An unhappy tragedy has come to light recently in connection with Dr. Alastair Macdonald, aged 31, a doctor of Northampton and his bride aged 21. Mrs. Macdonald died on December 19 six months after her marriage, her husband finding her dead beside him when he woke in the morning. The inquest on her was adjourned, on the ground that the exact cause of death could not be ascertained.
Considerable sympathy was shown to the husband of the dead woman although it was felt that there was some slight mystery in view of the adjourned inquest. How the tragedy has been carried considerably further Dr. Macdonald himself died under tragic circumstances. At the inquest held on him Frank Gandy, of Northampton, brother in law of Dr. Macdonald, said that he was in Dr. Macdonald's car with two other passengers. One was Mr. Gandy's brother Harry, and the other Mr. W. E. Thompson. They were driving towards Waddington aerodrome and between Grantham and Foston the car jury's next return the foreman announced the verdict as "criminal abortion." The Coroner: Leaving the other matter open? The foreman nodded.
Dr. Robert B. Douglas gave evidence of how Dr. Macdonald told him, between sobs that he had found his wife had had a miscarriage. He had got her to bed and at 7 am. when he spoke to her, she seemed all right. When he awoke again at 7.30 she was dead. Dr. Macdonald and his wife were a devoted couple so far as he knew. Dr. Douglas was questioned by the Chief Constable (Mr. J. Williamson) why the police had not been informed immediately so that they could see the condition of the bedroom. The doctor pointed out that the coroner was informed.
Dr. J. Orr, Dr. Macdonald's senior partner, stated that he asked Dr. Macdonald "Have you been using an; drugs or any instruments?" and Dr. Macdonald replied "No, I haven't touched her" Dr. Macdonald told him that his wife had refused tu have another doctor. Dr. Orr agreed that if a doctor had been called Mrs. Macdonald might have made a scene.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.