Walter Erkless Merrick (1893 - 1929)

Born 13 May 1893 in Jerrys Plains, New South Wales, Australia

Ancestors

Husband of Elsie Vera (Gibbs) Merrick — married 1922 in Singleton New South Wales Australia

Died 27 Jan 1929 at age 35 in Howes Valley, New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

Walter Erkless was born 1893 at Jerry's Plains, Singleton the son of William Merrick and Mary Taggart. He died 1929 Howe's Valley at age 36 years by suicide. He married in 1922 Singleton to Elsie GIBBS. He was buried at HALTON'S old PO Howes Valley NSW private cemetery. Served WW1 No 2711 enlisted 9 Oct 1916 at the age of 22 years 5 months and returned to Australia after serving in France 8 Aug 1919, his next of kin was mother Alice of Jerry's Plains.

Sources

• https://familyhistory.bdm.nsw.gov.au/research

• Birth: MERRICK Walter E 32587/1893 Singleton Alice/William J E
• Death: MERRICK Walter Erkless 2292/1929 Wollombi William J E/Alice
• Marriage: MERRICK Walter E 1549/1922 Singleton GIBBS Elsie V

http://www.naa.gov.au/research 1914-1918

• MERRICK Walter Erkless : Service Number - 2711 : Place of Birth - N/A : Place of Enlistment - Singleton NSW : Next of Kin - (Mother) MERRICK Alice

