SAD SUICIDE OF A SURGEON.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1285, 28 February 1883, Page 2

SAD SUICIDE OF A SURGEON.

The village of Hounslow, about ten miles west of London, has recently been the scene of considerable excitement owing to the lamentable suicide of a medical gentleman of high repute in that neighborhood. It appears that one day last week Dr. Edwardes, a surgeon of good practice, who had lived some time at Hounslow, and who was well-known and highly esteemed, committed suicide in his surgery by taking a dose of prussic acid, During the period he lived at Hounslow Dr. Edwardes succeeded in becoming one of the most popular men in the place. He was, it is said, most devoted to his profession, and exceedingly attentive to the poorer class of patients. He became a partner in Dr. Whitmarsh’s practice there a little more than 12 months ago. For his share in this practice Dr. Edwardes paid £l,BOO. According to the statement of his friends, he had been led to anticipate an income of about £BOO a year. The reality came so far short of his expectations that his relations with his partner became rather strained. One day last week Mr. Edwardes was called in to see a female patient, the wife of a working man. The same evening he received a rambling letter from this person charging him with a criminal assault. He faced the latter boldly. He at once went down to his accuser and threatened her with prosecution unless the charge was withdrawn. The prompt adoption of this course, it is asserted, produced a full retraction, which was signed by the woman, her husband, and two witnesses, one of whom was Dr. Whitmarsh, his partner Dr. Edwardes insisted that the letter containing the charge against him should be torn up in his presence, but I for some reason or other the pieces I

were afterwards gathered together and pasted down. Dr. WMtmarßh, who, it is stated, witnessed the refraction, was accused in the evidence before the coroner's inquest of having acted as if the charge against Dr. Edwardes had never been withdrawn. He main- t tained that, under the circumstances, r it would be necessary to dissolve the partnership, and he insisted that Df: Edwards should take £5OO to gd out. Dr. Edwards, a peculiarly sensitive man, appears td have acted with great indecision. At first he accepted Dr. Whitmarsh’s terms, and then sent a message saying that he declined them. He at once went home, greatly excited, and wrote a letter in which he said that the cause of his troubles was hit partner, with the woman above alluded to. and then took the dose of prussic acid, which proved fatal. At the coroner's inquest held on the body, the - j jury returned a verdict of suicide by taking poison. The funeral took place M on the Ist January, and during the day it was whispered about that an attack would be made on the house of Dr. Whitmarsh, the surgeoii alluded to in the letter, and small groups began to gather in the neighborhood in the afternoon. It happened that at a spot near Albemarle House, where Dr. Whitmarsh resides, a drinking fountain is being erected. Round this there assembled a crowd, which increased in numbers hour by hour* until about 2000 persons had gathered. There was no uncertainty as to their intention, but the police were powerless against such a multitude, especially when it was obvious that they com* manded the sympathy of the general public. After a short interval, during which execration* both loud and deep were heard in the crowd, a stone was flung through the windows of Dr, followed by others, until volley after volley smashed every window in the residence of the unpopular doctor. There was no attempt to loot the house, nor was there any indication of dishonest purpose on the part of the stone thrower*. They were not content, however, with tmashing the window panes. After the work of demolition wa* completed they pro* ceeded to make a bonfire, in which they placed the effigy of Dr Whitmarsh amid great enthusiasm, The town was in an uproar the whole evening, and several of the rioters were charged before the magistrates next day and remanded. The inquest on the body was resumed on Jau. 4. Dr Whitmarsh, Dr Edwardes'* parher did not appear, but sent a certificate, stating that he was suffering from nervous debility. Mrs Edwardes, the widow, gave some most extraordinary evidence in the case, which was again adjourned. The affair has created the utmost excitement in the neighborhood, and it is expected that a charge of conspiracy will be brought against certain persons in connection with it.