IN today's Echo Memories, I've got the conclusion of the story of John Waller, the pioneering photographer who sadly committed suicide on New Year's Day, 1880. He'd had enough of struggling against the lung complaint brought on by years of breathing in the corrosive fumes from the chemicals used in the early photographic development process. A distant descendant of his in Darlington has kindly sent me this photograph of him.

As a bit of background reading, here's the complete report from The Northern Echo of January 3, 1880, headlined: "Strange case of suicide at Whitby".

Yesterday Mr John Buchannan, coroner, held an inquest at The Royal Hotel touching the death of Mr John Waller, proprietor of the West Cliff photographic saloon, in Khyber Pass. The deceased gentleman was respected by all who kmnew him, and he was more especially beloved by those who had private intercourse with him.

His melancholy death, made all the more so from the singular surroundings, has cast a shadow over many. The paritculars of the sad event may be gathered from the evidence given below.

Sarah Tyson, living as domestic servant with Mr and Mrs Waller, at 6, South-terrace, said that on the morning of New Year's Day she took Mr Waller his breakfast while in bed, and that Mrs Waller was also there.

Deceased went out shortly after ten, saying nothing particular, except wishing witness a happy New Year. He was as cheerful as usual. Deceased had ben ailing during the whole of the time she had been in his service.

John Harrison Dawson, assistant to deceased, deposed going down to the studio on the morning of New Year's Day and finding the inner door locked, with the key inside. Witness called, but receiving no answer got on the roof of the studio, and through a clear glass saw deceased laid on his back on the floor. He went to deceased's wife, explained to her the circumstances, and asked her advice, whjich was that he was to break in.

He did so, and found his master dead. There was an empty tumbler laid near. He found no note or anything to call for his attention.

Dr EP Mead deposed that he was the usual medical attendant of deceased, who was a man subjkect to attacks of obstructed breathing, caused by the fumes from the chemicals necessarily employed in the pursuit of his avocation. Witness was sent for on Thursday (New Year's Day), and found deceased laid on his back on the floor.

All the vessels of his face were gorged with blood, and the pupils of his eyes were dilated. On the desk near the body was an empty tumbler, which smelled strongly of prussic acid.

Witness afterwards made an examination in accordance with the instructions of the Coroner. Immediately on opening the abdomen there was a strong smell of prussic acid. He carefully remvoed the stomach, and found 4oz of thick coffee-coloured fluid. On pouring a portion of it into a bottle and adding another acid, he found the fumes of prussic acid were thrown off in great abundance. On subjecting a solution of nitrate of silver to this, he easily got an abundance of cyanide of silver, which readily dissolved in ammonia.

On making the post mortem examination, he found all the organs healthy with the exception of the heart, which was considerably enlarged, the right being much distended and containing a quantity of fluid blood.

The conclusion which he came to was that death resulted from poisoning by a solution of cyanide of potassium, deceased having taken it while under the influence of mental depression caused by the circulation of vitiated blood dependent on a diseased heart, the disease of the heart having been caused by repeated attacks of obstructed respiration extending over a series of years.

The Coroner summed up, and the jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical testimony.