Monsieur Judas: A Paradox — David Hume — John Shaqi
Monsieur Judas: A Paradox
David Hume · en
This decisive statement considerably puzzled the jury. The deceased
died of an overdose of morphia, the pills contained nothing but
arsenic; so it being clearly proved that the pills had nothing to do
with the death, the deceased must have obtained morphia or opium in
some other fashion. Sergeant Spills was recalled on the chance that
the deceased might have purchased poison from the Jarlchester chemist.
In his evidence, however, Sergeant Spills stated that he had, by
direction of Dr. Drewey, inquired into the matter, and had been
assured by the chemist that the deceased had never been near the shop.
The room had been thoroughly searched, and no drugs nor medicine of
any kind had been discovered except the box of tonic pills now before
the jury. There was absolutely nothing to show how the deceased had
come by his death, that is, he had died of an overdose of morphia, but
how the morphia had come into his possession was undiscoverable, so
the jury were quite bewildered.
All obtainable evidence having been taken, the Coroner gave his
opinion thereon in a neat speech, but a speech which showed how
undecided he was in his own mind as to the real facts of this peculiar
case.
"I think, gentlemen, that you will agree with me in acknowledging this
affair to be a remarkably mysterious one. The deceased comes down here
from London (as proved by the evidence of Joseph Staggers) for a few
days' rest (evidence of Miss Chickles). He gives no name, and has
neither name nor initials marked on his linen, his bag, or his
clothes. Not even a letter or a card to throw light on his identity.
Entirely unknown, he enters the doors of this inn; entirely
unknown, he dies the next morning, carrying the secret of his name
and his position into the next world. From all accounts (testified
by the evidence of several witnesses), he was quite cheerful, and
evidently--I cannot be sure--but evidently had no idea of committing
suicide. Looking at the question broadly, gentlemen, the idea of
suicide would no doubt have to be abandoned; but looking at the case
from my point of view, the whole affair is peculiarly suggestive of
self-destruction. This gentleman, now deceased, comes down here, he is
careful to give no address, which showed that he wished his friends to
remain ignorant of his death. He is very cheerful, and talks about
exploring the neighbourhood next day--a mere blind, gentlemen of the
jury, as I firmly believe. After writing a letter--doubtless one of
farewell to some friend--he retires quietly to bed, and is found dead
next morning. The post-mortem examination, undertaken by Dr. Drewey,
shows that he died from the effects of an overdose of morphia or
opium. Now, gentlemen, he must have taken the morphia or opium
himself. No one else could have administered it, as he was not known
in Jarlchester, having been here only a few hours when his death
occurred, so no one had any reason to give him poison. Regarding the