Suicide, Cyanide and Scones –

Suicide and Attempted Murder.

A SENSATIONAL AFFAIR

At Boulder this morning, Alexander Solomon, a notorious character and well known to the police, was arrested on suspicion of the attempted murder of a young fellow named Thomas Rassmussen. While being searched in the lockup at the police station, he managed to swallow a quantity of cyanide of potassium which he had secured in his clothing. Three doctors were immediately in attendance but all help was unavailing and death occurred soon afterwards.

Solomon and Rassmussen were considered to be great friends. It appears that on the previous night, Solomon called upon Rassmussen at his brother house in Forrest Street, Boulder, with a bottle of English ale and some scones which he asked him to help himself to. Rassmussen accepted the invitation but the scone tasted so bitter he refused to finish it, but Solomon pressed him to eat. Then Solomon placed the uneaten portion in his pocket and was on the point of leaving when Rassmussen was taken ill and asked Solomon for a glass of water. This being obtained, but the pains greatly increasing, Rasmussen asked Solomon to go immediately for a doctor. Solomon then left but didn’t return. At midnight, neighbors, Mr and Mrs Hird, who lived next door, heard Rasmussen calling for help and on reaching him found him in terrible agony.

Medical attention was quickly in hand and it was found that he was suffering from strychnine poisoning which was relieved by the  application of a stomach pump. The doctor ordered an immediate removal to the hospital where he was as quickly as possible brought out of immediate danger. Rassmussen continued to improve and eventually made a complete recovery.

Geraldton Advertiser Friday 26 February 1904, page 3

About a week prior to this incident, Solomon had given Rassmussen a bottle of beer which had also made him very sick but he thought nothing of it at the time.

Solomon was quickly arrested on a charge of attempted murder. Solomon has caused the police a considerable amount of trouble recently in connection with the receiving  of stolen gold. For this crime he has been convicted twice the previous year and jailed. He also made serious allegations about a senior police officer, Detective Eggleston, who he said had taken bribes, the officer was suspended but after an inquiry, the allegations were found to be without foundation.

No reason for the attempted murder of Rassmussen has yet been disclosed, but it is believed the motive may have been robbery, Rassmussen had £40 in his possession.

Alexander Solomon lies in an unmarked grave in the Boulder Pioneer Cemetery.