DANIEL DONOLLY. DECEASED.

Otago Witness, Issue 1905, 25 May 1888, Page 30

DANIEL DONOLLY. DECEASED.

(Whittbn for thb Otago Witness.) By Weka. "Dr Peter Pringle, M.D., M.R.C.5.L.," was the legend emblazoned on the big brass plate affixed to the door of No. 122 Blackfriars Bridge road, London, informing the public at large that that disciple of JEsculapius had taken up his abode at the establishment in question, and that his valuable services were at the disposal of the denizens of that classic neighbourhood and the rest of her Majesty's lieges, and when daylight — which, in winter at all events, has not a very large share of the 24 hours — in the murky metropolis had ceased to make the announcement available, a large lamp brilliantly illuminated took up the running and gratuitously afforded in bold black letters on a red background the same important information. Dr Peter Pringle (who had only recently obtained his degree, and was determined to lose no time in placing his services at the disposal of a public doubtlessly impatiently waiting to avail themselves of them) was unfortunately of anything but an imposing appearance, being under medium height, narrow-chested, round shouldered, and having red hair, a beardless and youthful face, a sickly complexion disfigured with freckles, and suffering seriously from ghort sight, was compelled to wear spectacles ; and to an ordinary observer would have appeared to be the last person in the world likely no be entitled to place after his name such an array of imposing initials, and should it have been proposed that any were at all necessary a much smaller number and of a very different import would have been thought more appropriate. For some time after Dr Pringle had commenced practice he found his time hanging rather heavily on his hands, as patients were remarkably shy in seeking his advice, and those who did so seemed to consider that they were giving him a valuable quid pro quo in allowing him to practise upon them in return for his medical attendance, and in any case consisted almost entirely of the class who invariably receive their professional treatment in an eleemosynary manner. He was therefore considerably astonished one morning when his boy in buttons ushered into his consulting room a woman of a far more pretentious appearance than the hitherto ordinary run of his customers, and possessing altogether a very lady-like pre-

sence. She was a person of about 30 years of age, elegantly, though quietly, attired in black, with a pleasing face, a taking manner, and ready address, and after being requested to be seated, said : "Dr Pringle, as I have , occasionally had business which took me past your door, I noticed that a new doctor had come into t.his neighbourhood, but my attention was not particularly directed to that fact until I

had on one or two occasions the pleasure of seeing you personally on your either entering or leaving your house. I may mention that I am a married woman, though without any family, and that my husband is suffering from some complaint that neither he nor I can understand. He has a great antipathy to consult any doctor, and to tell you the truth I have had but little faith in them myself, but after having seen you two or three times, as I have already mentioned, the thought came

into my mind that here was an opportunity that had not previously offered itself. The idea struck me that a young man like yourself so recently from. the medical schools, and possessing such valuable degrees, must have acquired all the latest information for the treatment of obscure diseases, and my business here to-day is to request you to pay my husband 'a professional visit, and give him the benefit of your estimable advice." Dr Pringle felt immensely flattered at such a panegyric on his probable abilities, and a visit was arranged for the following morning at 11 o'clock. Next day, whilst Big Ben at Westminster was chiming the hour previous to striking 11 o'clock, Dr Pringle was giving a smart raltat with the knocker at No. 3 Montpelicr Villas, Clapham road, a semi-detached threestoreyed residence of the usual description to be found in that and other respectable suburbs of the great metropolis, and was shortly afterwards shown into the presence of his visitor of yesterday, who was seated on an easy chair near the fire in a comfortably furnished drawing room, and who on rising remarked : 4 'Good morning Doctor, I am very pleased that you have arrived so punctually, as I feax that my poor husband, Mr Donolly, has take a very bad turn, and 1 think you had better come up stairs to his bedroom immediately to give us your opinion." Mrs Donolly conducted the Doctor into the sick man's chamber, which was also most unexceptionally furnished, the patient lying upon a bed of the most capacious pioportions, and upholstered with the most luxurious surroundings that anyone could desire. Mr Donolly proved upon examination to be a-raau of medium height and ordinary appearance, such an one of

