The Sun. — London, England, 1844-08-22 00:00:00

TRIAL OF BELANLY• THE STEPNEY POISONING CASE. CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT. OLD COURT. Mr. Commissioner: Bullock took his seat in this Court shortly after nine a'clock, when the prisoners for trial during the day were arrainged at the bar. Among them was James Cockburn Belaney, the surgeon, who pleaded Not Guilty, in a firm voice, to the charge of poisoning his wife, Rachel Belany. The prisoner is by no means a good-looking man, but has a morose and sullen appearance. At ten o'clock the Judges, Mr. Baron Gurney and Mr. Justice Wightman, took their seats on the bench, when Belaney was again placed at the bar, and given in charge to the jury by the Clerk of the Arraigns. He was accommodated with a seat, and appeared to view the whole of the proceedings with great apathy. The Solicitor-General, Mr. Bodkin, and Mr. Cham bers conducted the prosecution on behalf of the Crown ; and Mr. Erle and Mr. Clarkson appeared for the pri soner. The SOLICITOR-GENERAL, on opening the prosecution, said that it now became his duty on the part of the Crown to state the serious and grave charge which existed against the prisoner at the bar, and in making that statement he could not but feel the great respon sibility that devolved upon him. The prisoner at the bar was charged with occasioning the death of his wife by poison. Now, in stating this important and solemn charge to the jury, he must take care on behalf of the Crown that every fact, and the conclusions to be drawn from those facts, should be fairly and fully stated to the jury, in order to enable them to form a correct and deli berate judgment on the case; and, on the other hand, he must be cautious that no facts and no circumstances should be unfairly pressed into the case against the prisoner, that no inferences should be rashly drawn to his prejudice, and that, in short, the whole trial should be conducted in that fair and impartial manner which always characterised the proceedings of the courts of justice in this country. The case that he had now to lay before them was strictly one of circumstantial evidence. There was no doubt of the death of the wife of the prisoner, and that it was occasioned in consequence of her taking a quan tity of prussic acid; but the important question for the jury to determine was, whether it was taken by mis take, in consequence of the prisoner having incautiously and inadvertently left it within his wife's power ; or whether he was guilty of the serious offence of wilfully administering it to her. The jury on coming to a con clusion upon the facts submitted to them, must apply their minds and exercise their reasoning powers pre cisely, on this most important occasion, in the same way as they would in the ordinary concerns of life, they would draw those conclusions from the facts which the facts ordinarily brought to their minds, and if upon the consideration of those facts they entertained any doubt, they would give the benefit of it to the prisoner. They were not, however, to be ingenious in suggesting doubts which would not occur to them in judging of the ordinary concerns of life. Having made these preliminary remarks, he would now proceed to state the circumstances of the case shortly to the jury. The prisoner at the bar was for some three or four years before the year 1843 in practice as a surgeon in North Sunderland—he was not practising under any diploma, and he was not able to state whether he had an extensive practice. The de ci aced was the daughter of a Mrs. Skerrett, a widow lady, residing in North Sunderland. She was possessed of copyhold property, and had also a leasehold interest in some lime-works. On the Ist of February, 1843, the prisoner married the deceased, and he then gave up the practice of a surgeon, and went to reside with his mo ther-in-law, carrying on, and managing for her the business of the lime-works. Mrs. Skerrett did not long survive the marriage of her daughter ; she died in the July following. Upon the death of the mother the pri soner's wife came into possession of the copyhold. property, and also of the mines and lime-works, and the prisoner entered into partnership with a person named Robson in the mines. In 1843 Mr. and Mrs. Belaney attended a Court of the Lord of the Manor. She was admitted to the copyhold lend, and surrendered it to the use of her husband, the prisoner. They con tinued to reside in North Sunderland till May in the preeent year. In the course of that month Mr. Be limey signified his intention of bringing his wife up to London, leaving her there, and proceeding himself on an excursion up the Rhine. On the 31st of May two wills —mutual wills, were drawn up ; one by the wife, leaving her property to her husband in ca-e she should die first, and the other by the husband, the prisoner, leav ing his property to her in case he should die before her. The execution of these wills were witnessed by