TWIN BROTHERS SUICIDE

Hokitika Guardian, 17 January 1929, Page 6

TWIN BROTHERS SUICIDE

TRAGIC END OF BRILLIANT CANCER EXPERTS. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright). LONDON, Jan. 15. Two Harley Street specialists, twin brothers, aged 30 Arthur Brown Smith, radium and cancer expert, and Sidney Smith, radium and therapeutist, graduates of Edinburgh University, anti joint authors of essays on radium treatment of earner, were found dead in their service flats at St. James, which they took over last week. They were found lying on the floor, with their throats cut. A large piece of paper contained a message as follows : ‘To the Nation: —We are doing this owing to fear ol poverty.” Their medical colleagues describe them as brilliant radium and cancer experts, and assured ol a future. Their letter to the nation declared tneir research work for humanity had reduced them to poverty. They had devoted their lives to the study of cancer, and hid their poverty from everyone. Friends in Fdinhurgli would gladly have helped them. It is suggested that the - costliness of radium ruined them. The Daily Telegraph describes the deaths as one of the most extraordinary tragedies of recent years. The Smiths were aged about thirty. Photographs show a remarkable resemblance, confirming remarks of friends that it was difficult to distinguish one from the other. The twins were tall and dark, both wore pince-nez, dressed, and parted their hair alike. A representative of the Daily Telegraph interviewed both on November 21st. regarding tbe nation’s need for radium. Since then telegrams had been received and rambling letters from the brothers, suggesting that statements were made against them in the press, hut. as is known, no such letters have been published. The Daily Express states that the brothers attended a party given by a specialist on Saturday night. They arrived early, and seemed distraught, and said they wanted to confer privately on an important matter. They used the telephone, and thereafter one said that the treatise he and his brother had published in a medical journal had produced curious political, results. “Oh nonsense!” said their host. An awkard silence followed. The brothers again conferred, and finally asked permission to slip away quietly. They departed. their host fearing their minds were unhinged. He made, a final attempt to pierce the mystery. On Monday they assisted at an operation at St. Paul’s Hospital, performed by a distinguished IVimpolo Street surgeon who says the hospital was very poor, and had no radium. Judge therefore his delight at tli-o brothers offering their service and radium free. They brought their own private supply of radium, consisting of ten needles, worth £2090. They left „..o hospital in the evening, promising to assist at another operation on Wednesday. Tin* surgeon was certain that no thought of death had then entered their minds. The message to the nation was: “Wo have given our lives to the study of cancer research. YYe reduced • ourselves to a state of poverty, and life was not worth living.” The newspapers point out that the twins’ resemblance was frequently mental as well as physical. If one was distraught, the other was also in a similar condition.