whose type you' meet hundreds in a walk through the" city. A heavy face without any particular egression, a complexion slightly yellow, but tinged slightly by the , reflected colour of the green Venetian blinds that were closely drawn down ; and being evidently indisposed to indulge in any conversation, Mrs Donolly described all his symptoms. After a thorough examination Dr Pringle found himself entirely at fault and quite unable to decide upon the complaint of the sufferer, but this, of course, he kept to himself, and after writing out a prescription pocketed the guinea tendered by Mrs Donolly with great complacency. After Dr Pringle had paid him one or two visits Mr Donolly appeared to improve, and his attendance was not further required for a week or two, when to his great surprise and dismay one morning he was called upon and informed that his patient was dead. Upon hastening to No 3 Montpelier Villas he found that the •information was only too true ; but a suspicion crossed his mind that the event had not so recently occurred as Mrs Donolly desired to lead him to believe, as the necessary offices had been performed and the corpse's face tied up ; but this was accounted for by Mra Donolly explaining that her husband had expired suddenly in the night, and that she had not thought it necessary to disturb the Doctor until the morning. Dr Pringle noticed that his late patient looked much more wasted than on his last visit, but attributed this to the effect of the insidious nature of his lingering and obscure disease, but could not call to mind in his hospital experience that his attention had ever been previously directed to the fact that death contracted the nose of its victim, as in this case, for he felt sure that the corpse's nose was a trifle .more retrousee than it had appeared in life. However, his patient was dead, and nothing further could be done than give a certificate of death and pocket the fees. Notwithstanding Dr Pringle's unfortunate personal appearance, he was really as clever a little fellow as any amount of letters after his name could lead any one to believe him to be, and when walking the hospitals had been greatly admired and beloved by his fellow students. Eeginald Harrison, although considerably his junior, had for a long time been his jidus Achates — his own particular companion, and the two friends had long ago arranged to run over to Boulogne for a fortnight in the autumn for a change of air. That time had now arrived, and it was agreed that Regie should come over at night to have supper and bed at the Doctor's to enable them to be ready to make an early start in the morning, the Doctor having provided a charming little bachelor's supper of devilled kidneys, baked potatoes, and porter to entertain right royally his honoured guest. It may be easily understood that two such energetic members of the medical profession, eyen if one was still in an embryonis state, lost little time before they were over the neck talking shop, and Regie was soon in the middle of a lengthy story giving f nil particulars of an awfully rummy case they had had up at " Guy's." " You must know, Pete, old fellow " (Regie chatted away with wonderful volubility, hardly giving himself time to do that justice to the devilled kuiui/yo which, thanks to the professional skill of the doctor's cook, they undoubtedly deserved, occasionally dallying them on the end of his fork during their passage from his plate to his mouth, rendered temporarily oblivious of their very existence during that short journey by the interest he took in the news that he was communicating), "that for some time past we have been terribly pestered by a lady of evidently philanthropic views, who took great interest in the patients at the hospital ; and I believe ours is not the only one which she has favoured with her attentions. Although she was always kind in her manner to the sick and suffering, there were only certain cases which took her attention, and concerning those she.made great inquiries as ( to their , position in life and the complaints they were suffering from, whether they were friendless or not, and if their diseases were likely to prove fatal. However, that is merely incidental ; the interesting .part of my story is this : A patient — a man of, about 40 years of age — was brought in suffering from some complaint that was evidently wasting him

away, and old Fotheringham diagnosed the case as calculus in the left kidney, and an operation was determined on. Well, the students were present for a clinical lecture. The necessary preliminary cuts were made by the operator, when, to our astonishment, his kidney was found to be as sound," (and here for a moment Regie was lost for a subject for comparison, when suddenly his attention reverted to his fork in his hand, which, in consequence of the enormous interest he took in the narration of his yarn, had been arrested in transitit with a cargo, and being impressed with the appositeness of the comparison added) " as this I have on my fork. It ; was a fearful disappointment to all, but there was no help for it but to sow him up and put him back to bed. What a wonderful interest she took in that poor fellow ! Of course he was incurable and couldn't last

