A FAMILY OF EIGHT POISONED AT BOMBAY.

Evening Star, Issue 3082, 4 January 1873, Page 2

A FAMILY OF EIGHT POISONED AT BOMBAY.

(FROM THE TIMES OF INDIA, NOV. 18.)

On Tuesday night last and yesterday morning, one of the most diabolical tragedies which Bombay has experienced for many years past was enacted almost simultaneously at the house of a Mr DeG-a, formerly an accountant in the Bank of Bombay, residing in Grant road, opposite to the Theatre Royal, and at two dwelling-houses at Bandora. It seems that, during the course of the day, Mr J. M, DeGa had received, from some unknown person orpersons, somecakes and sweetmeats, and after the family had dined on Tuesday evening, a servant was sent to fetch the cake from the deceased’s room. The cake was brought and placed on the table, and Mr J. M. DeGa and Miss Amelia DeGa. bis sister, partook of some of it, and very shortly afterwards both of them were seized with very violent vomiting fits and excruciating pains. These symptoms continued up till about 11.45 the same night, when Mr DeGa expired. Three of the servants, who ate some of the cake which remained, were also attacked in the same manner. But unfortunately, the sad affair did not end here. It seems that Mr J. DeGa during the day had sent a portion of the sweets to a relation of his named Mr A. DeGa, of Messrs Forbes and Co., residing at Bandora Hill, who subdivided the sweets and sent some to a Mr J. D. Pereira, managing clerk of Messrs Dallass and Lynch, solicitors. The sweets were eaten at dinner by both Mr and Mrs DeGa, and Pereira and his mother. They were all seized with vomiting fits and violent pains. D; P. C. De Souza, of Upper Mahira, was sent for, but, notwithstanding all that professional aid could afford, Mrs Pereira expired at 1 a.m. yesterday morning, and her son, Mr J. D. Pereira, at half-past 7 a.m, Mr and Mrs A. DeGa were lying in a dangerous condition yesterday morning, the former not being expected to survive. A Mr and Mia De Lima, who partook of the cakes, although seriously ill, have been both pronounced out of danger. Thus, altogether three persons have died and many more are suffering seriously, fromfhe effects of a most diabolical plot. That the poisoning was intentional there can be no doubt, and is the result of a deep laid plan, which has thrilled the whole of the community with horror. Who the plotter or plotters are is yet unknown, but our police authorities are leaving no stone unturned to obtain a clue, and no doubt they will succeed very shortly in unravelling the mysteries of a tragedy which has scarcely a modem parallel. An inquest was held by Mr T. G. Hewlett, the coroner of Bombay, yesterday morning, and the following is the evidence of Mrs Angela DeGa. I am the mother of the deceased, and live at Grant road. He was nearly 40 years of age. He was not engaged in any profession. He lived with me in the house. The deceased was perfectly well until yesterday evening at half-past six, He dined with the rest of the family. After

dinner tKe deceased toM the HiUSSaI to gO to his room and bring him some sweetmeat that had been sent to him during the course or the day. The mossal went to the deceased s room, and returned bringing with him this glass dish, which contained a slice of cake which was tied up iu the napk n, n f W produced, mark' dA. G. This mark belongs to my eldest son, Antony George DeGa. The deceased sahi that this piece of cake had been sent him by my nephew, Dr Lewis Rozario. The deceased gave a small bit of this cake to his sister Amelia, who is seventeen years of age. and who is suffering from vomiting and purging, and he ate the remainder of the cake. He said it was a good cake, and he did not say that he noticed anything particular in the taste. At dinner there were the following persons, I myself,my son Michael, my daughter Angelina DeGa another daughter, Emily, and the deceased. Of these persons, my daughter Emdy and the deceased were the only two who ate portions of the cake, and they wore the only two who were taken ill after dinner. About half an hour after dinner the deceased complained of feeling sick, andcommenced to vomit. He complained of a burning pain in the stomach. I sent for Dr Musquito, wbe sent back word he could not come. My coachman had gone for Dr. Rozario, and brought him l ack He arrived a little after 9 o’clock. The deceased was quite sensible, and ascribed his illness to his having eaten the cake The deceased was not at home when the cake was brought, and having returned home at 5 o’clock in the evening, I did not see the person who brought it, nor did I know that it had come until after dinner, when the deceased said it had been sent by his cousin, Dr Lewis Rozario. The deceased remained in great pain. He was incessantly vomiting, and was purged more than once. I did not see any blood in the vomited matter. The deceased became unconscious a little before bis death, which took place at a quarter to 12 p.m. The glass plate now produced did not belong to the deceased, nor to this house. Ido not know to where it does belono'. My daughter Emily did not eat all the cake that had been given her by her brother. She left a portion of it, which was given to a servant boy, who, I am told, divided it between three other servants, all of whom have been seized with vomiting and purging. I have no suspicion against any person in particular. I have no enemies, and as far as I am aware the deceased had none. My son, Mr Antony DeGa, is living at Bandura. After the death of the deceased, I sent a servant to inquire after his health and that of his family, as I bad been informed that another piece of cake had been sent out to Bandora to my son Antony. The servant returned, saying that all the family were sick. I have since learnt that my son Antony and two others have been taken ill. line of Mr Antony DeGa’s napkins is kept in this house. At the tejmination of this evidence the inquest wa< adjourned to the 26th iust., to be held at the coroner’s office, Fort.

An inquest was held on the bodies of Mrs Domingos Pereira and her son, Mr J. D. Pereira (managing clerk of Messrs Dallas and Co.), by the fouzdar, yesterday, when it w<is decided that the stomach contents should be sent to the J. J. Hospital to be analysed. The jury came to the conclusion that death was caused by the deceased’s having eaten some sweetmeats containing poison, pitsented to them by their neighbor, Mr A. G. DeGa, who received it from their relatives at Bombay. Tke ayah of the dedeceased, who had also partaken of the sweet’s, is dangerously il l , and some 10 persons who partook of the sweets at Mr DeGa’s house, have all been more or le?s affected. During the day a rumor was circulated stating that Mr A. G. DeGa (of Messrs Forbes and Co.) and Mr Pereira’s ayah, had succumbed to the poison. This was, however, unfounded; both are si ill living, though dang rously ill. The remains of Mr J. D. Pereira, aged 38, and those of his mother, aged 64 years, were interred yesterday afternoon at half-past 4, in the Bandora Cemetery. A large number of mourners followed the deceased, who were both much respected. > he horrible tragedy has cast quite a gloom over B indora, and profound sympathy is felt by all classes for the sufferers by the dastardly act. Mr A. G. DeGa (an assistant of Messrs Forbes and Co), one of the victims of the plot which startled Bombay with its consummation, expired at his residence at Bandora at half-past 3 yesterday morning. The deceased, who was 42 years of age, leaves a widow, who it will be remembered also suffered from the effects of the poisoned sweets, but is now recovering.