TRINITY COLLEGE OF MUSIC.
PRACTICAL EXAMINATIONS.
The local committee's scholarship of £20, in connection with the Trinity College of Music practical associate examination, has been awarded on the recommendation of Dr C. Edgar Ford (examiner) to Aileen Ingram Smith (violin), a pupil of St. Dominic’s Priory. The following conditions are attached to the scholarship: — (l) The holder shall give a written assurance that she will present herself for examination for the licentiate diploma within two years; (2) she shall take some musical or cultural study, or both, at the University of Otago — the course of study shall be determined by the committee after conference with the scholar; (3) the scholar shall be paid in three instalments on March 31, July 31, and November 30, upon receipt to the committee of satisfactory reports from the teachers on the scholar’s work. -Otago Daily Times, 10/2/1930.
Seventeen year old Aileen Smith arrived to study in Dunedin and began to win competitions with her talent almost immediately. She soon became a familiar name on the lists of amateur and fund-raising concerts, winning favourable comments in local newspapers.
MIDDLEMARCH NOTES (excerpt)
CENTRAL OTAGO
(From Our Own Correspondent.) MIDDLEMARCH, September 11.
ANNUAL CONCERT.
The annual concert and dance held for the purpose of augmenting the prize funds of the Strath-Taieri A. and P. Society was held in the hall on Saturday evening. The seating accommodation in the hall was taxed to its utmost capacity. The Concert Committee had the co-operation of Miss Ruby Baxter, who organised a party of Dunedin’s talented entertainers and presented a programme of songs, etc., which has rarely been excelled in Middlemarch. The programme consisted of songs by Miss Jess McMillan and Messrs Roland Dunbar and Edward Ottrey, which were well received. The humorous Scottish songs and stories by Mr George Currie were much appreciated, and the violin solos by Miss Aileen Smith were among the best items of the evening. -Otago Daily Times, 13/3/1933.
MUSIC TEACHING
In February of next year Miss Aileen Smith, L.A.B., L.T.C.L., will commencee teaching violin, pianoforte, and theory of music in Oamaru. Pupils can now be enrolled, and special arrangements will be made for country pupils. -Otago Daily Times, 9/12/1933.
Aileen's career in music teaching and performance seemed to be set on an upward path, an important step being put on the bill with visiting internationial acts. Her debut professional performance in Oamaru's Opera Hall would be the first of many. But Aileen had a secret.
NORTH OTAGO
ACTIVITIES OF THE DISTRICT
(FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.)
TO-MORROW NIGHT'S CONCERT
The music-lovers who attend the celebrity concert to-morrow night will hear M. Senia Chostiakoff in at least six songs that should delight them. The famous Don Cossack tenor will sing Toselli's "Serenata,'' "Macushla" (Mac Murrough), "Song of the Volga Boatman" (Jaroff), "La Donna E Mobile" (Verdi), "I Hear You Calling Me" (Marshall), and "Funiculi, Funicula" (Denza). These numbers are particularly suited to the famous tenor's voice, and are favourites with all sections of an audience. Listeners in to the celebrity concert on Wednesday night from Christchurch must have been impressed by the wonderful range and sympathetic renderings of M. Chostiakoff, who was not permitted to leave the stage until he had responded to several encores. To-morrow night he will appear in Don Cossack uniform and in national costume. M. Paul Vinogradoff will present three numbers to-morrow night. He will play Rachmaninoff's "Prelude in C sharp," which ranks among his best presentations. Another great piece that he will play is Liszt's immortal. "Hungarian Rhapsody, No. 2," and this will be played with a cadenza by the pianist. His third number will be a Russian fantasy, "Vinogradoff." Miss Cecily Audibert, the well-known Christchurch operatic soprano, will be heard in several numbers, and her work has been received with a great reception by critics all over the Dominion. Miss Aileen Smith, the young and talented Oamaru violinist, will contribute violin solos to the evening's programme. Her two numbers will be "Ziegeunerweisen" (Sarasate) and "Hejre Kati" (Jeno Hubay); and these should be much enjoyed. The accompaniments for Miss Audibert and Miss Smith will be played by the well-known Oamaru pianist, Mrs Gordon Donaldson. -Otago Daily Times, 28/9/1934.
