NEWBURY WEEKLY NEWS - July 1921

ANONYMOUS LETTERS DRIVE NURSE TO SUICIDE

“Suicide by taking corrosive sublimate poison whilst temporarily insane through the receipt of unfounded anonymous letters” was the verdict of an inquest held on Hilda Beryl Savage, a probationer nurse, aged 18, employed at the Newbury District Hospital.  She was engaged to a young man named George Brown, of Hollington, and had received anonymous letters stating that je was going out with other girls.  This caused differences and an estrangement between them, which evidently preyed upon the girl’s mind, for, upon her own confession, she took tablets of corrosive sublimate, which she found in the poison cupboard at the hospital, and these caused her death.  She was the daughter of a Constable in the Hants Constabulary stationed at Crux Easton.  The jury wished, through the press, to express their condemnation of the dastardly action of the unknown person who had sent the letters; stating undoubtedly that the writer was the cause of the girl’s death.

The inquest was held at the Newbury District Hospital on Saturday morning before the Coroner, Mr S V Pinniger and a jury of whom Mr H Brown (?, very blurred) was foreman.

The Father’s Evidence

George Savage, a police constable in the Hants Constabulary, stationed at Crux Easton, stated that the deceased was his daughter, and was 18 years of age.  She had been a probationer nurse at the Newbury District Hospital since January last.  On the sixth of July has was telephoned for by the Matron, who said his daughter was very ill.  He came in again on Friday, when he saw her, and she said she felt better.  Just before he left he asked her what he should tell George, meaning her young man.  She then said, “he has given me up, Dad”.  She also stated that she had received two anonymous letters stating that he had been out with other girls, and she asked witness to make inquiries about it.  He told her that he could not make an inquiries about such a foolish errand as that, and advised her to look over it.  She added that she had written to her young man for an explanation, and he had written back giving her up.

The Letter Breaking It Off

The Coroner then read the following letter which was found amongst the deceased’s belongings after her death:-

Dear Beryl, - I am now answering your most strange letter, and I was so very sorry to receive it.  I can only say it was not true, and I can’t say otherwise.  Someone has their spite on me.  Well, Beryl, this is a worry for you and your people, as well as for me, for this is not the first time this has happened.  I feel it so much and I think it will be best for us to part this time.  I have had quite enough of it.  I have always been true to you, and know you have to me, and your people have done the best to me.  I shall never forget them or you as long as I live.  Must close now.  Yours, George.

PS.  Wishing you the best of luck, as I am still your friend.

The Matron’s Evidence

The next witness was Miss Nancy George, Matron at the Newbury District Hospital, who told how on the morning of July 6^th Nurse Savage complained of pain and acute vomiting.  Witness took her to bed and gave her soda bicarbonate to wash out her stomach, as she said she had eaten some cherries.  As she did not seem to improve, witness rang up Dr Kennedy.  He came along immediately, and order soda bicarbonate and a small dose of lime water.  Afterwards she was treated for acute gastritis, as she had all the symptoms of that complaint.  Nothing further happened until July 12^th when the Night Sister cam up to witness between six and seven in the morning and told her that during the course of a conversation with Nurse Savage she said she thought she had taken some tabloids from the stock cupboard, which, added witness, was always kept under lock and key. The Matron said she told the Sister to give her the white of an egg and ring up Dr Kennedy.  From that time until her death, there had been two trained nurses constantly in attendance on the case.  Her treatment included a radiant heat bath, which was given on the 14^th.  Witness saw her several times whilst she was in the bath, and she appeared to be all right.  Then about 6:20 she suddenly collapsed.  Witness administered strychnine, oxygen and artificial respiration, and sent for Dr Kennedy, who came immediately, but she died at 6:25.

The foreman said the jury would like to be rather more clear about the stock cupboard.  The Matron said it was kept under lock and key.  That being so, they would like to know how Nurse Savage had access to it.

The Matron – the cupboard is locked and the keys kept in a drawer, but you must trust your nurses to get certain things.

The Foreman – did she have access to it?

The Matron said the keys were kept away from the patients and other lay people, but the nurses had access to the cupboard, as that was necessary.

