Biography

On the afternoon of the 1st of May, Robert Humphreys arrived in Malcolm on the coach from Menzies. The coach stopped overnight in Malcolm, and Humphreys, who suffered from chronic asthma and had a prescription from a chemist in Sydney, presented the prescription to the chemist in Malcolm. He took a dose at chemist shop and then went to the Royal Hotel (about sixty yards) but started staggering up the passageway in great pain. The doctor was called but he died within half an hour. The bottle was analyzed and found to contain cyanide of potassium instead of carbonate of ammonia. At an inquest, a verdict of manslaughter was returned and the chemist was committed for trial. After considerable evidence was presented, the jury retired for 20 minutes, then returned a verdict of not guilty, and the accused was acquitted.