DEATHS
SMITH. — On September 29, 1934, at All Day Bay, KakanuI, Aileen Ingram, beloved daughter of James and Isabella Smith; aged 21 years. Private interment. — Stringer and Middlemass, undertakers, Oamaru. -Otago Daily Times, 1/10/1934.
FOUND DEAD ON BEACH.
YOUNG WOMAN’S TRAGIC FATE
OAMARU, Monday. Due to appear at a concert on Saturday night at which Senia Chostiakoff and Paul Vinogradoff were the principal artists, Miss Aileen Smith (21), a well-known violinist, who had gone for a walk, failed to return to her home. A search was instituted and she was found dead on the beach at All Day Bay. She was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Smith.
Deceased was known in musical circles throughout the South Island as a most promising violinist. She was a L.T.C.L. and L.A.B.
It was anticipated that Saturday’s concert would be the threshold of a brilliant career and her death is deplored by the whole community. -Waikato Times, 2/10/1934.
NORTH OTAGO
ACTIVITIES OF THE DISTRICT
(FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.)
DEATH OF MISS AILEEN SMITH
CORONER'S INQUEST
The inquest touching the death of Aileen Ingram Smith, who was found dead on September 29 near the beach at All Day Bay, about a mile from her home, was concluded before the coroner (Mr W. H. Frith) yesterday morning. Sergeant Fearnley conducted the inquiry and Mr C. Zimmermann appeared for the relatives.
Isabella Smith, of Kakanui, said that Aileen Ingram Smith was her daughter, aged 21 years. Witness last saw her alive at 1.30 p.m. on September 29. At that time her condition was normal, and she was in her usual cheerful spirits. She was to play at a concert at Oamaru that night. She had spoken continually about the concert, and after she had helped with the dinner dishes she went into her bedroom and prepared her clothes and music for the concert at night. She then left the house, and witness concluded that she had gone for her usual walk towards the beach. Witness did not worry about her until she failed to return at about 5 o'clock, and she sent her sister to look for her and. tell her it was time to come home to prepare for the concert. The girl returned within the hour to say she could not find her, and witness told the men, who were at tea, and they all set off in search of her. Witness rang the Findlays in Oamaru to see if any of them had gone out to their seaside cottage, as Aileen had often walked to Campbell Bay, and she might have gone to their place for tea. Mrs Findlay replied that they were all in town and were going to the concert, and Mr Findlay and his son came out to assist in the search. It was then about 7.30 p.m. Witness said she did not know Aileen had a gramophone needle tin containing poison, nor did she know where Aileen obtained the poison. She had no idea Aileen had poison in her possession nor how she obtained it. There was no poison kept in the house, and they did no rabbit poisoning on their place. Aileen went to Dunedin for the term holidays on August 19 and stayed there with some friends, returning home on August 28. Aileen had never mentioned having a stimulant in her possession, and it was a shock to witness to find she had poison in her possession.
To the coroner: Witness said it was customary for her daughter to play at concerts and functions. Aileen was not excited over the prospect of playing at the Oamaru concert, but was elated and honoured at being asked. She was not an excitable or neurotic girl, but was normally healthy. It was just over a mile from the house to where the body was found. Aileen had no dinner that day, but had fruit. That was her custom before playing at a concert. She had never confided to anyone of the family that she took a stimulant before a concert.
To Mr Zimmermann: Witness said Aileen was attended by Dr Fitchett, of Dunedin, a little over a year ago. The doctor stated she was suffering from anaemia and inward goitre. He gave her a tonic which immediately had good results. For a period of five or six weeks before her death, witness noticed Aileen had periods of exceptional activity. She had her racquet restrung, attended the annual meeting of the Lawn Tennis Club, went to dances, which she did not do previously, and took a delight in housework, in which she was not interested formerly. She was home on the Thursday, and went to town on the Friday, having lunch with Mrs Donaldson, her accompanist. That afternoon they bought a frock for the concert and she had her hair waved. Knowing now that her daughter took powder on September 29, witness was of the opinion, on account of her excess of energy at times, that Aileen must have been taking a stimulant for some time previously. On the Saturday morning Aileen was her normal self, and her last words to witness were about her little brother. Where the body was found was the usual spot where Aileen and her little brother rested. Aileen was just a normal girl, kind and cheerful by nature. She had no worries and was very intent on her music. Witness had no reason to suspect Aileen was going to take her own life, but quite to the contrary.