A Juror – have you any idea when she got these tabloids?

The Matron – I should think just before I found her being ill.

The Conversation with The Night Sister

Miss Nita Smith, Night Sister at the Hospital, said that on the morning of 12^th July, when she was washing Nurse Savage, she appeared to be in so much pain and was vomiting.  Witness asked her if she had eaten something which disagreed with her, and she said she thought she had taken some tabloids from the stock cupboard.

The Coroner – what were her actual words?

The Night Sister – She said “I really cannot remember but I think I took some tabloids from the stock cupboard”.  Witness added that the deceased was very ill at the time, and could barely open her eyes.  She at once reported the conversation to the Matron.

What the Post Mortem Revealed

Dr Kennedy, in his evidence, said that from the start of her illness the patient was given albumen, even before there was a suspicion of corrosive sublimate poisoning.  As it happened, the treatment for acute gastritis and corrosive sublimate poisoning was the same.  That accounted for her living for seven days, otherwise she would have died in half a day.

The Foreman – so that if you had known at the first she had taken the tabloids, you could not have done any more than you did?

Dr Kennedy – No.

Continuing his evidence, the doctor said that as a result of a post-mortem examination he found the stomach of the deceased acutely inflamed.  Near the exit there was a large patch half the size of the palm of the hand, with the mucus membrane completely burned through, as if by a corrosive poison.  There were also patches of inflammation in the small intestines.  The state of the kidneys was such that they had not been functioning at all.  There was not the slightest suspicion that she was in trouble.  The whole appearance was that some poison had been taken, such as corrosive sublimate.  It also appeared that it had been taken in tabloid form.  Two grains had been known to have a fatal effect.  In each tabloid there was 8.75 grains, and according to the deceased’s statements she had taken some tabloids.

Mr Sellwood (a juror) – What form of illnesses are these tabloids used for?

Dr Kennedy – they are used as an antiseptic lotion for wounds.

Dr Kennedy said that it was essential that the nurses should have access to those poisons.  Nearly all antiseptics used for wounds were poisonous.  The nurses, in the course of their ordinary duties, must be able to get at them.

The Writer of the Letter Called

The Coroner said Mr George Brown, who wrote the letter which had been read, was present if the jury wished to ask him any questions.

Mr Brown said, as his name had been mentioned, he would like to give evidence.

He was then sworn and said his name was George Brown, and was in the employ of Mrs Osarnikow at Hollington House, East Woodhay.  He said he thought it was a week ago last Tuesday when he received a letter from Miss Savage saying she had had anonymous  communications sent to her stating that he had been with other girls.  As it was not the first time she had said she had received such letters, he thought it was best to part, and he wrote the letter which had been read by the Coroner.  He had known Miss Savage for two years, and had been engaged to her for about a twelve-month.  Last Monday her father came to him and told him that his daughter was very ill, and he believed it was because he had given her up.  Witness asked if he could go and see her, and the father said he could please himself.  Brown said he came to the Hospital the same afternoon and met with the deceased (unclear).  He asked her if she was worrying over him and she said she was not.

The Foreman – it seems to be that all this trouble has been caused by these anonymous letters.

In answer to Mr Lewis (a juror), Brown said that the anonymous letters were not correct.

The Foreman said they would like the letters read.

The Coroner said they were not in Court, and if they were to be read it would be necessary to adjourn the inquiry.  He did not think they were material.

Sgt Walker, the Coroner’s officer, said he had read the two letters, and all they said was that George Brown was walking out with other girls.  They were signed “A friend”.

The Jury returned a verdict as above stated, and the Foreman said they wished to express sympathy with the girl’s parents in the great trouble which had overtaken them, and also with Mr Brown for his straightforward and manly behaviour all through.  The Coroner associated himself with the Jury’s remarks.

The Jury also wished, through the Press, to express their …….. (unclear) of the writer of the letters.  Mr Lewis stated that there were far too many letters of that sort sent in Newbury.  As he lived near the Hospital he almost daily saw the deceased girl pass his place, and he had never seen her speak to a man.