_The Coroner_: But Mr. Harrison ate them and was none the worse.—Oh,
certainly. He appeared to enjoy them very much and there were no
ill-effects.
Did you ever remonstrate with the deceased about his habit of eating
these dangerous fungi?—I told him I was afraid there would an accident
some day. The subject had frequently been mentioned previously, when he
was preparing his book. Mrs. Harrison and his friends often said, more
or less jokingly, that there would be a coroner’s inquest on him one of
these days.
And how did the deceased receive these warnings?—He laughed, and said
it was all ignorance and prejudice. He said there was no danger at all
for anybody who had thoroughly studied the subject.
Can you tell us how these dishes of fungi were prepared?—He had several
methods. Sometimes he would grill them with butter and garlic, and other
times he would stew them with condensed milk or in beef-stock. He was
fond of inventing new methods of cooking things.
“I AM GOING TO HUNT FOR FUNGI”
_The Coroner_: Now let us come to the time of the death. You had gone up
to London, I think?—Yes. I had occasion to consult my agents and to
transact a few matters of business in town. I went up by the 8.13 from
Bovey Tracey on the Thursday morning. I had ordered a taxi the day
before.
Was Mr. Harrison quite well when you left him?—Perfectly. He was in
particularly good spirits. He had risen early, with the intention of
gathering a certain kind of fungus for his supper. It was one particular
sort which he said he knew where to get.
Do you recollect its name?—I am not sure. I think he called it “Warty
Hat.” (Laughter.) He said he knew of a wood where it was very plentiful.
I have here a copy of Mr. Harrison’s book. I see there is a fungus
mentioned as being of an edible nature, called “Warty Caps.” Would that
be the one? Its Latin name is _Amanita rubescens_.—I should think that
would be the one.
Had Mr. Harrison started out before you left?—No. He saw me off at the
gate into the lane.