SAMUEL RAWLINSON

TRAGEDY OF ILL-HEALTH

Taken to Newbury Hospital

Suffering from Poisoning

FULL REPORT OF INQUEST

Quite a shock was created in the town on Monday when the news became known that Mr. Samuel Rawlinson, manager of Alphonse Cary Ltd., and honorary secretary of the Newbury and District Amateur Operatic Society, had been removed to the Newbury District Hospital suffering from poisoning.

Mr. Rawlinson came down to business about the usual time on Monday morning. According to the assistant manager of Messrs. Cary Ltd., Mr. A.E.M. Brooker, he was in a very agitated condition, so much so that Mr. Brooker asked Mr. Naylor, one of the piano tuners, to keep him under observation.

This Mr. Naylor did, always being within a few yards of him except for a moment when he went down the cellar.

Upon returning from the cellar Mr. Rawlinson went into his office. It was then that Mr. Brooker noticed that he was speaking huskily and appeared to be very ill.

As the porter had discovered a tin of carbolic fluid- usually kept in the firm's lavatory for disinfecting purposes – on the cellar stairs, this together with Mr. Rawlinson's appearance caused Mr. Brooker to telephone for medical assistance.

He first telephoned for Dr. Lewis, who was Mr. Rawlinson's medical man, but as he was out he then sent for Dr. Simmons.

Dr. Simmons came and ordered Mr. Rawlinson's immediate removal to the Newbury Hospital. Here a short time later he was seen by Dr. Lewis, but in the meantime the patient's stomach had been washed out with olive oil.

During the day everything that was possible was done for Mr. Rawlinson, but shortly after midnight his condition became worse and he died at quarter to four in the morning.

Mr. Rawlinson had been looking very ill during the past week, and his condition had alarmed his friends, who advised him to see a doctor, but apparently he had not done so. He was a very highly-strung nervous man, and there is no doubt that his physical state had an effect upon him mentally. This caused him to magnify any ordinary little difficulty- which a normal man would have put to one side- into a mountain. His whole appearance seemed to indicate that he was suffering from some great mental strain. The result was that his mind completely gave way on Monday morning, with the distressing consequence recorded above.

Some statement was made at the inquest that Mr. Rawlinson was in financial difficulties and had wanted to borrow £10. As this might lead people to think that there was something wrong with his business affairs or with the Operatic Society's accounts, we give below statements made by Mr. W.J. Langley, managing director of Alphonse Cary Ltd., and of Alderman Hawker, chairman of the Newbury Operatic Society, who state that as far as their knowledge goes, this is not the case.

The whole affair is such a distressing one for Mr. Rawlinson's widow and family that we give these statements in order to discredit any such rumours at once.

A CAREER OF USEFULNESS

It was about twelve years ago that Mr. Rawlinson came to Newbury from Southport as manager of Alphonse Cary Ltd. Before being at Southport, he had a post with Messrs. Bobby, of Margate, and when there he took a prominent part in the local Rotary Club.

Samuel Rawlinson was one of those men who was keen on taking his share in the public life of the community in which he lived. He was essentially a man who thought more of devoting his life to others than to himself.

It was not surprising, therefore, that when he had been in the town only a twelve-month and was approached by the Operatic Society to take on the post of honorary secretary that he readily offered his services.

In the intervening eleven years he has worked heart and soul for the Society. He put it before everything else: his own leisure; his own pleasure.

It was a big undertaking, but he would do everything himself, even to the smallest detail. For this he has not had a tithe of the thanks which were his due, When things went wrong, people would go and grouse to him. He would shoulder all the troubles, and when in health make light of them.

But he was not a man of strong physique, and four years ago went down with double pneumonia. At the time he made a good recovery, but latterly his state of health has been a cause of alarm to his friends.

During the past year he has been a shadow of his former self, and there is no doubt that the extra work caused by the recent production of “The Vagabond King” and the worry that latterly Operatic week has not proved such a financial success as in the early years, has been a great burden to him. He was lacking in his former resilience and it has got him down.

But even so, he has been terribly keen that the Society should flourish and has been continually putting up ideas to enable it to regain its former prosperity.

At his suggestion, a meeting of the members was called for Tuesday night for an informal and general discussion with the idea of putting new life into the Society. This had to be postponed, as he was lying between life and death in Newbury Hospital.

Now he has gone, and the Society will be hard put to find his successor.

In many other ways, Mr. Rawlinson did much to help along the musical and artistic life of the town. When he was in health, he had a happy disposition. He was always willing to help and he was never known to say an unkind thing about anyone.

The deepest sympathy of everyone will go out to Mrs. Rawlinson and her two daughters in the terrible trouble which has overtaken them.

THE INQUEST

Mr. S.V. Pinniger, the Borough Coroner, held an inquest on Friday afternoon at the Newbury Borough Police Court.

“Tired and weary”

The first witness was Mr. Harry Clements Midwinter, a corn merchant of “Waltair,” Leckhamstead, who said Mr. Rawlinson was his father-in-law.

Mr. Rawlinson was 58 years of age and was a music dealer's manager.

The Coroner: When did you last see him alive? Last Friday after lunch at his home 132 Craven-road.

Was he cheerful? He appeared to be very tired and weary, and after having a cup of Bovril he dropped off to sleep.

“He had been very depressed recently,” added Mr. Midwinter. “He had some new teeth some months ago and he never seemed to get over that. I understand he was going to see the doctor on Saturday morning, but the doctor was out. I might add,” said Mr. Midwinter “that he has lost over two stone in weight during the past year.”

