From Bell's Life of Sydney (Australia) Sat 7 Feb 1857
Title: Determined Suicide of Miss Emma Kesterton
The melancholy end of Dr. Stolworth (sic) [Doctor David Stolworthy] we
deeply regret to announce was but the first act in a terrible tragedy as
the young lady, Miss Emma Kesterton, whose name is so prominently
mentioned in connection with the deceased having destroyed herself on
Tuesday by poison. At the inquest held upon the body of the unhappy
girl the same afternoon, the following evidence was disclosed.
Frances Windeyer deposed--I am the wife of Walter Windeyer, and reside
at Balmain: about 10 o'clock yesterday morning the deceased, Emma
Kesterton, who is now lying dead at my house, came on a visit to myself;
she was alone and appeared in her usual health, but complained of a pain
in her left side; she sat in the verandah and rested herself: I have
known her before, and observed that she seemed at this time rather
bewildered. [The] deceased informed me that she came from Woolloomooloo
that morning; there were many questions I put to her, but her answers
were rather contradictory; deceased remained in the verandah, talking
and reading till about 12 o'clock, when she complained of sickness,
wishing to lie down, and she went upstairs to her room and remained a
short time and came down again; I asked whether she felt better;
deceased said that she had been sick, but that now she felt rather
better; I saw no change in her appearance; deceased sat down to dinner
with us about half past-one, but eat [sic] only a little potato, and
wished for some lemon acid water; deceased left the table and went
outside; I heard her shortly afterwards retching violently, and after
the sickness I saw deceased sitting in an easy chair on the verandah
sleeping; afterwards deceased was attacked frequently with vomiting; I
asked deceased if she had taken or eaten anything that disagreed with
her; she said she knew of nothing that would cause it, and that it was
quite unusual with her; deceased kept getting worse and weaker until
about six o'clock, complaining of a burning thirst and great weakness, I
then assisted her to bed, and sent for the doctor about seven o'clock;
the doctor came and gave her some powders, saying it was a severe
bilious attack; after taking the medicine, the sickness was not so
violent, and deceased dozed off a little, and seldom replied to
questions I then put to her, but complained of a great pain in the
stomach; a mustard poultice was applied which relieved her; another
powder was to be given to deceased at the end of three hours, if she was
not better, which was given accordingly; deceased continued very
restless till about 12 o'clock when I gave her the last powder and left
her; our servant girl was left with her; I went up once in the night and
heard deceased breathing very heavily, this might have been about 3
o'clock and at 6 o'clock this morning I went up into her room again and
found her dead.
By the Coroner -- We searched this morning, and found nothing on her
person; I did not notice deceased being at any time while with me
attacked with violent spasms; deceased drank a quantity of water, and
frequently, and every time she drank water she was sick again; deceased
complained of being hot and cold alternately, particularly after
vomiting; I saw drops of perspiration come from her forehead.
By a Juror -- It was not a religious book deceased was reading, nor did
she appear conscious of her approaching end, so far as I could judge.
Jane Hall, servant to Mr. Windeyer, corroborated the above.
Mary Wiseman--I was examined before the Coroner yesterday, touching the
death of Dr. Stolworthy, and have seen to-day the body of a young woman
now lying dead at the house of Mr. Windeyer, Balmain, and I recognise it
to be the body of Emma Kesterton; her age was about twenty-two years; I
have known her about sixteen years; she received an excellent education,
and was a governess, and lately employed in that capacity by Mr. Riley;
deceased was not of eccentric habits; she attended church yesterday
morning; a little after nine o'clock deceased came to the residence of
Dr. Stolworthy, where I was at that time; deceased was passing through
the passage to up stairs when I called her back, asking her what she
wanted; she said "the doctor"; I said "don't go upstairs, he is dead";
deceased then asked in what way he died; I said he had poisoned himself;
I conversed with her some few minutes, when she said she was going to
Kissing Point; I recommended her not to go, as she would be wanted on
the inquest; deceased replied, "I will not stop, I will poison myself,
too"; at the time, I never thought she would do such a thing; deceased
asked me to shake hands with her, which I declined, and she left
directly.