www.trove.newspaper.gov.au/search 1929 deaths

1. Singleton Argus (NSW: 1880 - 1954), Wednesday 30 January 1929, page 2

• HOWE'S VALLEY POISONING ADJOURNED INQUEST

The adjourned inquest into the circumstances surrounding the death of Walter Erkless Merrick, aged 35, a returned soldier, living at Reedy Creek, Howe's Valley, who died from what was presumed to be strychnine poisoning, was resumed at the Court House, Singleton, this morning before the District Coroner (Mr A. Morrison). Evidence produced showed that there was sufficient poison in the house to bring about the- deaths of 600 adult persons. Records, of these sales of poison were alleged to be made under a clause in the Poisons Act exempting wholesale buyers of strychnine from registering. Elsie Vera Merrick, widow of deceased, in reply to First-class Sergeant Ireland, said that a few words were passed on Saturday night after retiring. Upon being shown a letter deceased said: "I blame you for this trouble. She said: "I did not get you into any trouble. "He said: "You did, and you can well get out of it.” Defendant construed his words as referring to a monetary matter. Deceased was living comfortably, and had about £22 in the C.B.C. Bank at Singleton. He had about £29 due to him for telephone work. Her husband told her that Bob Taggart should, go and get it on Sunday. In answer to Constable Fitzgerald, deceased had once told her he had lost some money. It was early in September, last, the amount £33. They had been to Singleton to the circus, and to his camp, where he was working on the roadside for the Shire Council, the money was missing. He blamed her for its loss. Jack Medhurst had been in the car when the money was handed over on the journey to Singleton. Dr. R. J. B. McEwan, locum tenens for Dr Maffey, said, that on Sunday, January 27, acting upon instructions from the police, went to Howe's Valley. On arrival at Reedy Creek, five miles beyond the Howe's Valley police station, he saw the dead body of Walter Erkless Merrick lying on a bed on the front verandah of a cottage, clad in pyjamas. Upon examination, he found it to be the body "'Of a man who had been dead apparently four or five hours. There were no marks of violence on the body, or punctured marks, or anything indicative of a recent illness. From the history given by his wife and two other witnesses, he considered that death was due to strychnine poisoning, most probably, swallowed. The convulsions described could not have occurred from any other cause than strychnine. He identified a, substance in four tins on the premises as being strychnine sulphate crystals from which about one drachm of crystals was missing. About three grains would kill the average person. There would be sufficient crystals in each tin to poison 150 adult people. From the examination he was able to state that there was no need for a post mortem examination. Mr E. S. Boyd-Boland, chemist, residing at Central Hotel, Singleton, and, in the employ of Mr J.G. Lynch as manager of his branch business in John, Street, said, in answer to First-class Sergeant Ireland that he had never, to his knowledge, seen Mrs Merrick, and did not recognise her. On January 15 he was present in the shop and had sole charge. There was also an apprentice and a messenger boy. Some poison was paid for on that date. It was 4oz. of strychnine which had been supplied on November 21 to W. E. Merrick. An entry undated, showed 4oz strychnine for W. E. Merrick having been sent to Howe's Valley by Clarke's lorry. There was no record in the day book of any strychnine being sold on January 15, but he had a slight recollection of having been paid for 4oz of strychnine on that date and two additional ounces sold. The buyers, being wholesale customers, were exempt under the Act from entry in the poisons book. He had never sold any quantity less than one ounce. Single ounce sales of strychnine were always entered. If the person is unknown he must sign the poison book up to half a dozen ounces. He knew W. E. Merrick personally, so there would be no entry in the poison book. To First-class Sergeant Ireland, he said that on January 15 he would consider that the lady who bought two tins of poison was contingent with the previous order. He could not remember having sold two tins on that date and sending to the other, shop for another two, although such action would be highly probable. He could not recollect having seen Mrs Merrick on that date, although he recollected a sale being effected in the name of Merrick. William George Gibbs, dairy farmer, of Putty, said that he knew deceased, who was his brother-in-law. To First class Sergeant Ireland, he said he had had business transactions re the sale of some stock, but had not yet been paid. The period expired last August. He had written, and also made personal representations to deceased for payment. On Friday last he wrote a letter to deceased, and gave it to his sister, who was then staying at his place. The trouble referred to in the letter was to seek payment of the money through a solicitor. His sister (Mrs Merrick) did not know the contents of the letter, although he had told her previously that he was going to write to her husband for payment of the money. For the last 18 months' he had seen little of him, and had seen nothing to indicate that deceased contemplated taking his own life. Mrs Merrick, again giving evidence in answer to First-class Constable Fitzgerald, said that she knew her husband had banked £33 when they came in to the show in September last. James Norman was staying at the house last winter. She sent 10/- to Norman in Singleton to get a watch and return it to her. Her husband knew of this. She knew a man named Harold Lyndon. He was staying at the house for a week or two whilst working for her, husband. Norman was there at the time. During the time Lyndon was present in the house she had had a row with her husband in his presence. She did not think that he mentioned anything about taking his own life at that time. He had threatened to do so several times during the previous twelve months, in the course of heated rows. She had told him that he wouldn't do that. Her husband had been working, on the roads for the Council and went home on Friday nights. He would say that someone had told him something and commence a row with her. The basis of the rows referred to were deceased accusing her of misconducting herself. He was a very temperate man, but had a violent temper. In answer to First Class Constable Fitzgerald, she said that she was positive of having bought the strychnine on Tuesday, January 15. The previous witness was the man she had bought it from. The payment was made by cheque and four tins had been taken out by Billy Clark, and four more tins were taken and paid for them. To First-class Sergt. Ireland, deponent said that when Constable Fitzgerald called she told him that there was strychnine in the house, but she didn't know where. She found it in a parcel over the mantle-piece. She had had no trouble in purchasing the strychnine, and was not known to the chemist. There was no witness with her, and she had not been asked to sign the poison book. She had never bought poison previously, and did not know that the Act required a signature. The witness who had given evidence was the chemist who had sold her the poison. Phillis Jinnie Medhurst, a married woman, residing with her husband, Joshua James Medhurst, at Reedy Creek said that on the 27th inst. at about 9.45 am Harry Merrick went to her home and said, "Come up, Daddy is sick." With her husband she went up to Merrick's house about a mile distant. She went on the front verandah, saw Walter Merrick lying in bed. He appeared very exhausted and was twitching his limbs. Her husband asked him if he would send for a doctor, and deceased said, "Please yourself but I think it is too late." He was groaning a little, and Mrs Merrick was present. Andrew Marshall went for a doctor, and soon afterwards Merrick died. She knew of no domestic differences between deceased and his wife. Joshua James Medhurst, rabbiter, of Reedy Creek, supported the evidence of the previous deponent. He saw Walter Merrick in bed on the front verandah, and his wife sitting beside him. He heard deceased say to his wife "Who's that?" She said, "It is Jim" He then walked to the bedside and said, "Is there anything I can do for you?" Deceased made no answer. He then said "Will I send for a doctor?" to which Merrick replied "Please yourself, but it's too late, old fellow", Deceased asked for a pillow to be placed beneath his head, and a man maned Andrew Marshall went for a doctor. Merrick's body was twitching. Upon making a move to adjust the pillow deceased said, "Let me have a try myself and in making the attempt deceased went off, and died. There were two cups and a water glass there. He was not aware of any domestic differences between deceased and his wife, and had never heard him suggest that he would take his own life. Deceased was a good neighbour. Proceeding.'

1. Singleton Argus (NSW: 1880 - 1954), Friday 1 February 1929, page 3

• HOWE'S VALLEY POISONING INQUEST CONCLUDED VERDICT OF SUICIDE.

