18th August 1876 sadly saw the attempted suicide of Mr Kirby, fishmonger in Bridge Street, Spalding This sad event saw an accusation in the press of a contagion of poisoning being spread by newspapers that would be comparable to the accusations of the internet and social media today.
Mr Kirby took four ounces of laudanum, a popular opiate of the Victorian era freely available from pharmacies of the time. Dr Stiles swiftly applied a stomach pump but after the unfortunate man lay in a precarious condition for a few days he died.
This prompted the following accusation in the local press:
“Among the many evils which have resulted from the hearing of the Balham mystery, and the morbid interest that was taken in it by the public is a very great increase in the cases of poisoning either accidental or intentional, throughout the country. The many letters to the daily press have so enlightened the public on the questions of poisons generally that a mania for experimentalising has set in, and the papers are teeming with reports of coroners’ inquests in cases of poisoning, either from carelessness, or, as we have said, by design. An instance happened in Spalding on Friday, which prompt medical aid , and skilful management succeeded in neutralizing. We refer elsewhere to the case, but our principal object in the present instance is to show that by creating an interest in such matters people who have any tendancy to suicidal mania cannot resist the temptation which such revelations bring. Whilst we cannot but condemn the unnecessary length to which the enquiry into Mr Bravo’s death was prolonged, we more strongly censure the scientists of the present day who have made it the means of puffing their vain conceits or airing their ‘psychological’ or ‘scientific’ views of a question which has already been decided. Whatever may be our own view of the finding of the jury , it is not wise to say the least, to detail at length, and occupy column after column, in elucidating and speculating upon some new theory. Infinite mischief has already been done , as the circumstances in our own town fully proves. Playing with poisons is at all times a dangerous game, and the less people know of their deadly character the less interest they will have in meddling and experimenting with them.”
As already stated the fishmonger, Mr Kirby, did not survive. But what of the “Balham Mystery”?
The Balham Mystery refers to the death of 30 year old lawyer Charles Delauney Bravo at his elite London home in Balham, London on 21st April 1876. His wife, Florence Bravo, came from a well healed family, but she had first married Alexander Ricardo, an alcoholic philandering son of a politician who had a series of affairs and a mistress in the East End of London. She too had an affair prompting them to seek a divorce. But, before the divorce was finalized her first husband died as the result of an alcoholic binge with a female companion in Cologne. Because the divorce had not been finalised she inherited £40,000 in the will of her philandering husband.
In 1875 she married Charles Bravo. Charles died five months later. The inquest that ended on April 28th found that Charles died of poisoning from antimony of which 30 to 40 grains were found ingested at the post mortem, a lethal dose, implying suicide. Family and friends kicked off at the implication of suicide and a second coroners inquest took place between 11th July and 11th August 1876 attended by the Attorney General and 23 days of testimony were given in this time. The coroners jury ruled out suicide but found that Charles Bravo’s death was by misadventure and wilfully murdered by the administration of tartar emetic (the compound of antimony).
The newspaper coverage and speculation was huge. Although Florence Bravo was never charged the public suspicion ruined her. After a brief trip abroad she retired from society, changed her name and drank herself to an early death aged 33 at her new home in Southsea, Hampshire.
Did this case increase the use of poisons for suicide and murder? In my opinion possibly not. The misuse of poisons had been identified as an issue long before this date as illustrated by a summary issued by the House of Commons of all poison related deaths in the years 1837 and 1838 in England and Wales. During this period 555 people were known to be killed by poison; 445 of these cases identified the immediate cause of death; 194 entailed accidental poisonings, 242 suicide and 9 murders. However, it is possible not all cases reached the coroner in an era when suicide was illegal and mental health was little understood. It is highly likely that suicide and murder by poison did not increase as a result of the Balham Mystery, but rather people’s awareness of it happening had increased.
Whilst much improved, in common with today, talking about suicide was not heard of and the availability of poisons increased the opportunity to take one’s life, or that of another. This was not improved until the 1920’s Dangerous Drugs Act started to restrict the selling of poisons.
If you or you fear someone else or you are having thoughts of suicide or self harm talk about it and above all seek help:
Samaritans 116 123 – 24 hour freephone
111 – professional health advice 24/7
If an immediate crisis dial 999, visit you’re A&E or request an emergency appointment with your GP.
Equip yourself to help prevent suicide with free training on this link:
Comments