a farm steward, and a shoemaker. The prisoner and his wife came up to London on the 3d of June, and on the following day they went in company with a rerson named Hobson to the house of a Mrs. Hep pingstall, in Green-street, Mile-end, and hired for three weeks two rooms, a front and back parlour, one of which was made into a bed-room. At about half-pest four o'clock on that day, Mrs. Belaney appeared to be in perfect health. .She and the prisoner dined together, two friends dining with them. They went out in the evening, stating they were going to the Pavilion Theatre, and they did not return till twelve or one o'clock OR the fol lowing morning. On Wednesday, the next day, Mr. Belaney ordered his wife a black draught ; the persons in the house shortly afterwards heard Mrs. Belaney sick, and she remained in the house ill the whole day. On Thursday she seemed to be perfectly recovered ; she went out with her husband at ten o'clock in the morning and did not return till files o'clock ; they remained up till twelve o'clock ; she ap peared extremely cheerful and amused herself by playing the piano. On Friday she was also apparently in ex cellent health. It might be right here that he should stop the thread of his narrative for the purpose of stating that on Thursday the prisoner at the bar went to a sur geon of the name of Donoghue, at Stepney, whom he had known for three or four years. He told him that he was in the habit of taking prussic acid medicinally, and he requested him to get him some, as he himself could not get it genuine ; besides that he ordered some ascitate of morphine and some other drugs. An ounce bottle of prussic acid, together with the other things he had ordered, were sent to him accordingly. He (the Solicitor-General) now came to the fatal day, Saturday, the Bth of June. Between six and seven o'clock in the morning of that day Mrs. Heppingstall, the landlady of the house, heard the prisoner and his wife conversing cheerfully together, About seven o'clock the prisoner rung the bell, and ordered a tumbler of hot water and a spoon to be brought to his room. About half-past seven o'clock he was in the parlour ; the ser vant was then dusting the room. He desired her to leave off, as he wanted to write some letters, and stated that he would ring when he wanted breakfast. In about a quarter of an hour afterwards the prisoner called for assistance. Mrs. Heppingstall ran up stairs, and she there found Mrs. Belaney on the bed lying on her back, insensible, with her eyes closed, and something like foam coming from her mouth. Mrs. lleppingstall said to the prisoner, "For God's sake, do something !" She desired the servant to go for hot water ; and the feet of Mrs. Belaney were put into a pan of it. Mrs. lleppingstall said she had seen her own girls in fits, but she had never seen one like that, to which the prisoner replied, " It is no fit—it is a disease of the heart, of which her mother died twelve enonths ago." He had a lancet in his hand, and observed that he would have bled her, but there was no move ment of blood in the heart. Mrs. Heppingstall then said " Won't you and for a doctor ?" to which the prisoner replied that he was one himself. Ultimately, however, a :medical man of the name of Garrett was sent for, but aspen his arrival Mrs. Belaney was no more. When Mr. Garrett came the prisoner asked him the cause of death, to which he replied, that it might be a disease of the heart. The prisoner said, " Very likely, as that was the .disease of which her mother died 9 months before. Mr. G. Alien said that there must be a coroner's inquest, and the prisoner at once assented to it. That inquest was held on the 10th of June, but it was adjourned in order that a post mcr:em examination might take place. That examination was made by Mr. Garratt and a gentleman :named Forney, and from that examination it was ascer tained that in the stomach there was a sufficient gran tity of prussic acid to occasion death. The heart, how ever, was found to be in a perfectly healthy state. About nine on the evening of the post mortem examination, the prisoner, in company with some other persons, called eipon Mr. Garratt, to ask the cause of death. That gun elernan gave him an evasive answer, the parties went away, and the prisoner called again. He then said that be bad been in the habit of taking prussic acid medi cinally ; that he had had a bottle out of which he could mot get the stopper, that in endeavouring to do so lie broke the neck off; that upon doing so he poured the prussic acid into some water in a glass that was in the bed-room, and that while he went into the other room to get a 'bottle to put the acid in, he heard a *shriek, and that upon hurrying into the bed-room, Mrs. Belaney said to him, " Oh, dear, I have taken some of that hot drink, give me some water." The prisoner, - upon being asked what he had done with the bottle, said that he had got rid of it in some vacant ground. Such was