[Editor: This article, about the suicide of a young woman in Ballarat, was published in The Ballarat Star (Ballarat, Vic.), 30 December 1911.]
Worried woman’s death.
Case of lysol poisoning.
“For the sake of Jim and the child.”
The death of Maude Driscoll, the woman who took a dose of lysol at Ballarat East on Thursday last, was enquired into by Mr C. Walker, J.P. at the Ballarat Hospital yesterday. Senior-constable Nevins assisted in the taking of evidence.
Emily Kisler, married women of Geelong road, said she saw the deceased at the rear of Young’s produce store, Geelong road, at about 4.30 p.m. on Thursday. The deceased drank something out of a small bottle and fell backwards, screaming. Witness went to her assistance, and found a bottle of lysol beside her. She was not acquainted with the deceased.
Fritz Carl Engler, laborer, also gave evidence of having gone to the assistance of the deceased. Witness got her some salt and water, and Mrs Kisler administered it to her. He knew the deceased by sight. When spoken to, the deceased said something about having taken it “for the sake of Jim and the child.”
Lily Madderford gave similar evidence. When she saw the deceased the latter was lying on the ground, frothing at the mouth.
James Young, laborer, of Armstrong street, Ballarat, said he had known the deceased for the past two years. They were almost intimate friends, and he used to see her frequently. He last saw her on the afternoon before her death. He then spoke to her in Main road, Ballarat East. She said nothing about her intention to destroy herself. Previously, however, she had threatened to do so. They had no quarrel of any kind. Her father and mother were both dead.
To Mr. Walker — She had often complained of her ill-fortune.
To Senior-constable Nevins — He did not know whether she referred to himself when she spoke about “Jim and the child.” He preferred not to say whose child it was.
Dr Lemon deposed that he admitted the deceased to the Ballarat Hospital. She died from the effects of lysol poisoning. To the best of his knowledge, she had been treated for lysol poisoning some months previously.
Constable Daniels gave evidence that he took the deceased to the Hospital in a cab.
A verdict was returned that death was caused by a dose of lysol, self-administered.
Source:
The Ballarat Star (Ballarat, Vic.), 30 December 1911, p. 6
Editor’s notes:
Some further details of this case were reported in The Argus:
“Inquiry was made on Friday by Mr. G. Walker, J.P., into the circumstances surrounding the death of Maud Driscoll, aged28 years, a married woman, which occurred in the hospital on the previous evening. Evidence was given to the effect that Driscoll was seen to drink the contents of a small glass, and that a bottle labelled lysol was found by her side. Dr. Lemon stated that death was due to lysol poisoning, and a verdict in accordance with his evidence was recorded. Some time ago the woman’s husband deserted her. In April last she was treated at the hospital for lysol poisoning, and subsequently she was in an asylum for some time.”
See: Country news: Ballarat and district”, The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.), 30 December 1911, p. 14
The IAC ephemera collection includes a Miner’s Right in the name of Emily Kisler, who is mentioned in this article as a witness to the self-poisoning of Maude Driscoll.
Jim = a diminutive form of “James”
J.P. = (abbreviation) Justice of the Peace
lysol = a commercial brand of clear, brown, oily solution of cresols in soap (manufactured as a liquid and a spray), used as an antiseptic and disinfectant for household cleaning (for the bathroom, kitchen, etc.) and medical purposes (as a brand name, “Lysol” should normally be capitalised, but it was often rendered as “lysol”)
See: 1) “Lysol”, Wikipedia
2) “cresol”, Wiktionary
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