NO TRACE OF POISON

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXV, Issue 3277, 10 March 1931, Page 7

NO TRACE OF POISON

WOMAN'S DEATHBED ALLEGATION DISPROVED.

As the result of analytical examination of certain internal organs by a Home Office expert, mystery connected with the death of Mrs. Tamar Annie White, 56, of Bedford, was solved when the inquest was resumed by the coroner. Mrs. White died on November 27, and before she passed away she alleged that ground glass had been put in her food. This allegation was described by her husband, Mr. Sidney Henry White, as nonsense.

At the earlier proceedings Dr. J. Mackenzie Stuart stated that Mrs. White had been suffering from peripheral neuritis, which could be caused by lead, arsenical or alcohol poisoning.

Dr. Roche Lynch, the Home Office analyst, now gave the result of his examination. He stated that he could detect no trace of poison or any noxious substance, and was satisfied that death was due to pernicious anaemia.

"I think that is as far as we need go. It has cleared up things," remarked the coroner. Replying to Mr. R. H. Barrett, who appeared for Mr. White, Dr. Lynch added that he thought the woman's allegations about ground glass were owing to the distorted state of her mind, due to the serious state of her health. Coroner, to Dr. Lynch: Dr. Stuart has expressed the opinion that Mrs. White was suffering from peripheral neuritis, which could be caused by certain poisons?

Dr. Lynch: A form of paralysis similar to neuritis is a frequent complication of pernicious anaemia. No doubt her weakness was due to this complication. The coroner observed that he would like the point cleared up why a doctor was * not called between November 14 and Mrs. White's death on November 27.

Dr. Stuart explained that he asked Mrs. White why she had not seen a doctor before, and she replied that she did not like doctors. She declined to go to hospital. Mr. White gave evidence. —The coroner asked him, "In view of the fact that you knew your wife was seriously ill, and making these allegations against you, why did you leave her for nine days without medical attention?"

Mr. White: I did not know why the doctor was not calling. Coroner: You realise that it was largely owing to the fact that your wife was left without medical attention that we have had to go to this trouble of holding an inquest and having an analysis of the organs? Winifred Doris Poulton, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. White, stated that just before her death her mother remarked, referring to her father, "He has been good to me; you have been good to me; everybody has been good to me. Oh, my head." Her father, witness added, had done everything possible for her mother.

The coroner observed that it was obvious there was no foundation for the allegations made against Mr. White.

The jury returned a verdict of "Death from natural causes," the foreman adding that they wished to express their sympathy with Mr. White and to place on record their opinion that he and his daughter had done everything possible for Mrs. White.