this sad transaction, and such the account .given of it. Now, if he was correctly informed, the jury mould hear from the medical men that the effect of prussic acid was to cause a shriek, and that with that shriek volition ceased altogether ; and if that was the case, it would have been impossible for Mrs. Belaney to have said what th e prisoner hadstated s h e dd A fter she had taken th e p russ i c acid. Added to this, le was informed it was the opinion of medical men that if proper remedies had been employed, the life of Mrs. B e i ane y might have been saved. The case, however was not to be lef t here—the re were other particulars into' which it was necessary he should go, in order to enable the jury to form a just conclusion in this important case. After the apprehension of the prisoner, it was ascer tained that he had written to his friends in North Sun elerland, and some of those letters he would now read. The first was dated on the sth of June, and was as follows : "Euston Hotel, London, June 5, 1844. "Dear Sir,—We arrived here yesterday evening sa f e and sound, although to-day, 1 tun sorry to say, Mrs. 1343limey is rather unwell. The fatigue of travelling such a distance, no doubt, to a constitution deheate like hers, was sure to tell a little upon her ; and I think her spirit, to bear up and carry all before her, has been greater than her strength was equal to. However, I trust that in a day or two, after a good rest , she will be all right again, and we will be able to proceed to Arlington, to my brother's. She does not think very much of what, as yat,,she has seen of London. That is easy to be ac counted for, she not being over well, on the one hand, to enicrgAnything ; and, on the other, having seen almost nothing of interest but crowded streets. As, to-day, I hotel, and as I will be moving about from t i a o 9 , to. race, you had better direct my letters to a bookseller 8, who I have arranged with_to receive and THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY MORNING, AUGUST 22, 144 forward them to me wherever I may be. His address j is, ' Mr. Hobson, bookseller , Com mercial-road East, London.' This with my name will find me, and I shall either call every day at the shop for my letters, or he will send them to me. If there be anything of import ance requiring my consideration, you may mention it, and I shall make as little delay over it as possible. "In haste, yours truly, ,"J. C. BELANEY." The next letter was on the 6th, and that stated that the prisoner's wife was unwell, and attended by two medical men, who apprehended that the same thing would occur that had occurred before, namely, a miscarriage. There were then two letters addressed to Mrs. Bell, they were dated the Bth and 9th of June, which he would read to the jury*, first making the observation that the letter of the Bth must have been posted either after five o'clock on Saturday evening, or on Monday morning, Mrs. Belaney, it being recollected , dying on the Saturday morning be fore eight o'clock. The letter was as follows: " London, June 8, 1844. " Dear Mr. Bell,—l have little else to write to the north about at present than to give you (who, I know, are all interested in it) a very unhappy account of Rachel's state. I have had her removed from the hotel to private lodgings, where, with two medical attendants, she re mains dangerously ill. Symptoms of :premature labour came on a few days ago ; but, what is still worse, one of th&medical men pronounces the heart to be diseased. Of this I have had some dread myself. This will alter my plans greatly ; but, if she be spared, that will be every thing. Hoping you are well, I must in haste conclude, yours sincerely, " J. C. BELANEY. " No letters have yet arrived. " Mr. G. G. Bell, North Sunderland, Belford, Nor thumberland." It would be for the jury by and by to say what the mo • lives were that could induce the prisoner to write that letter. On the 9th of June another letter is sent by the prisoner, which was posted before five o'clock in the afternoon of that day, and before the prisoner was aware of the result of the post modem examination : " London, June 9, 1844. " Dear Mr. Bell,—The worst that could be dreaded has come to pass. Rachel is no more. You shall know all. Put the men off work at the new house. As such could not be done at the quarry and lime works without great inconvenience to the partnership, I shall not desire the same there. lam hardly able to sit up ; but hope to be able to write to-morrow more particulars. As her death has occurred chiefly amongst strangers, and so suddenly, an inquest and post mortem examination will be held. This has been mentioned to me. Of course I do not object to it.