THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND | he corrected one or two statements, to the effect that on the 19th he knew the order was from Mrs. Carew, because she signed the name of Mrs. Carew on the memorandum. When he asked if it was for external application she said it was. He had heard that Mr. Carew had been been in the habit of using. poison-not taking it-for some time. They entered the names of medicines sold in the day book, and must have the doctor's prescription when they sold medicines.
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taken is usually short-from three or four hours to three or four days at most. Cases are on re- oord of longer periods, but then those cases were such as lasted after the acute action of the poi- son was over and in which death gradually fol- lowed from exhaustion. I therefore have con- cluded that the poison was received by the de- ceased in several doses during his illness and not in a single dose at the commencement of it. And now comes the question as to whether the poison was administered by the deceased himself or by another person unknown to him. If administered by anyone else known to him that is the same as if it were administered by himself so far as my examination is concerned, At this point I should state that arsenic is not only widely used as a medicine, but it has been the most widely employed of all poisons. It is much less employed now in England and other parts of Europe in consequence of the Poisons Act, which causes it to be mixed with soot or indigo and thus make it impossible to use. it without the knowledge of the person receiving it. It is colourless, odourless, and practically tasteless; only in a concentrated form has it any taste.
It is soluble in aqueous fluids and in fluids containing slight medicaments; hence we may have a solution of arsenic which is practically unrecognisable. Fow- ler's solution is coloured and flavoured. It is given a colouring so that it may not be mis- taken for water, but the medicinal doses are so small that the colour and flayour cease to be recognised. Here I may say that the stomach when examined by me was quite fresh. It was opened by me and there was not the slightest odour of volatile poison or of lavender, which serves to give an odour to Fowler's solution. To go back to the question of self-administra- tion or administration by another, the fact of the want of sensible properties has made arsenic the more universally employed and the most convenient to be employed by a person with intent to kill another. Suicidally arsenic has been many times used, but there is such a result produced by an attempt to poison with arsenic that it must be very rare indeed that any one with suicidal intent would administer to himself a second or a third dose, because the effects of arsenic are very depressing upon the mental and bodily faculties, taking away all determination to do anything. Therefore one feels that it would be very unlikely a person would continue to dose himself with arsenic. There is one case
on record of a man taking a dose of arsenic and three or four days afterwards taking another with fatal effect, but in that case the first dose was taken on a full stomach and vomitting following, the poison did not take effect But it is very unlikely that any person suffering severely from arsenic would continue to take it with suicidal intent: As to administering it by misadventure, any one accustomed to use it for medical purposes would hardly give it in poison-
one
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doses because of the difference be- tween the medicinal and poisonous doses. As to the medicinal dose of arsenic being that can be increased by custom, whether one can become habituated to its use, there are persons who have made their for. tunes-fire-eaters and arsenic eaters-who have positively swallowed the arsenic and have got the power of receiving it. Then we know of the Styrian peasants, but I think I am right in saying that medical men find that the dose of arsenic does not require to be increased, but that the ordinary dose requires to be lessened. In ordinary cases we do not meet with the rapid power of becoming accustomed to the medicine which necessitates larger doses. Therefore it is highly improbable that be- ginning with small -doses large doses would come to be required and if they were required that they would act violently as in the case one unaccustomed to it. Taking into con- nideration these matters; I have come to the
lusion that the deceased died from the ffects of arsenic, that that arsenic has been administered by another person, and that it
een administered to the deceased unknown to himself. This decision is one that I have n from the facts which I have stated. The inquest was adjourned for tiffin at this point,
Upon resuming the inquiry at 1.30 p.m. the evidence of Haiashi Shijira, employed in Maruya's drug store, was read over to him, and
Dr. Divers, recalled, was cross-examined by Mr. Lowder as to the properties and effects of arsenic.
Joseph Schedel, chemist, examined by Mr. Litchfield, deposed that he had made up pre- soriptions for the late Mr. Carew. One, dated in October, was for arsenic, prescribed by Dr. Wheeler on October 11 (4 to 3 drops Fowler's solution after dinner). The prescription was made up, and was repeated twice (by E. M. H. Carew), on the 17th Oct. (together with quinine), and on the 21st Oct. The order was signed by Mrs. Carew. The Fowler's solution was sup- plied on the dates named. Before October this year, he had never supplied arsenic in any shape or form to deceased or Mrs. Carew.
Rachel Greer, alias Hananye Chiyaki a ser- vant who was in the employ of Mr. and Mrs. Carew, in her evidence said she got some medi- cine from Maruya for Mr. Carew on the 18th or 19th of October. She received the chit from the hands of her master, and she sent a jinrik- sha man for the medicine.
