A shocking tragedy, the result of a mistake, occurred on Tuesday at Rushden, when Mrs Harrison, 25, wife of the professional boxer “Jack” Harrison, middleweight ex-champion of England, of West-street, took a solution of oxalic acid, thinking it was health salts. The circumstances are particularly sad, as the evidence at the inquest showed that Harrison and his wife had lived happily together, next door to his mother’s home. The poor woman, on finding out her mistake, ran panic-stricken to her mother-in-law, but so effective was the poison that she succumbed in a few minutes, notwithstanding that she vomited part of the poison. The affair created quite a sensation amongst the neighbours and much sympathy is felt with the friends.

The inquest was held at the Feathers Inn on Wednesday, before Mr J Cairns Parker (deputy coroner). Mr C W Barker was chosen foreman of the jury.

John (Jack) Harrison, professional boxer, and husband of the deceased, said he last saw his wife alive at 1.45p.m. on Tuesday. She asked him what time he was coming home, and he replied that he should return about six and have tea and supper together. His wife said she was going to see her mother. Witness called on her mother to let her know that his wife was going to call. Witness’s mother came here he was about 4p.m. to let them know about his wife’s sudden illness, and when he got home she was dead. He did not know that she had purchased any poison, as he not ask her about her purchases, but she had told him that everything was all right in the home. He knew of no reason why she should commit suicide. He had recently found that a couple of men had been to the house over some money she owed. He had asked her what the men came for and she said, “I suppose they want some money, but I will pay it myself.” She told him she had plenty of money in the bank. He had always given her sufficient money for requirements. His wife told him on Tuesday that she was going to draw some money that afternoon and he took her word for it. They had

Never Had a Quarrel

over the matter. He had been to the Post Office on the morning of the inquest and was told that they had no money in Mrs Harrison’s name—he could not make out what she had done with it. He used to give her what money she asked for. They had no children.

The Coroner: If she had asked for £10 would you have given it to her?

Witness: Yes, sir. I have given her as much as £30 at once, and never less than £1 a week.

The Coroner: Did she ever threaten to take her life?—No, sir, I have never dreamt of such a thing, and am very sorry it has happened; we have lived quite happily together, especially the last six months, when she has been out with me more.

What do you estimate the debts amounted to?—I saw her book about a fortnight ago, and she owed between £50 and £60 for furniture and jewellery.

In reply to the coroner, witness further added that, although he found about the amount of the debt only recently, they had had no words over it. They had been married about three years, part of which time he had spent in America.

Mrs Harrison, mother-in-law of the deceased, living next door to her son, said she saw the deceased several times during the morning. She did not see her son come home at dinner time. There was no trouble while he was at home. At 3p.m. deceased invited her in, saying “Bring your snuff box.” After a little time with her, witness went back to her own house. About 4.15 deceased ran into witness’s house and cried “Oh! Mother, in mistake I have taken some salts of lemon for health salts!” Witness asked her where she got it from. Deceased replied “From a tin in the cupboard.” Witness gave her some warm salt water which she drank and vomited twice. With the assistance of a neighbour, deceased was helped to her own house and placed on the couch. Deceased implored witness not to leave her, so a neighbour stayed while witness went for Dr. Baker and ran to fetch deceased’s mother. When the two arrived back again death had taken place. Her son and his wife had

Lived Together Very Happily

and she had never known them to speak crossly to each other. Witness knew of no reason why deceased should commit suicide unless it was the matter of the debt. Witness used to let deceased have health salts and did not know that she had salts of lemon in the house.

William Potts, a qualified chemist, assistant to Mr C A Hedley, said deceased was a regular customer at Mr Hedley’s shop. On Monday he had served her with some oxalic acid, which she said she wanted for shoe work. This was not a scheduled poison so it was not necessary to sign for it. Witness had not sold her any poison before.

The Coroner: Is that similar to salts of lemon?

Witness: No sir, they are quite distinct.

Witness further added that both would have the effect of burning, but neither could be mistaken for health salts, which would effervesce while the poison would not.

Samples of all three were produced.

Dr H Stainer Baker said that when he arrived at deceased’s house life was extinct. The lips and face were livid but there was no erosion. Witness was told that the poison was taken in mistake for health salts. The doctor found a glass in the scullery containing a sediment of white gritty powder, which on examination showed the presence of oxalic acid. This would cause death. The matter that had been vomited also contained oxalic acid. There was a spoon close to, containing crystals of sugar. There was no possibility of mistaking oxalic acid for health salts, but it might be mistaken for sugar. He had never attended deceased.

Insp. Bailey produced a sample of rat poison, which he said was in the house.

Harrison, recalled, said that they had been troubled with mice. In reply to a further question by the Coroner, he said his wife was contemplating starting shoe work this week.

The jury returned a verdict of “Death from oxalic acid poison taken in mistake.”