Cudgegong Valley History Project

SUICIDE FOLLOWED MENTAL ANGUISH TO-DAY'S INQUEST ON BURY TRAGEDY. "I am of the opinion that deceased was a secretive and moody type, suffering from mental anguish from sexual frustration, and that she died from the effects of strychnine poisoning self-administered," said Detective-Sergeant Arnold, of the Sydney C.I.B., in giving evidence today at the inquest held in the Branxton Courthouse into the death of a young woman, Kathleen Mary Thompson, aged 21, single, who was found dead at her ber-in-law's home, North bury, on Sunday, April 9th. The deceased died following frequent complaints during the night that she felt very ill and knew she was going to die. The deceased's married sister, Mrs Walter Samuels, said her sister refused to say what was wrong and declined any suggestion of medical aid. Her sister was dead when she returned with a doctor and the police. Walter Stanley Samuels, now of Singleton, and formerly of North bury, the deceased's ber-in-law, said he had gone to a dance with a lady friend at Lochinvar on the night in question, and had spent the remainder of that evening at her parents' home. He admitted having had intercourse with the deceased on several occasions over the last two years. The last occasion was about 10 days before she died. Deceased was very moody and had often threatened to take her life. He had not told the truth at a previous inquiry into the death when he said he had been at the Newcastle dogs on the night in question. He had lied in order to hide his whereabouts from his family, and to keep his Lochinvar friends and family out of the mess. The young lady in question and her mother gave evidence that they had always believed Samuels was a single man. Police evidence showed that the deceased had access to a bottle of strychnine hidden in a dairy by the landlord of the property. An automatic pistol, a bottle of ferric chloride, and tablets of alces and canella were also found in deceased's suitcase. Medical evidence showed that there were 1.3 grains of strychnine found in the stomach of deceased, and that one-half grain of strychnine was sufficient to cause death. The District Coroner (Mr A. Morrison) found that death was due to the effects of strychnine, wilfully administered by deceased (Singleton Argus, Wednesday 17 May 1939, page 3).

Obituary Arthur Thompson The death occurred last week of Mr. Arthur Thompson, 67, of Gulgong. The late Mr. Thompson had been ill for some time. He was a native of Turill, being the eldest son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Jack Thompson, who were both members of two of Turill’s pioneer families, the Thompsons and Ryans. Arthur was a returned soldier and served in New Guinea in the 1939-45 war. After he returned from war service, he married Miss Alma Riley of Gulgong and they settled in Gulgong. He is survived by his wife Alma, two daughters and three grandchildren, as well as three sisters, Mrs. W. Cosgrove and Mrs. Kirkland of Mudgee and Miss Eileen Thompson of Ryde and his ber Rex Thompson of Cook’s Gap. Mr. Thompson was predeceased by three sisters, Mrs. Samuels, Mrs. Williams and Miss Kathleen Thompson. Mudgee Guardian, Tuesday 12 April 1977, p. 2. Obituary Arthur Thompson