Some statement was made at the inquest

Doctor's Evidence

Evidence was given by Dr. Harold Warburton Lewis, of Newbury, that he had attended Mr. Rawlinson for some years, though not recently.

The Coroner: Did you attend him when he had pneumonia about four years ago? --Yes.

What was his general health? Quite good. After his pneumonia I had not attended him for anything serious except for a few minor complaints such as influenza.

Continuing, the doctor said he was called to the Newbury District Hospital about mid day on Monday and there saw Mr. Rawlinson, who was already receiving attention. A stomach tube was being used and the stomach was being washed out with olive oil. It was obvious he had swallowed some preparation of the coal tar group.

“Mr. Rawlinson was very ill when I first saw him” added Dr Lewis. “but he gradually improved. I last saw him about 1.30 this (Tuesday) morning, when it was obvious that his heart was failing fast. He died at 3.45 am. from the effects of drinking poison of some coal-tar preparation. This is a corrosive poison.”

Questions about Financial Trouble

The next witness was Albert Margette Brooker of “Drydon,” Theale, assistant manager at Messrs. Alphonse Cary, who said he had been employed with Mr. Rawlinson for the past twelve years.

The Coroner: His health was not very good?- No.

Did you notice if he was depressed?-He had been depressed for several weeks. It has been very noticeable.

On the ninth I believe he told you he was financially troubled? Yes.

He asked you to lend him some money? Yes. I said I thought I could manage £10.

“On Monday morning he came to work about his usual time, 9.15,” continued the witness. “He asked me if I had that little favour for him.”

The Coroner: When he explained what he wanted it for, you thought it wiser to send for the Managing Director?-- No, when he told me the reason I thought it wiser not to let him have the money.

Managing Director Informed.

Mr Rawlinson agreed to your telling Mr. W.J. Langley (the managing director?- Yes

Before Mr. Langley was able to arrive you asked Mr. W. Nailor (an employee) to keep an eye on him? That is right.

Was he in an agitated state? - Yes, very agitated both this morning and on Saturday.

Mr. Langley arrived and you went into Mr. Rawlinson's office and had a conversation? – Yes.

You then noticed he was talking in a husky voice and soon after he began to vomit? - Yes.

How was it you came to telephone for the doctor? - He looked very ill, and Cox, the porter, happened to go down the cellar steps and there found a tin containing disinfectant. This was always kept in the wash-house in the yard. When Dr. Simmons arrived he advised his removal to Newbury District Hospital.

William H. Naylor, of 75 Gloucester-road Newbury, a piano tuner and repairer at Messrs. Cary's, said that at ten o'clock on Monday morning Mr. Brooker called to the shop. “He asked me to keep an eye on Mr.. Rawlinson and see that he did not leave the premises,” witness said.

“He roamed about the rear part of the premises, going down to the store room and back again and into the washroom twice.”

The Coroner: Did you see him bring anything out? - Nothing at all.

“After going to the cellar he went to his office and sat there” continued Nailor. “This would be about 10.30, as I looked at my watch, thinking it was time Mr. Langley should arrive. Mr. Rawlinson stayed in the office until Mr. Langley came about twenty minutes later.” Witness added that he was never more than a few yards from the deceased except when he went down the cellar.

The Coroner certified that Mr. Rawlinson committed suicide by drinking a corrosive poison of the coal-tar group while of unsound mind.

Mr. Pinniger expresses his sincere sympathy with the widow and family in their sad bereavement.

Statement by Managing Director

In view of the evidence given at the inquest that Mr. Rawlinson was said to be in financial difficulties, and of the inference some people might draw from this, coupled with the statement that Mr. W.J. Langley, the Managing Director of Alphonse Cary Ltd., was sent for on Monday morning, we invited Mr. Langley to make a statement; Mr. Langley said to a Newbury Weekly News representative; “I have always had the greatest respect for Mr. Rawlinson and still have. His services to the firm have been most valuable and we shall miss him very much. As far as I concerned, I know of no reason connected with the business for what has happened. I know he has been out of health for some time, and this has made him very despondent. He was a very highly strung man, and being out of health I feel sure that this affected his mental balance. He must have been overwhelmed with a brainstorm to do what he did.

Alderman Hawker, Chairman of the Newbury Operatic Society, of which Mr. Rawlinson was honorary secretary and treasurer, said that a fortnight ago Mr. Rawlinson presented the accounts for the year to the Committee and they appeared to be quite in order. There were one of two queries to be cleared up, but these were a matter of accounting. It was evident that Mr. Rawlinson was far from well and the preparation seemed to have been a much heavier burden this year.

For many years past Mr. Rawlinson had not spared himself in his efforts for the society. The whole of the extra work in connection with the postponement of the production owing to the death of the King, had fallen upon him. This in his state of health had been an extra worry.

Mr. Hugh Turner bears out the statement of Alderman Hawker with regard to the Operatic accounts. He say that a few weeks ago he wanted to know how the society stood over the production of “The Vagabond King,” and Mr. Rawlinson took him into his office and went through the whole of the accounts with him. He seemed to be only too glad to be able to produce and explain the accounts. On Friday morning Mr. Turner says he had a chat with Mr. Rawlinson, who appeared to be very ill. His face was drawn as if with pain and he seemed to be suffering from some great mental strain. Mr. Turner advised him to go home.

Newbury Weekly News 14 May 1936

Mrs P. p. 183 P(M)13

Born 2 March 1878. Died 12 May 1936

Buried 14 May 1926 Book 1917 p. 195 no. 11159 From address: 132 Craven Road.