370 
PROSECUTION UNDER THE PETROLEUM ACT. 
Poisoning by Strychnia. —On Wednesday, October 27th, an inquest was held 
hy Mr. Carter, coroner for East Surrey, at Croydon Road, South Penge Park, respecting 
the death of Emily Fowler, aged thirty-four, the wife of Mr. W. T. Fowler, who was 
found dead on the balcony of the house in which she lived. From the evidence it ap¬ 
peared that the deceased lived very unhappily with her husband, who was addicted to 
drink, and who had been in the habit of using most abusive language to his wife. It 
was also stated by one of the servants that the deceased had threatened to take poison 
in consequence of the distress of mind she endured by the conduct of her husband. 
Deceased had told witness that Mr. Fowler had brought home some poison on the pre¬ 
vious Friday for the purpose of billing the neighbours’ cats, and that she had found a 
bottle of poison on her dressing-table, which she supposed Mr. Fowler had placed there 
that she might be induced to take it. A bottle, labelled “strychnine,” was found in 
the smoking-room; it contained a small portion of a white fluid. Mr. Fowler stated 
to the coroner that he had purchased the poison, but he was quite sure that it was in 
the form of a powder—not fluid. 
A post-mortem examination of the body was made by Dr. A. N. Turner, who was of 
opinion that death had resulted from poisoning by strychnia. At the suggestion of the 
coroner the inquiry was adjourned for the purpose of having the contents of the stomach 
analysed. 
The inquiry was resumed on Saturday, October 30th, when Mr. Fowler was repre¬ 
sented by Mr. Serjeant Sleigh. The coroner observed that as Mr. Fowler was not 
present while the statement affecting him was made, that part of the depositions must 
be struck out. Dr. A. N. Turner said he had made an analysis of the contents of the 
stomach, and could swear to the presence of strychnine in the stomach. No great 
quantity had been taken; the duration of life afterwards would depend on the quantity 
absorbed in the system. 
Frederick Bingley, chemist, of Plough Court, deposed that he was in the habit of 
supplying Mr. Fowler with various articles, and on the 29th of September he called and 
had a prescription made up, after which he asked for some strychnia to destroy cats 
with. He supplied him with 5 grains ; it Was in the form of crystal, like coarse salt; 
the sale of the same was entered in a book according to law. It was not thought neces¬ 
sary to call Mr. Fowler, and the jury, after deliberating an hour and a half, returned the 
following verdict:—“ That the deceased, Emily Fowler, died from the effects of strych¬ 
nine, but how or by whom administered there is no sufficient or satisfactory evidence.” 
Death from Prussic Acid.— On Wednesday, November 3rd, Dr. Lankester held 
an inquest respecting a death by prussic acid. The subject of this deplorable case was 
Ronald Douglas, alias Campbell, aged 28, who, according to the evidence of his brother, 
Fraser Campbell, had been a professor of modern languages at Paris and elsewhere; he 
was acquainted with eight living languages, in all of which he had edited papers. He 
had for some years taken opium, and would swallow one ounce of laudanum at a draught; 
he also took prussic acid, a bottle of which he always carried with him. His brother 
was present on the night the poison was taken, and although himself rather intoxicated, 
he thought his brother was taking too much, and he had no doubt that the deceased 
took it with the intention of destroying life, as he was always talking of committing 
suicide. Medical aid was called in, but to no purpose; death took place shortly after 
the poison was swallowed. A verdict of “ Suicide while labouring under temporary in¬ 
sanity” was returned. 
On the same day, Dr. Lankester held an inquest on the body of Lewis Browne, aged 
49, a Hebrew scholar, and a graduate of a university, who died from long-continued 
starvation. He had even applied for out-door relief at St. Pancras, and was afterwards 
admitted into the workhouse, where he was attended by the medical officer, but he was 
then too far gone, and died three days afterwards, according to the medical testimony, 
from the effects of starvation. 
PROSECUTION UNDER THE PETROLEUM ACT. 
At the Thames Police Court, November 3rd, John Harmer, of 9, King’s Place, Com¬ 
mercial Road East, an oil and colourman, was charged with keeping petroleum without 
