relieving officer has stated.—After a short deliberation, the jury returned a verdict to the effect that death was due to syncope from a diseased heart, coupled with excitement incident upon receiving information that he was to be taken away as a lunatic.