Sergeant Fearnley said the body was found stretched out and the fingers were tightly clenched. The deceased was later examined, but there were no marks of a struggle having taken place. Dr Fitzgerald had picked up a gramophone needle tin containing a powder near the body. This powder had been forwarded to the Government anlayst in Dunedin, and he had received a report that it contained a poison. He later went to Kakanui, but failed to find any poison on the place. Every possible effort had been made to find where the deceased had got the poison, but without avail. He produced two certificates as the result of examinations made of the powder.
Dr Fitzgerald stated that he examined the body of Aileen Smith. The limbs were rigid, and he considered she had been dead for some time. The fingers were tightly clinched, but there were no injuries to the body. The deceased was not of a very strong physique. After reading the reports of the analysts, witness stated that death was due to poisoning.
To Mr Zimmermann witness said that this particular poison taken in small doses had a general stimulating effect, plainly acting on the nervous system. For instance the sense of touch would be more delicate, and altogether it had a general tonic effect. If a small pinch were taken, a stimulating effect would be obtained, and the muscles would be toned up.
Margaret Ellen Findlay stated that she had been a close friend of the deceased, who came frequently to her home to teach her brother music lessons. Deceased had talked a good deal about the concert she was to have played at, and she appeared to be very pleased and thrilled about it. She last saw the deceased alive on the Wednesday afternoon, and she appeared to be in her usual state of health.
To Sergeant Fearnley: Witness said she did not see the deceased with a bottle or tin on any occasion, but on one occasion only Aileen had mentioned to her about the tonic.
To Mr Zimmermann: Witness stated that the deceased, in her opinion, was very well balanced and matter-of-fact.
After further evidence by relatives of the deceased Mr Zimmermann said that it was quite obvious from the evidence that the deceased had for some time taken small amounts of the powder as a tonic. It was also obvious that she was quite ignorant of its dangerous qualities. It was apparent that on the Saturday she took a larger dose in ignorance of its possible fatal results, so that death was by misadventure. The deceased had not been worried or harassed in any way, and, as there was no possible motive for taking her life, she should be entitled to the benefit of that doubt. On the evidence before the coroner, the deceased had everything to live for, and, undoubtedly, she had at no stage any idea of taking her life.
The coroner, returning his verdict, stated that the case presented some difficulties and doubts. He did not remember anything in the evidence to show that the deceased had stated she had been taking the powders as a stimulant. She may have been taking them as a stimulant, but it was quite reasonable to suppose that anyone taking such a deadly drug would first of all make inquiries. He could not think of any person going on taking this drug altogether in ignorance of its effect. It was strange to suppose that the deceased intended taking some of this drug to give her courage. According to the doctor's evidence, death bad occurred some hours before the body was found. It was hardly likely that the powder was taken as a drug, as it was so long before it was really required. However, what was on the mind of the deceased no one could tell. Two facts stood out that he could not get away from, and that was that poison was found in the stomach, and that a small box containing poison was found not far from the body. On these facts alone there was no doubt that the deceased intended taking the drug, but he could not say how much. With these two facts staring him in the face he could only bring in a verdict that the deceased died from poisoning, self-administered. -Otago Daily Times, 4/12/1934.
CORONER'S INQUEST
In her evidence at the coroner's inquest on the death of Aileen Ingram Smith on September 29, Margaret Ellen Findlay stated that prior to the St. Patrick's concert in March, the deceased had been giving her brother music lessons. Her brother, Douglas, had shown how his hand shook, and when he had left the room, Aileen had said that he should take something she knew of which was very good for steadying the nerves. She added that she had always thought this was a strong poison, but someone in Dunedin had told her of it, and of people who took it before they played. Aileen had said that she thought she would take some before she played at the concert. Isabel Glen Smith and May Marion Smith, sisters of the deceased, both gave evidence as to noticing the gramophone tin, which was the same as the one shown by the police. One had opened the tin and had seen the powder without realising what it was, and the other had opened a resin box and found similar powder James Mackie Smith, the father, stated that there was none of this poison on his farm. -Otago Daily Times, 5/12/1934.
The oblique references to the white powder which killed Aileen seem to be deliberately so, possibly to avoid copy-cat poisonings. The mention of rabbit poisoning, and of none being held on the Smith farm points to strychnine as the culprit. It was well known as a stimulant in cases of opiate poisoning and heart problems and as a favourite means of suicide in previous decades when it was easily available over the counter as a pesticide.
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