Mr. Lathom then stated that he had returned to “The Shack” late on
Saturday night, bringing with him Mr. John Munting, a mutual friend of
himself and the Harrisons, and the author of a successful novel.
Arriving at “The Shack” at about eleven o’clock, they found the place in
darkness and the fire out. The remains of a dish of mushrooms was on the
table in the outer room, together with the shells of some boiled eggs, a
loaf of bread and a cup one-quarter filled with coffee.
On penetrating into the inner room, they discovered the body of
Harrison, lying half-dressed on the bed. It was cold when found, and the
features much distorted. Various articles in the room were flung about
in a disorderly fashion and the trestle-bedstead was broken. Both in
this and in the outer room there were signs that the dead man had
vomited persistently. A bottle of whiskey and a tumbler were found
beneath the bed.
As there is no telephone communication between “The Shack” and Manaton,
Mr. Lathom was obliged to go on foot to summon assistance. The landlord
of the inn at Manaton telephoned to the police-station at Bovey Tracey.
Sergeant Warbeck, who received the message, communicated at once with
Dr. Hughes, and proceeded in the doctor’s car to the scene of the
tragedy.
* * * * *
_The Coroner_: Was Mr. Harrison a man of cheerful disposition?—He was a
reserved man of quiet tastes and behaviour on the whole, though subject
to occasional fits of annoyance about trifles.
During the time you were with him at “The Shack,” did he appear to have
anything on his mind?—Certainly not: he was in excellent spirits.
In your opinion, he was not a man likely to lay violent hands on
himself?—Far from it. I was convinced at the time, and still am, that
his death was a pure accident, due to some fungi he had eaten.
It came as a great surprise to you?—Well, of course, I was very much
shocked and upset, but when I came to think it over—no, I cannot say I
was greatly surprised.
Dr. Hughes gave evidence that he had examined the body of Harrison and
formed the opinion that when seen by him at about 1.30 a.m. deceased had
been dead seven or eight hours. He had had the body removed to Bovey
Tracey for the purpose of an autopsy. Acting in collaboration with the
police, he had sent certain organs, portions of bed-linen, and remains
of food to be chemically analysed.
* * * * *
_The Coroner_: At this point of the inquiry, can you form any conclusion
as to the cause of the death?—The appearances suggest that deceased was
poisoned by some substance which produced violent sickness and diarrhœa,
followed by prolonged delirium and convulsions, ending in coma and
death. The pupils of the eyes were slightly contracted, suggesting also
the action of a poison.
Would fugus-poisoning have this effect?—Yes, and so would certain other
vegetable poisons; opium, for example. It is, however, unusual for the
appearance to persist so long after death. I do not place much reliance
upon this symptom.
Do the general symptoms, as noted by you, appear to point to poisoning
by a deadly fungus?—They are consistent with that possibility.
Dr. Hughes added that there were no exterior signs of the application of
physical violence.