SINGULAR SUICIDE OF A LUNATIC. Death From Swallowing a Fork.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 224, 15 October 1887, Page 7

SINGULAR SUICIDE OF A LUNATIC.

Death From Swallowing a Fork.

Dr Youl held an Uquest afc the Kew Asylum, Melbourne, upon the body of a patient named Julian Smith, a man 30 years of age, who was admitted by him on the 9th of March, 1886, and died after a short illness. It appeared from the evidence of the attendants that deceased had repeatedly tried to commit suicide by hacking his throat with knives, swallowing paint, needles, and in a variety of other ways trying to terminate his life. His suicidal mania was so pronounced that special watch was kept upon him night and day. On the 20th inst. he became very ill, and when questioned as to the cause he stated that he had swallowed a fork some months previously. Nothing could be done for the sufferer, who gradually grew worse. He further stated that he had not told anyone about the fork for fear that an operation would be performed upon Mm. to remove it. Soon aftevwards he died. In consequence of his statements and the mysterious circumstances accompanying his death it was decided to have a post mortem made on the body. Dr. Nield conducted the examination, with the result that he found a large German silver fork, the handle of which was in the stomach and the prongs buried in the kidney. This foreign substance created an inflammation which was the cause of death. A verdict of peritonitis was therefore agreed upon. The fork in question did not belong to the institution, and there was no explanation as to how he obtained it.

Mrs Jolly boy — *' Where on earth have you been ?" Mr J.— "l cannot tell a lie ; I've been at m'offish," Mrs J.— "That's were wo differ. I can tell a lie — when I hear one." (Cruel silence, during which something is heard to drop. " Wife of a rich rural Galifornian at her first grand dinner, The colonel' offers his arm. "lam to have the pleasure of taking yoit out to dinner, ; Mrs A." Rich rural' wife —"Go 'long with you ; my husband is here ; take your own wife out !"