long ; and being friendless she would soon be able to know the complaint that had belied old Fotheringham's hitherto accurate diagnoses. It was sad to see him lingering from clay to day. We were all convinced that his early death would be a happy release for him ; when, would you believe it, one day I noticed a fresh occupant in his bed, and on making inquiries I was told that he had died the previous afternoon, and his body had been claimed by our philanthropic friend, who had lately been paying him great attention. Wasn't it a fearful disappointment after we had all so patiently waited to ascertain for a certainty what had baffled old Fotheringham, to be cheated by a philanthropic, canting old humbug like that?"

Of course Dr Pringle deeply deplored that through the mistaken kindness, doubtless, of a devout woman that such an interesting case should be lost to science, and he endeavoured to relieve Regie's regrets by a resume of his own experiences in connection with late Mr Donolly, and by these means a very pleasant evening was enjoyed. One day when the two friends' holiday was drawing nearly to a close they were sitting at the window of the smoking room of the Hotel de Paris enjoying a cigar whilst awaiting the arrival of a messenger returning with the doctor's spectacles, which had unfortu-

natelymet with' an accident that morning, and had been sent to a neighbouring op- ! tician's for repairs, when a lady and gentlei man drove down the street in a carriage and pair, much, evidently, to the surprise of Regie Harrison, who excitedly exclaimed : " There's the philanthropic lady who defrauded our fellows of their dues." 1 " Indeed," replied the doctor, 44 1 should be most happy to make her acquaintance, but bother that optician for keeping mo so long ; but what you tell me is a carriage ■ and pair appears to me but a- blotch on the roadway." During the remaining few days of their visit they did not catch sight of the two people whose appearance had so greatly interested Regie, but on the doctor's return home amongst other letters lying upon his desk he opened and read the following : — The Briton Insurance Company, Ludgate Hill, October 1, 1887. Dear Sib, — Re Daniel Donolly, deceased. As the certificate of death of the above-named deceased, who was heavily insured in this office, and whose policies had been paid, is signed by yourself, and as suspicions have been aroused that, he is not really dead, I should esteem it a great obligation if you would kindly favour me with a call at your earliest convenience. — I am, sir, your obedient servant, Henby Lamb, Manager. Dr Peter Pringle. i Dr Pringle's equanimity was terribly upset at the receipt of such a bombshell as this in his peaceful camp. To think that a man whom he had seen .undoubtedly dead, and whose appearance at the time denoted rather than otherwise the length of time that had elapsed since his decease, was alive and not dead at all, was ridiculous in the extreme, and the idea was not to be entertained for s, single moment. The interview in the morning with the manager of the Briton failed to elucidate the matter one single iota ; certainly the action of the late Mr Donolly had been peculiar, to say the least of it, and if he had had a forboding that his career would be cut short he had evidently determined that Mrs Donolly, at any rate, should not be a sufferer by such a lamentable contingency. Besides the Briton he had favoured other offices with his patronage, and the amount recovered by his better-half from them had totted up to a very respectable sum indeed. Everything connected with his death, however, had been entirely en re/jle, the doctor who attended him being beyond suspicion, and the evidence of the undertaker and his assistants who had performed the last rites that we poor mortals require would have been sufficient to satisfy the most suspicious 12 men that ever pat together to form a jury. Rumour, however, h,ad it that a couple suggestively like the late Mr Donolly and his charming spouse were having a remarkably good time at the different watering places on the Continent. In the evening Regie dropped in to have a chat with his chosen companion about the pleasant excursion they had enjoyed in each other's company; to discuss the charming girls they had seen ; and, in fact, "to fight their battles o'er again," and was shocked to find the Doctor in far too serious a mood for indulging in such flippant frivolities. ,, 4 'Why, Pete, old fellow," he exclaimed, " the good your holiday did you has soon vanished. You look as if you had just received a letter from a Jew money lender informing you thai your promissory note for £60 had been dishonoured, and announcing that legal proceedings would be immediately taken for the recovery of that amount. Why, what on earth's the matter with you ?" Dr Pringle was not long in unburdening himself of his depressing intelligence, and after arguing the matter both he and Regie felt sure that some roguery was involved in the affair, but failed to probe in the slightest degree the weak point in the case. : ■ Regie, although disposed to grant his poor bothered friend, all the sympathy that he

