The Poisonings at "Cooranbean"

"I find that the deceased Mrs Margaret Fagan aged 50, Bridget Gilligan aged 38 and Margaret Fagan aged 24 - died from the effects of Strychnine accidentally administered to them instead of Quinine by Peter Fagan of Cooranbean

Signed Boyd Horsbrugh J.P.

Sydney Morning Herald 11 December 1865

THE LATE FATAL ACCIDENT FROM POISONING AT BRISBANE WATER

The remains of Mrs Fagan, Miss Bridget Gilligan, and Miss Margaret Fagan were brought up to Sydney by one of the Illawarra Company's steamers, which arrived from Gosford, Brisbane Water, early on Saturday morning. An investigation respecting the cause of death was held at Brisbane Water on Thursday, the conclusion arrived at being that the poisoning was accidental. The bodies were taken to St. Joseph's Church, adjoining St. Mary's Cathedral on Saturday, and the interment took place yesterday afternoon. The other persons who also had the misfortune to take some of the strychnine in a fair way of recovery.


From: The Fagans, the Cottage and Kendall (Historical Monographs No. 8) Joan Fenton - West Gosford : BWHS : 1996