By the Coroner--I have taxed the deceased with being imprudent in
staying so long at the doctor's residence; I also yesterday accused her
of being in the family way, which she at first denied; Dr. Stolworthy
has often said that he wished the deceased would keep away from his
house; I have known other females go professionally to Dr Stolworthy's
house, the deceased told me yesterday that she had lots of letters that
would convince me that Dr Stolworthy had often sent for her; I saw
nothing wandering in her behaviour, but quite composed, looking rather
pale: Dr Stolworthy had known the deceased from a child, and I fully
believe that he would be the last man who would injure her; deceased
acknowledged that she had been with Dr Stolworthy an hour and a half
yesterday morning, and my motive for declining to shake hands with
deceased was her imprudent conduct in going so frequently to the
doctor's; deceased had been visiting the doctor's about nine months; I
cannot assign any reason for the deceased committing so rash an act, but
know that she was much attached to Dr Stolworth; when deceased said she
would poison herself, she put her hand in her pocket, but I did not see
either bottles or paper in her possession, and make no remark upon
leaving that it would be the last time I would see her, but said the
next time she came in she would bring the letters and show them to me.
Benjamin Hodghor's evidence was to the same effect as that given at the
inquest on his late master.
Owen Spencer Evans, being duly sworn, deposed: I am a duly qualified
medical practitioner, and reside in Balmain: soon after six o'clock this
morning I was called to see the deceased, she was lying on the bed quite
dead, the head resting on the arm, the face and lips a dark blue colour;
from the symptoms Mr. Windeyer described I looked on the case with great
suspicion, and asked for the vomited up matter,which had not been kept,
but thrown away. deceased had taken some powders, ordered by Mr.
Elliotte, and made up by him over night; my attention was called to them
for fear of any mistake in the dispensing, but on examining them found
they were quite correct, and consisting of calomel and opium, I again
examined the body externally, and found no marks of violence; the body
was that of a healthy well developed young person: I have subsequently,
by order of the Coroner, made a post mortem examination of the body; on
opening the chest the lungs were very much congested, the right side of
the heart full of blood, but perfectly healthy; the liver was also
perfectly healthy; the whole stomach and intestines were full of
inflammation, and same white substance adhering to it; the uterus was
unimpregnated; did not appear ever to have been enceinte
[pregnant with child]; the appearance of the stomach would indicate that
deceased had taken some irritant poison, most likely from appearances
either arsenic or corrosive sublimate, and these would produce the
symptoms described by the witnesses; I have now the stomach and contents
in a jar; I saw no traces of disease of any kind in the deceased that
would accelerate her death; she was an extremely healthy woman: no known
disease would produce the appearances which I have described in the
stomach; and I am of the opinion that deceased has died from the effects
of an irritant poison, from the appearance of the stomach I think the
poison was taken in a powder, I saw quite sufficient to account for
death without opening the head.
Walter Windeyer being duly sworn, deposed: I have been acquainted with
the deceased Emma Kesterton only a short time, but she has strongly
impressed me as being a grave and determined character; on my return
home last night, when death, or even danger was unthought of, my remark
on her conduct being described to me was, that she was cracked; it is
given in evidence that she said she came from Woolloomooloo; I have been
there this morning, and the first remark made to me was how queer and
strange her behaviour had been.
The jury returned the following verdict: -- That the deceased Emma
Kesterton came to her death from the effects of poison, but under what
circumstances administered, there is no evidence to show."
-- end of article
(Note: Emeline's actions and behavior suggest suicide, but the
conclusions of the inquest are that the cause of the poisoning is
unknown. It was the Doctor's (Owen Evans) original opinion that it
was a bilious attack, and only after she was given some powders by
others did her health worsen. If members of the household were
offended by her continuing presence at the doorstep of the eminent
Doctor Stolworth, who it was stated had committed suicide, it is
possible that someone blamed her for his death, and suggested she had
been impregnated by him. But her autopsy confirmed that she was not
pregnant.