—Yours sincerely, " J. C. BELANEY." There was another letter to Mr. Bell, which did not contain any date, but merely June, 1844 : "My Dear Mr. Bell,—By the time this reaches you, you will have learned from Hall's letter and my com munication yesterday, the awful cause of my loss ; and you, well I know, can and will feel for me. 0, God ! what a visitation came upon me, like a thunderbolt shot down upon me in the midst of my happiness ! Alas ! where are all my summer arrangements gone with my dear Rachel ? But I cannot write. You shall hear from me immediately. To meet the next pay ments, go to Thew for the price of the wheat. I will arrange fur your supplies. Let no one interrupt you in your usual course. I have legal advice to direct and go through the case for me. I wrote a few lines for Captain Clarke to direct him to write you, giving in struction for you to go on with the business as usual, and where to apply to for money to meet the pay. I did not think of writing you at that time ; but now have done so. Besides several other friends who are coming up, and who have known me for some time, I should like to see Mr. Hunt of Belford. Do go and tell him what has happened, and that I should like him to come up immediately to say what he knows of me. Mr. Hancock and several others have arrived. Tell him, for God's sake, to come off immediately. I will pay all ex penses. I must have a few respectable friends to come forward to establish my character and say what they know of me. Oh, God ! I know not -what lam doing or saying. Tell him I shall pay every expense. When he comes he must call at Hobson's, bookseller, Commer rial-road East, London, or at 17, King-street, Stepney, London, at Mr. Clarke's. Yours, ever, ELANEY B in haste, ." Pray put the men upon the partnership on their work again when required, if they are not already on." The next letter was one to Mr. Hall, and was in these terms : " London, June, 1844. " Dear IIall,—Oh! I am distracted. I cannot write nor do anything. I have lost my dear Rachel; and, what makes the loss so much the worse, it was caused by my own neglect, from leaving some medicine, which I myself had been taking a portion of for my stomach, in a tum bler on the top of the drawers at the opposite end of the room where she was. She had gone for the tumbler, and poured some water into it without observing an thing in it, the medicine being only a small portion of liquid in the bottom of the glass, and clear as the glass or water; then she had drank it. Oh! my God, I know not what. to do. My dear Rachel is gone, gone for ever from me. You, and all of you, know how happy we were together. I had just gone, leaving her in bed, out of the room for a minute or so, into the other room, in search of another bottle to put the medicine in, for I had broken the one it was in, and got a tumbler in the meantime to secure the contents in ; and she had got out of bed to use the and take some salts, which were on the table by her bedside, and wishing to take some water after the salts, and supposing the glass an empty and clean one, she had gone to the other end of the room. un knowingly poured water into it, and, oh God I have mercy upon us all, she drank a portion of it. I heard her cry for me in the other room. I flew to her; but, oh God! it was all over in a few minutes, and I am now in a state ®f mind bordering on utter misery and madness. In the suddan shock I knew not what to do or say. I called for immediate assistance. It was brought, but it was of no use. The awful occurrence having taken place in a situation where I am entirely unknown, all are strangers around, and the people being much inclined to doubt my statement that she was my wife, and every thing else I said, I am in a terrible situation. The law has a right to suspect me, and as yet I have not a creature found to prove my marriage, or what I am, or who I am. I have nothing to prove anything as yet. The solicitor whom I have employed will either have to come down to establish my character, and prove how we lived, and that we were married, or else he will require a few of my friends who have known me and her also, to come up and testify what they know of me. I know you will all do what is required for me. What I now regret the most next to the accident, in my confusion and half-stunned state is, I did not say what had caused her death. I knew not what I was doing or saying, and, of course, horror-struck and shocked at my infatuaty in having left such medicine there, though it w as only for a minute, and the poor dear Rachel was in bed and, knowing well that the world would blame me perhaps too severely for my carelessness in leaving such a dangerous medicine where it was in danger of doing such evil, I did not, until after I became a little more collected, say what had happened. This, though very natural at such an awful juncture, is con sidered as against me. Oh, God ! I know not what to do or say. It came upon me like a thunderbolt. If I were able I would write to you all—l mean most of my friends ; but at present I cannot. Go to Mr. Bell and William Wilson, and Alexander Wilson, and who you think fit, and state the melancholy contents of this to them, be cause I cannot acquaint them all. As poor Mrs. Stobbs is now the only memorial of dear Rachel I know, go to her and give her my respects. and tell her that I have lost my beloved Rachel ; and, although there was not much friendship existing between them for some time past, I hope better will now exist between us, and that I shall always regard her for dear Rachel's sake. I must now stop ; for I am bewildered, as if in an uncon scious dream.