“It is not easy to say. Possibly in ignorance or through error or with a mistaken desire to give the patient ease, or possibly with the object of causing his death.” “You mean that the action might have been wilful murder?” “Yes, that is what I mean.” Again a movement ran through the tense audience. The coroner frowned and paused for a moment, then resumed:— “Do you know of any legitimate object—any legitimate object whatever—for which the cocaine might have been administered? Could it, for example, have been intended as a medicine or restorative?” “I do not think so. In my opinion the drug could only have been administered in error, or with intent to kill.” “Do you consider that the deadly nature of cocaine is known to the public? I mean, is that knowledge not confined to those with some medical training?” “I think the danger to a weak or diseased heart is pretty generally known. Most people are aware that deaths have occurred by its use, for example, by dentists, and that for this reason it is now seldom employed as an anesthetic.” The coroner slowly blotted his manuscript. “Now, Dr. Lingard, injections are administered with a hypodermic syringe, are they not?” “That is so.” “Is there any other way in which they can be given?” “No.” “Was such a syringe found in the present instance?” Dr. Lingard did not know. He had examined the body only, not the house in which the death had occurred. The coroner turned to another point. “Did the body show any sign of the injection having been forcibly administered?” “No, but force sufficient to leave traces would not have been necessary.” “Would death from this cause leave traces other than those ascertainable from a post-mortem?” Dr. Lingard hesitated very slightly. “I do not think so,” he answered. “If it did they would be very faint and it would be easy to overlook them.” “Was Dr. Emerson at the post-mortem?” “He was.” “Have you anything else to tell us, anything which you think might throw further light on this extraordinary affair?” No, Dr. Lingard had nothing, and Dr. Emerson was recalled. He declared emphatically that he had never had any suspicion that the deceased might have been addicted to the cocaine habit. “You have heard the evidence the previous witness gave as to the cause of the deceased’s death. Do you from your present knowledge agree with his conclusions?” “Completely,” Dr. Emerson answered. The man looked harassed and careworn, but his bearing remained dignified. “Then how do you account for your certificate that death occurred from natural causes?” Dr. Emerson made a gesture of helplessness. “How can I account for it except in the one way?” he replied. “I was misled by the facts. I admit being in error, but I do not think that under the circumstances any doctor in the world would have acted otherwise than as I did.”