Emily's behavior does not appear to be that of someone who has taken
a lethal dose of poison. This church-going woman should have made
a statement to the effect that she has killed herself or should be
lying down in private to await the end. Instead, she is accepting an
offer for dinner, accepting the administration of medicines to soothe
and correct her painful condition. She certainly is getting attention;
maybe it is the attention that she craves.
[The name of the deceased Doctor is [David] Stolworthy not Stolworth].
Tuesday 2 June 1840 - The Australian (Sydney, NSW)
ARRIVED - May 31 -- The ship China, 658 tons, Robertson, master, from
Port Philiip, the 26th instant, with 50 tons of Salt. Passengers --
Rev.
Mr. Vaughan, Messrs Harnett, Granger, Graham,Ravenshaw,Allerton,Shewell,
Kirkland,Cheyne. Surgeon Superintendent, David Stolworth, Esq.
Also 37 Emigrants, 1 Constable, and 2 Female Prisoners.
ARRIVALS - Saturday 26 June 1841 -- From London, on Thursday last,
having
left Plymouth the 9th March, the barque earl Grey, Captain Mollison,
with 868 emigrants. Passengers, Captain Comarty, Mr. and Mrs.
Ge Ranken and family, Mrs. Stolworthy and child, Mr. Hamilton,
and Mr. Scott.
[The above arrival one year later must be his wife and child, but
what happened to the child? His wife died in 1849.]
6 Dec 1842 - Following a public meeting at Singleton, Patrick's Plains during
which Dr. Stolworthy was put forward as the Doctor to be coroner for
Patrick Plains, over and above one or two others, who might from the
duration of their presence, have been overlooked. It appears from the
start, that David Stolworthy's character, was much respected in the
community, over those who may have more seniority.
Saturday 9 Sept 1843: New Insolvents: David Stolworthy, George Street,
Sydney, surgeon, Debts 683L 17s 11d; assets, personal property, 70L,
outstanding debts, 180L 6s, deficiency, 333L 17s 8d.
[The Doctor owes a lot of money throughout his life in the Australian
colony. He never gets out of debt, and never becomes financially
successful. A lot of this appears to be based on his character. He
is extremely charitable, and will not refuse treatment to anyone, based
on their poverty.]
Thursday 19th Sept 1844: Applications for Certificates: The following
Insolvents intend to apply for their Certificates -- ... On 16th January:
...,..., David Stolworthy.
18 March 1848, A court case in which it appeared that a female servant
in the house of Dr Stolworthy had stolen money which Mrs. Stolworthy had
put in a drawer.
Saturday 10, Nov, 1849: DIED. At Singleton, on the 31st October, age 33
years, Maria, the beloved wife of David Stolworth, Esq., surgeon, and
only daughter of Major-General Charritie, of 32, Bryanstonesquare, London.
April 23, 1851: General l'aimer, barque, 531 tons, Captain T. 13.
Simpson, for Hongkong. Passengers--Mrs. Simpson, Mr. R.W. Buttsworth,
Dr. Stolworthy, Mr. Charles Robertson, Mr. Joseph.
[The above shows the Doctor setting out on a rather inexpensive trip
to Hong Kong. He is not well, and needs a rest. Part of this appears
to be a result of his nervous personality, and inability to handle his
financial stresses.]
April 25, 1852: Public Dinner to Dr. Stolworthy - This gentleman, having
recently returned from a voyage to China, whither he had been principally for
the improvement of his health, the inhabitants of Singleton agreed to
welcome him by inviting him to a public dinner, which accordingly came off
with great eclat on Thursday evening last, at Mr. Alcorn's,
the Caledonian Hotel. The chair was taken by John Gaggin, Esq., JP, supported
on his right by Dr. Stolworth ... About thirty gentlemen sat down to dinner
... [toasts to Royalty] ... "The health of their guest, Dr. Stolworthy"
(loud cheers). He (the chairman) in commenting upon the Doctor's amiable
character, would be only doing what was right. It was about twelve months
since the Doctor had to leave this neighbourhood through ill health, and
upon his return among them, they had met together to offer him this
feeble testimonial of their good will. The worthy Doctor had resided among
them eleven years [this matches his knowledge of Emeline from her
childhood.], and had earned their esteem, both as a public character and as a
professional man... The Doctor had always exerted himself for the moral and
social interests of the town, particularly as regarded the Benevolent Society
he had been most useful, and had contributed greatly to the comforts of the
sick and the distressed. As to his private character, he could bear
testimony to his hospitality, which was well known, .. (more praise and
good health). Dr. Stolworthy rose to add a few remarks, (exchanging of
praise for others), (he promised satisfaction to all classes and to mete out
equal justice to the rich and to the poor, and he hoped that he might live
many years. ... "Dr. Stolworthy then proposed the health of 'The Ladies,'
to whose kind sympathy and attentions he had much to be thankful for;
he was deeply indebted to them, and to the ladies of Singleton he begged to
express his thanks, and God bless them.." Followed by more praise, toasts,
and songs.
