Page:Facts, failures and frauds- revelations, financial, mercantile, criminal.djvu/255

FACTS, FAILURES, AND FRAUDS. 243 There was no valvular disease of the heart, but a thickening was perceptible in the left ventricle. The right auricle of the heart was distended with blood, and the left ventricle was empty. The only cavity that contained blood was the right auricle. There was an odour of the essential oil of almonds all over the body. The stomach contained about ten ounces of matter, consisting mostly of undigested food. From six ounces of that matter he took an ounce and a half of essential oil of bitter almonds by distillation, and half an ounce simply by filtration. Embedded in the coats of the stomach, and lying on it, were numerous black particles, perceptible to the naked eye. On examining these with the microscope, he believed them to be powdered opium. Those particles were stuck all over the mucous membrane, chiefly on the upper curvature, and were so numerous as not to be counted. The mucous membrane of the duodenum was friable like that of the stomach, though not so much so, and its contents showed the oil very evidently. The liver was healthy, but had a patch of discolouration on it. The gall bladder was empty, and there was slight congestion here and there throughout the smaller intestines. The kidneys were congested, but otherwise healthy. The pupils of the eyes were dilated. The brain and membranes were congested, but were otherwise healthy, and exhibited no signs of inflammation whatever. There was an effusion of serum at the base, slightly tinged with blood, to the extent of from four to six drachms—a large quantity certainly—which might have been thrown out in the act of death. There could be no doubt that the effect of the essential oil of almonds was the cause of death.

Elwin, the butler, was recalled, and identified the cream-jug as that which his master used at tea on Saturday evening. lie added, in reply to the Coroner, that Mr. Sadleir was quite alone when he left him at tea. Ho had not seen the bottle before which had been produced to-day. He took a bottle from the maidservant between nine and ten o'clock on Saturday evening, which was wrapped up in paper. About five minutes before seven o'clock on Saturday evening, when ho was laying the cloth for dinner, his master gave him a piece of paper, in his own handwriting, to take to Mr. Maitland, the chemist. [This paper, which was produced, was written in a bold flowing hand, and was exactly as follows:—"Get from Maitland's a bottle of the essential oil of bitter almonds; I don't know the quantity wanted, but—but Kenyon writes to me to bring £1 worth. Pay my bill at Maitland's."] [Kenyon was stated, by a gentleman present, to be the deceased's groom, and to have care of his stud of hunting horses at Leighton Buzzard.] He went to Maitland's, but the assistant could not give it him at that time. He asked the assistant what quantity of the article a sovereign would purchase, and he replied about half a pint. Mr. Sadleir had previously that evening asked him to clean two bottles, and place them on the sideboard, which he did. He (witness) did not know it