CLASSIC CRIMES

that the old lady was in the habit of taking Battley's Sedative
Solution — a preparation of opium — of which she had lately
bought a half-pound bottle, and that "he had no doubt
she had taken a good swig at it." Dr. Paterson said she was
dying, and nothing they could do would be of any use; but
Pritchard might try mustard poultices and a turpentine
injection, which he did. A degree of consciousness
ensuing, her son-in-law clapped the old lady on the back
and said, "You are getting better, darling." The other shook
his head : " Never in this world." At 1 1.30 p.m. Dr. Paterson
went home* Shortly before i a.m. an invitation came for him
to return, which he declined, as he could do no more:

The passing of Mrs. Taylor is thus described by her dis-
consolate relative in his Diary : —

25 Saturday. — About L a.m. this morning, passing away calmly —
peacefully — and the features retaining a life-like character — so finely
drawn was the transition that it would be impossible to determine
with decision the moment when life may be said to be departed.1

It was but a fortnight before that she had come, a
and hearty woman, to that house of death. She was laid
out by the cook and a charwoman named Mrs. Nabb. In
the pocket of her dress they found her bottle of Battley.
As the women were about their nameless offices, Dr. Pritchard
entered the room and asked for the bottle, which he said
(falsely) M*Leod had told him they had found. "Good
heavens!" he cried, raising his hands and eyes, "has she
taken all that since Monday?" He added that she ought not
to have sent "a girl like that" for it,2 but should have con-
sulted him; and he charged them to say nothing about the
matter, as "it would not do for a man in his position to be
spoken of: it might lead to trouble." It did.

in
On Saturday, 25th February, Mr. Michael Taylor, the
husband of the dead lady, came from Edinburgh in response
to his son-in-law's telegram. Dr. Pritchard sent him to Dr.
1 Trial, p. 307.
* M*Leod got a five-ounce bottle filled for Mrs. Taylor at a local chemist's on
aoth February.—Trial, pp. 90, 206.
250