could spare, was far too volatile to pass the evening without indulging in some retrospect of their pleasure excursion, and reviewed one by one each interesting event that had made, an impression on his mind. When iall his other subjects had been pretty well exhaustfd, he remarked: "I wonder how that philanthropic, pleasant-looking lady is getting on that slewed all our fellows so properly up at, Guy's. From the way she was enjoying herself at Boulogne she seems to have given up her hospital, practice and gone in for something a little more lively." > " Perhaps she was performing some sort of penance for past misdeeds," the Doctor replied, " and has now received absolution. What sort of a looking person was she,

Regie?" " Oh, she was an elegant, lady-like person," Regie said ; " well dressed in quiet dark sort of apparel, with a manner pleasing though commanding great respect ; dark brown hair, hazel eyes, regular teeth, and of about 30 years of age." 14 Why, you are describing Mrs Donolly," the Doctor calmly replied ; 44 where on earth did you see her ? " 41 1 don't know," continued Regie, 44 whether I am describing Mrs Donolly or not, for I don't know the party's name ; but that's the description of the, philanthropic humbug that did us out of our just dues, and that I saw driving the pair of flash bays in a phseton the other day at Boulogne." " Eureka ! " yelled the Doctor, jumping excitedly out of his chair, 41 1 have found it. Your philanthropic friend and Mrs Donolly are one and the same individual, and the unfortunate person whose position when in articulo mortis not proving so friendless as it might have been desired, occasioned the cause of science so much justifiable regret, I am positive now played the part of lay figure of Daniel Donolly, deceased, for whom I gave a certificate of death. Although Mr Donolly is a man not difficult to duplicate in stature, outline, features, and general appearance, I thought at the time that the deceased had not possessed quite so heavenly-disposed a nose as the corpse then had, but it being the first case of my losing a patient, I was a trifle disconcerted, and having no cause for suspicion none was aroused." "That unravels the mystery at last," Regie replied. "We always wondered why this charitable lady took so Christian-like J an interest in such ordinary-looking middleaged male patients when the wards were filled with far more interesting occupants of both sexes." Dr Peter Pringle on the following morning waited on Mr Lamb at the Briton office and

afterwards accompanied him to Scotland Yard to place before the authorities there the last developments of this already suspicious case. The police being now thoroughly on the scent, were soon successful in securing their quarry, who, confident in the safety of their position and in the success of their deeply-laid plot, had given themselves up to the thorough enjoyment of their enormous ill-gotten gains. Although it was discovered that the lady and gentlemen who had previously been known as Mr and Mrs Donolly, but had now exchanged that humble cognomen for a more pretentious patronymic, had left Boulogne, the police had little difficulty in following on their track, and arrested them at San Carlo, where they had .probably betaken themselves to enjoy the pleasure of witnessing the frantic attempts of their fellow creatures to acquire riches with no more justifiable reason and with the surer prospect o£ utter failure than had faced them in their own venture. No- doubt — all countries being alike to them — had they had the slightest suspicion that.in technical language, "the gaff had been blown on them," they would have favoured Portugal with their presence, where they would have been able to enjoy their freedom with perfect immunity from the attention of the emissaries of the English law, which would have been a preferable alternative to the long term of penal servitude which they actually did endure as a reward for their far too successful raid on British capital.