DOCTOR'S SUICIDE

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 134, 4 December 1930, Page 11

DOCTOR'S SUICIDE

A CRAZY MIND

DIARY OF SENSATIONS

Onlted Press Association—By Electric Teiograph—Copyright. (Beceived 4th December, 2.30 p.m.) LONDON, 3rd December. A remarkable diary describing his own slow death by poison, left by Dr. Hugh Lonsdalc Hands, aged 03, an inoculation expert, of Brighton, was produced at an inquiry at which a verdict of suicide while of unsound mind was returned. Some of the entries, which are in a bold handwriting are: "Taken halfounce of aconite, ounce of chloral hydrate. Both nice, except for tingling, waiting feeling." "Happy; first time over felt without worry, as though free. Heart must be strong." "Won't give wayj it is,long time, so slow." "The Japs, are right; death is lovely. Feel fine, no pain." "Have not told my wife everything; did not want to worry her." "Feel sleepy; pulse still good." "Please have my vein opened; may find myself alive in my coffin —a terrible thought." "I-await the next manifestation. I believe now in a just God, not man's laws. Very comfortable." "Half the furniture and the piano to my wife." "Pulse still good. Just getting slightly dazed. Quite happy. Surely I cannot live on. Am comfortable. Just been sick; must take prussic acid. Pulse good." This was followed by other technical comments. Then: "Extraordinary! Pulse running well. Feel fine. AVhen will it all bo over." Then finally: "God seems to be over me. Jnst leaving for a lovely voyage, but it's slow. First timo I have been without worry. Money is nothing." Evidence showed that tho deceased saw two patients after taking the poison. In a letter to his wife ho said he was heavily in debt. When asked what he had gained ,by all his study and research tlie deceased liad answered "Nothing." Meanwhile,] he added, general practitioners made fortunes out of humbug.