The Dalkeith Poisoning

A Fatality that gripped the Nation in the year 1911.

It was Friday the 3rd of February,  the couple Mr and Mrs Hutchinson arranged an evening supper party to celebrate their 25th Wedding Anniversary with 14 close friends and relatives along with their two sons John & Herbert.

Mr Charles Hutchinson was a well-known man in Dalkeith and District and was the Duke of Buccleuch's Chamberlain.

The event took place at their beautiful home in Bridgend the Neuk, located in Lugton Dalkeith.

The evening was a great success and went on into the late hours, when supper was over the ladies proceeded to the drawing room
where they were served coffee. Leaving the gentleman downstairs to enjoy their coffee to accompany their pipes and cigars.

On tasting the beverage, Mrs Hutchinson became suspicious and knew something wasn't quite right.

She called out to her son John who was pouring the coffee, that they better not drink it. Sadly the warning was too late for several of the guests, Who were already feeling discomfort.

This started to cause a lot of panic and confusion. One by one party members had been victims of some unexplainable agony. A few of the guests lay helpless on couches and beds, while others scrambled out to the garden to relieve their sickness

Only three of the attendees were unaffected - Mr Charles Guild & Mr and Mrs J. E. Sherrin, who did not consume the coffee. Realising the seriousness of the situation, they all set about doing the best they could to alleviate the suffering of the victims.

Mr Guild rushed off to get the nearest doctor, and on his way, he ran into Herbert Hutchinson. Who was on his way back from Melville after testing out a motor car belonging to the family. 

Together they brought back Dr Mitchell, who had done all in his power to aid the sufferers. Later other medical professionals attended the scene, working endlessly to help save the unfortunate guests.

John Hutchinson the eldest son, was a dispenser for Mr Robert Stenhouse druggist in Musselburgh. Gave some of the guests a mixture of mustard and water to act like an emetic, which helped relieve some of the victims.

Mr Charles Hutchinson (the host) who was in critical condition, died at 4 am after many attempts to save him.

Mr Alexander Chapperton a grocer and wine merchant from Musselburgh, who experienced acute suffering died 4 hours later.

Mrs Hutchinson who was in a feeble state along with the other surviving attendees where sent to the hospital for urgent care

Police launched an official investigation into this tragic affair,  and were thorough to find the cause of the poisoning.

Postmortem and analysis of items in the home took place, to distinguish the type of poison used and the means it was administered.

It was discovered that the poison which caused the deaths was Arsenic, traces were found in the coffee served that evening.

The community was shocked and deeply saddened by the announcement. This induced speculation into who could have done such a thing, leading to an outcry for a public enquiry.

Word about the tragedy went far and wide, with papers nationally covering updates on the case.

Arsenic wasn't something that could be purchased anywhere without a record of sale, name of the purchaser, and the purpose of use.

This was a valuable lead for Midlothian Police, who made a careful inspection of registers kept by various Chemists throughout the district.

As a result of further investigation, Police made a grim discovery, and found that
a particular guest at the party had access to Arsenic. Which was missing from Robert Stenhouse druggist in Musselburgh

The criminal authorities issued a warrant for John Hutchinson's arrest.

However, when he discovered he was a wanted man he fled on a train to England.

A description of John Hutchinson was all over the National Newspapers, everyone was on the lookout for the 24-year-old son of Mr Charles Hutchinson.

John Hutchinson was known to be a bit of a playboy, resulting in him being thousands of pounds in debt. His evil plan was to get his parents out of the picture, so he could claim the inheritance.

John Hutchinson made a stop at a boarding house in St Peter Port in Guernsey. The owner who thought the man looked familiar, discovered that his new guest was wanted for murder. They contacted the Police, and at 11 pm on the 20th of February, a police officer arrived.

After confirming with the owner the identity of the man in question, the Police proceeded to look for John. They entered the adjoining room and spotted him, the wanted man bolted up the stairs to his room, and when officers reached the doorway John Hutchinson was swallowing some Poison he had in a vial.

It was later discovered this was the same poison used at the Party, he died ten minutes later. 

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