STRYCHNINE MYSTERY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19844, 17 July 1926, Page 17

STRYCHNINE MYSTERY.

MERCHANT’S DEATH CRY. RIDDLE GOES UNSOLVED. POLICE FORCE BAFFLED. For all Ihoir careful examinations and searching Inquiry, neither coroner nor police have succeeded in tearing the veil of mystery from the death of a well-to-do London merchant, who lived at Finchley. It was only alter patient and protracted analysis by an expert pathologist that death was discovered to be the result of strychnine, but the circumstances in which deceased came to take the poison have provided, and threaten to remain, a 11 rut-class mystery. Death followed an curly-morning cup of tea. The victim screamed In agony—as ho had done in an illness a short tune before—and gripped the bed in his efforts to regain self-control. Widow, near relatives, servants, and police, have passed before the coroner to describe events before and after death, and now (says a London paper) the inquiry has closed with an open verdict. The deceased was Mr Kusel Bohr, aged 47. a Lithuanian importer of Chinese eggs. More than a fatal dose of strychnine had been taken by Mr Behr. When the police searched his house they carried away a bottle of gin, in which it was found there was strychnine. Mr Behr was married In Russia in 1009, and ho and his wife settled In England in J 023. Although Mr and Mrs Behr lived on perfectly happy terms, it was stated in evidence to the coroner that deceased had handled his wife with violence on occasions, and once, in a bedroom scene, a maid intervened and smacked his face. The wife did not know the contents of her husband’s will before his death, but learned subsequently that she did not benefit under it. Mrs Behr, In deep mourning, and accompanied by two women friends, attended the final stage of the inquest. Except for the police evidence, the most important remaining witness was Anna Zabrobow, a nurse, whoso testimony had to be Interpreted from Russian. She stated that she went to England with Mr and Mrs Behr and family In 1933, and had continued in their service since. On the evening of March IS, after Mr Bohr had dined, he complained of feeling ill and cold. He went to bed, Mrs Behr being also upstairs, and about an hour later the nurse heard deceased scream loudly. He complained of pains in his fet, and declared he could not move. When he asked for a doctor Mrs Behr telephoned for one. Ho continued to scream until the medical man arrived. DECEASED IX GREAT PAIN. Mr Behr was in bed for nearly a week, said witness, but never mentioned to witness any cause for his illness, and got quite well. On March 31 Mr Behr told her he had a cold again and a sore back, and Mrs Behr instructed the nurse to telephone for his brother. Before the brother arrived Mr Behr screamed—she did not know how many times—sand held the mattress of the bed with both hands. Miss Zabrobow said she could not stay in the room because of deceased’s screams, but later he became quiet. She went back into the room, and was present when he died. Witness remembered that Mr Behr had told her he had been ill shortly before Christmas, and there was one night when ho complained about his head being bad and the loss of the use of his hands. Witness was at the house when Mrs Behr left for China, but did not know the wife was going to that country Mr Behr had told the nurse that he was unable to sleep, and that ho took tablets to make him drowsy. Once, when she was out walking with the children, Mr Bohr came to her and asked her to lend him a few pounds. She lent him £3, but she did not know what ho did with the money. He mentioned that he wanted to buy brandyWitness said she knew that Mr Behr had made a will, for he had told her this a long time before his death. He also stated that ho had not forgotten her, but did not nay what ho had left. Miss Zabrobow first became acquainted with Mr and Mrs Behr at Harbin, Manchuria, in 1918, and had been in their service since when. They always appeared quite happy, but witness remembered Mr Behr was not happy about Mrs Behr being away in China, and there was a quarrel before she went. THE DETECTIVE’S EVIDENCE. Mr Graham, for the widow: You say that on one occasion Mr Behr lost the use of his legs and hands, and could not use the bell at night ? Witness: Yes. He told me he bad fainted. Mrs Behr was away in China. Divisional Detective Inspector Hambrook assured the coroner that ho had interviewed several persons, and those whom he thought were material witnesses had appeared at the inquiry. The Coroner; In addition to taking possession of the bottle labelled “Dry Gin,” did you also make a search of the premises? Vus. I searched Mr Bohr’s bedroom and his clothing, and all the other rooms in tile bouse, but I found no vessel or anything of a suspicious nature, with the exception of the gin bottle taken from the sideboard. I also took possession of a quantity of bottles, phials, and boxes, containing medicines and drugs purchased in different parts of the world. These were in a medicine cupboard in tho bathroom.—There was quite a large quantity?—Yes. The list covered five and a-half sheets altogether. After finding the drugs I put them under lock and key In the list of medicines and drugs, did you find any suggestion of strychnine?—No, with the exception of mis vomica. Have you ascertained if there are various forms of preparation containing strychnine? —Yes. Syrup or tablets, and a form of vo.'-min killer. Did you find anywhere in your examination and search any syrup or tablets, or vermin kiilcr?—No. SEARCHING INQUIRIES. Ha’.e you had inquiries made in the immediate neighbourhood aa to any purchase, of strychnine?—Y’es. I caused inquiries to be made of every chemist and druggist in the Metropolitan area within 35 miles from Charing Cross, but have not found any record of purchases of any form of strychnine traceable to deceased [i [■ \j'j anyone associated with deceased? — No. Then, in a word, the result of your inquiries is entirely negative as to the existence of strychnine except what was present in the bo!tie of dry gm and in the mix vomica?—Vos. Tho Coroner, summing up, pom.rd out that the jury had to del ermine whether the. strychnine had been administered by some person unknown, who would he guilty of homicide, or whether it had been admimstorod by doccasod himself, which would mean suicide There was a third possibility that deceased rmeht have taken an overdose o* the poison by accident. The jury found death to be the result ol ntivchmnc poison without any evidence tn fdi-Av hnw it v;:ifl administered, and tno coroner entered an *'opeu verdict in the icco*da*