26 April 1855: Dr. Stolworthy identified some jewellery and studs which
had gone missing after work was done on his property, and were now in
the possession of one of the prisoners who had worked at his residence.
Notice of Removal --12 April 1856. Mr. D. Stolworthy, Surgeon,
removed to No. 6, Bligh-street. At home from 2 till 4 p.m. daily.
The Courier (Hobart, Tasmania) Friday 13 February, 1857
Our advices from Sydney are to the 4th instant.
Dr. Stolworthy had destroyed himself by laudanum while labouring under
temporary insanity, brought on by embarrassed circumstances. On the following
day a Miss Kesterton, whose name was frequently mentioned at the inquest
on Dr. Stolworth, was also poisoned,--how, circumstances did not show.
Launceston Examiner Thurs 12 February 1857 - Dr. Stolworth was found dead in
his bed on the morning of the 2nd instant. The following verdict was given
at the inquest, which took place in the afternoon: -- "That David Stolworthy
destroyed himself by laudanum, while laboring under temporary insanity,
brought on by embarrassed circumstances."
A reading of the Coroner's inquiry shows that Dr. David Stolworthy
had a lot on his mind. He was engaged to be married, but the
plans were not moving forward, because he was having financial
problems. He owed a lot of money, and business was down. He had
an ongoing chest pain, which he self-treated with laudanum
frequently, essentially causing an addiction to opium, though this
was never a stated conclusion. He was a good man, but very nervous,
and although he would give his last sovereign and pound to a woman
in need, he never stated to her that it was, indeed, all the
money that he had. With failing health, financial difficulties,
and a life that was not going forward, he eventually overdosed
himself on laudanum, went to sleep, then into a coma from which
he could not be awakened.
The overbearing presence of the excessively lonely Miss Emily
Kesterton, only served to aggravate his problems. She does not
appear to be at the focus of his difficulties. But she seems
to have found enough comfort and attention given to her by the
Doctor, that she has placed him in a central position in her
mind. His ultimate suicide from other reasons, appears to have
been translated in her mind, as escaping from her. I suspect
she was a flaky romantic, who misinterpreted the Doctor's goodness
and concern for her, as love. With the Doctor's love torn away,
she was confronted by a wall of total loneliness, and she
romanticized the reason for his suicide, and thought that she
would join him in death. Like a pest you can't get rid of,
she followed him all the way into the grave, literally.
Saturday Feb 21 1857 - The Sydney Morning Herald -
Sales By Auction By the order of the Official Assignee, E.A.
Mackechnie, Esq., In the Intestate Estate of Dr. Stolworthy. Very
Valuable Surgical and other Instruments, Surgical and Medical Works,
Gold Watch, Jewellery, &c., &c. Wearing Apparel, and a variety of
Sundries. Muriel and Miller will sess by public auction at their
Rooms, N. 232, George-street, on Saturday, the 21st at 11 o'clock
precisely, a very valuable lot of surgical and other instruments.
Surgical and medical works, Gold Watch, jewellery, &c, &c. Also,
Wearing apparel, and a variety of sundries. Terms cash.
Saturday 18 July 1857 - Intestate Estates
David Stolworth, Sydney: received L109 3s 9d; paid, L109 3s 9d;
date of order to collect, February 6, 1857; surgeon