Were you told when you heard of it what the symptoms of Mrs. Dove were?--I think not. I merely heard there had been strychnine used at Leeds, another strychnine case.
Were the symptoms of strychnine ever mentioned to you by any one?--No, never.
When, and to whom, did you first use the expression “twitching,” which you mentioned so repeatedly yesterday?--To the coroner, I did. If I did not mention twitching, I mentioned something to the same effect. I will not swear I used that word at the coroner’s. I cannot remember when I first used the word “twitching.” I cannot remember when I first used the word “jerking” to anybody. I will undertake to swear it has never been used to me by anybody.
You stated yesterday that on the Sunday some broth was brought in a breakfastcup between twelve and one o’clock; that you took it up to Cook’s bedroom; that you drank about two tablespoonfuls; that you were sick the whole afternoon, and vomited till five o’clock. Did you state one word about that in your deposition before the coroner?--It never occurred to me until three days afterwards.
Did you state before the coroner that there was nothing peculiar in the taste of the broth?--I believe I was examined three times before the coroner. My attention had been called to the fact of broth having been sent over on one occasion, but I do not remember whether it was the first. I was asked if I had tasted it, and I stated I had tasted it, and thought it was very good. It never occurred to me to mention that I was sick and vomited frequently in the course of the afternoon.
You went to bed in consequence of the vomiting?--Yes.
I suppose sickness of that kind repeated frequently in the course of an afternoon is not a very common occurrence with you?--No, I have a bilious attack sometimes, but not such violent vomiting as I had that afternoon. I could not at all account for it at the time. I only took two tablespoonfuls. The vomiting came on from half an hour to an hour after I took them.
On the Saturday morning did Cook express a wish to have coffee for breakfast, or was it from Palmer the first you heard that his breakfast was to be coffee?--I do not know whether Palmer told me to bring coffee or whether it was Cook. I never knew Mr. Cook to take coffee in bed before. He generally took tea.