The coronial inquiry into the death of Walter Erkless Merrick, of Reedy Creek, Howe's Valley, was concluded on Wednesday. The earlier evidence given at the inquiry appears in our issue of that date. The Coroner returned a verdict of death from strychnine poisoning, self-administered. Deceased leaves a widow and two children, a boy (Henry) aged 6, and a girl (Kathleen Rita) aged 3. Robert McTaggart, labourer, of Reedy Creek, Howe's Valley, said that he was working for Walter Merrick last week, and in his company. He was also living at the house. They worked about the house until about 7 o'clock; when, they had tea with the rest of the family. He went to his stepfather's house for the night, and returned in the morning about 8 or 10 o'clock. He saw Walter Merrick lying on a bed on the verandah. Mrs Merrick had just come in from the tank. He walked onto the verandah and Merrick: said, goodbye Bob, I am done. He then called his wife and daughter, and said goodbye to them. Deceased said, "I wish I could get up; His wife placed a wet cloth on his forehead. Deceased made a bit of a jump. He suggested going for a doctor, and deceased said,"It's too late now." He went away for a time, and when he returned, deceased was dead. He had never heard deceased say that he would do away with himself. He knew of no differences between deceased arid his wife. Andrew Henry Marshall, labourer, Howe's Valley, said that he was passing the home of Walter Merrick at about 10 am on Sunday last. He called to the front of the house and saw a bed on the verandah. Mrs Merrick was standing by the bed. He went a bit closer, and saw that it was Walter Merrick in the bed. There was nobody else present. He said to Mrs Merrick "What is the matter," and she replied, "I do not know." Mrs Merrick said, "what would you do?" 'He said, "I don't know what would be best." He thought Merrick was pretty sick. Deceased looked over to where he was standing, and he said, "Good morning Walter." Deceased looked up at his wife and asked who it was, and she told him Andrew; Deceased appeared then to go off in a fit. Just after he came out of the fit Mr. and Mrs Jim Medhurst arrived. Deceased asked his wife to wet his lips. She gave him some water with a spoon. Jim Medhurst said, "Send for Jack." Mrs Merrick said, "I have sent Bob for Jack." Medhurst suggested sending for a doctor. He telephoned then to Dr. Maffey and Constable Fitzgerald. He telephoned the police because he had come to the conclusion that deceased was suffering from strychnine poisoning. He returned half an hour later, and Merrick was dead. Jonas Robert Medhurst, grazier, Stony Creek, Howe's Valley, said that at 9.30 a.m. last Sunday morning Bob McTaggart called and said, "Come, quickly, Walter Merrick is pretty crook. He went to the house and saw Merrick lying on the bed on the front verandah. To First-class Sergeant Ireland, deponent said that deceased had asked him if his wife had been carrying on with another man, and he told him that he did not know. Deceased said, "If I thought she was I'd poison myself." It was about six months ago. About seven or eight months ago he was staying at the house of deceased he remembered a family quarrel at night time, but could not hear what it was about. About 2 a.m. deceased got up and called out, "Jack, I'm going. Deceased, went to the kitchen and he tried to get him to go back to bed. He asked deceased what he was doing and the reply was that deceased and the missus could not agree. He said, "Come on back to bed," and deceased replied, "If you fix it up with the missus I will;" He was not surprised when told that deceased was very sick, he expected it as deceased had previously said that he would destroy himself. He was with deceased at the war for three years and would not call him a drinker. Constable Fitzgerald deposed that in answer to a telephone message he went to Howe's Valley Post Office, where he saw Andrew Marshall, who told him that Merrick was bad, and he thought it was poison. Whilst speaking, Allan Halton came along, and told him that Merrick was dead. He then telephoned, the Coroner, and went to Merrick's and questioned Mrs Merrick, and asked her if there was any poison in the house. She said that, he must have taken poison as they had had a row the night before. She said there were four ounces of strychnine in the house somewhere, as she had brought it from Singleton. Andrew Marshall, in reply to further questions by First-class Sergeant Ireland, said, that he know rumours were going about regarding Mrs Merrick and another man. About eight months ago he had heard words between the parties, and knew that these were brought about by the rumours going about Howe's Valley. Subsequent to that date he had heard differences at the house deceased and his wife. They were of nightly occurrence. He was there for three weeks. Deceased was away some of the time, but when home, differences occurred. Five years previously he had lived with them, and they wore then quite happy. He had no idea of anything that would lead deceased to take poison. CORONER'S FINDING. The Coroner found that Walter Erkless Merrick, at Reedy Creek, in the police district of Wollombi, did on the 27th day of January from the effects of a certain deadly poison known as strychnine, wilfully administered by himself.

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