At ten minutes to five the Coroner asked the jury if they should go on. There were five more witnesses to call, besides any Mrs. Carew might desire to call.
Mr. Lowder-I shall Mrs. Carew, and her examination will take at least three hours.
The Coroner-Then you think, in justice to Mrs. Carew, the inquest cannot be completed to-night?
Mr. Lowder-I think it is impossible. I have an application to make to you, sir. before you rise. It is very important for Mrs. Carew to obg in the evidence of a person named Annie Luke. She was in Yokohama on the 29th of last month and probably is now.. I myself have made every attempt to ascertain the whereabouts of this woman and have failed to do so, and I apply to you now to take such measures as it is in your power to take to ascertain the where- abouts of Annie Luke, and to secure her atten. dance.
The inquest was resumed on the 4th Novem- ber.
On Hannah Uno Ichiyski, the amah, said that one evening during Mr. Carew's illness, Mrs. Carew having gone in search woman came to the of Dr. Wheeler, a house. She was tall and dressed in dark clothes, but the light being dim witness could not say whether she was veiled or not. She asked if Mr. Carew was in. Witness said that Mr. Carew was ill and that Mrs. Carew had gone to fetch Dr. Wheeler. She enquired Witness said where Mr. Carew's room was. his room was upstairs, and she then went away without saying anything.
A betto at Mr. Carew's house, Kuroyanagi Junya, testified to having used a white powder like medicine for the horses.
Mrs. Carew was recalled and examined by her counsel.
In answer to a question that I put to you last Saturday you said, "Generally we lived on affectionate terms as husband and wife, but lately we have had unpleasant discussions on a cer- tain point." On what point had you had these discussions with your husband POn money matters,
/
You have of your own moneys £500 a year have you not? I have.
You have had it ever since your marriage ?— I have.
That is partly your own money and partly an allowance made by your father Yes, £400 my own and £100 allowed me by my father.
And this money has been sent out twice yearly, arriving in the months of June and December Yes -
Up to last June in whose name were the bills the remittances made out ? In Mr. Carew
name.
Last June a remittance of £250 arrived as usual, didn't it? I have reason to suppose it arrived
une
Prior to last treated these remit with the proceeds own account and he would give me mo But at my suggestio me at the Chartered
November
me a monthly allowance for ho he would on receipt mittance from Engl name varying from $500 less-what I asked for understood to be used by him cretion,
husband lone
That was only about a year and half No, I mean the arrangement about was a year and a half ago. This went on till last June.
took place
In last June what conversatio between your husband and you ference to the remittance which shot arrived P-It was in the month of I first spoke to him about the expressed surprise that the mone knew had been sent from Engl yet arrived. I do not remembe at the time, but upon my repea days after he told me the money but that he was then unable to any. I repeatedly
en had to ask him
immediate wantii
the there
explain why he had such immet that money, but as he could give me no satis factory answer I was obliged to make arrangements respecting the way in remittances were sent out from home. upon consulted Mr. Dickinson.
He was a friend of the family, was he not? He was. I consulted him as to the best way which I could do so.
Your object being to have the control of these remittances in your own hand ? Quite so, and as Mr. Dickinson knew and had always known more about my affairs than most people here he wrote home for me some time during the summer and subsequently advised me to go and tell Mr. Jackson, of the Hongkong Bank, my wishes and to get him to help me in matter, which he did.
Was that the only controversy that you ever had with your husband ? Absolutely.
Did it make any difference in your marital relations P-None whatever.
Your husband had no private fortune of his own P-No.
.
Witness went or to say that her husband having recently expressed a wish to pu
house, she wrote to her father, who said he would be willing to let her have £2,000 to invest in house property, and upon that a was negotiated with Mr. Blad for $13,000; the bargain had only been relinquished in conse- quence of the death of her husband. Her hus- band had also expressed a wish to give up his position at the Club and go into business. and witness wrote to an uncle of hers, who was also one of her trustees, and asked him whether she could realise some of the money which she had in her own right to enable Mr. He replied that he Carew to go into business. did not think it would be advisable to realise any of her own money, but that there was no harm in telling her that he had left her money, in his will, and that if it would be of any service to enable Mr. Carew to go into business, and provided that he (the uncle) approved of the învestment, he was willing to advance the money at once. The sum of money was no tinotly stated, but it would be roughly £10,000. Mr. Carew at on and finally decided that he a silk firm. The arrangem settled.
Mr. Lowder You were married P Witness In the early part 1889 Did your parents approv the marriage?With some emotion
After your marriag husband live together on ter From the time we were he died.
Witness then gave having been prescribed Straits by Dr. Sin
ske it. Do you cal
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What day of the day o
It was a very
—Saturday, the
afternoon, I believe P-1Ch
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