—Yours ever, " J. C. BELANEY." " I wish William Wilson could give you Mr. Tewart's address in London. He is one who knows me, and would say something for me. Go to Mrs. Stobbs immediately ; for, as a relative, it is my duty t) acquaint her. Zell Mrs. Patrick and all others you think well of. Oh, lam gone. I hope the Lord will support me under such trouble. If I can write to Mr. Simpson, who is the mi nister of the parish, I will ; but at present I cannot." - - The last letter he would trouble the jury with was an other to Air. Bell : " London, June, 1844, "Dear Mr. Bell,--I intended writing to you an ac-- count of what had happened to my dear Rachel, through my;_infatuity or inadvertency, and to myself ; but at present am unable to do so. I have written Hall a sort of account of it, which I wish you to go immediately to peruse, and consult with him what to do. Oh ! what is this come upon me like a thunder bolt ? I did not mention the cause of her death to you before, through a desire to bury the shame and avoid the public reproach for my fatal neglect. Yet I know well you can account for it under such circumstances ; but, oh God!! I can never forgive myself. I would like you to call upon Mr. Simpson, and give him the parti culars of what I have given of the awful occurrence. Lose not a moment in getting from Mr. Dornel testimony of my marriage from Bamborough, and post it to Mr. Clarke, 17, King-street, Stepney, London." Ile believed that he had now stated in detail all the cir cumstances of this painful case. He would forbear mak ing any comments on the facts which would be detailed in evidence, because it would be for the jury to form a calm, deliberate, and impartial judgment upon them. If the jury from those facts were satisfied nothing was made out against the prisoner, they would, of course, acquit him of this grave charge ; but if the facts proved irre sistibly led them to a different conclusion, the public jus tice of the country demanded from them, however pain ful it might be, that they should find the prisoner guilty. With these observations he committed with confidence the result of this important case into the hands of the jury. The following witnesses were then called : Mrs. Matilda Heppingstall examined by Mr. BODKIN — My husband lives in Green-street, Mile-end Old Town. On the 4th of June last, prisoner came to our house, at one. Mrs. Belaney was with him. They agreed to take the front and back parlours of our house for one week. They came at half-past four the day after. Mr. Belaney dined by himself. Mrs. Belaney did not dine. They took tea and had company with them—Capt. Clarke a nd Mr. Hobson. Mr. and Mrs. Belany went, as I under stood, to the theatre, and returned a little after twelve. i g lane s y l3;le a r. I p v Ee p a e s ared very well. On the following a sicskte. for s. ih-u morning (Wednesday) my servant fetched a black d Belaney. Shortly r a Iti ad u after ring tMrs.ie day.Belaneys h was r e did not get up. I saw her at night on the couch in the , afternoon.morning, She appearedcapt. parlour.a poorly. Prisoner went out that , Clarke and d a evening. li d Mrs.m He e a was aei y out cl .1 all ed i dt n he3 ;he evening, and saw her. On the ollowing morning (Thursday), they took breakfast, and went out early together. They remained out until five in the afternoon. I did not see her that day. They had fresh ham with their tea. Captain Clarke spent the evening with them. Clarke and prisoner went out together, and purchased pickled salmon for supper. They rose about the usual time on Friday, breakfasted, and went out before ten. I saw Mrs. Belaney, but did not speak to her. I had heard no complaints since Wed nesday ; on that night she said she was better. They , returned between one and two on Friday, and remained about half an hour ; they left again, and returned at half-past nine. I saw her sitting in the front parlour at the table, Mr. Belany was lying on the couch. She ap peared in good health. They retired to rest shortly after. Just before seven o'clock, on Saturday morning, I heard them conversing together in their bed-room. I distinguished the voices of both. At a quarter to eight I was called to the room by Mr. Belaney. He called out, " Mistress, mistress, come up here, my wife is very ill." I went up, he was at the bed room door, which was open. My servant was there. The foot of the bed is to the right hand as you go in, and a chest of drawers stood to the left. Behind them are folding doors, opening to the sitting room. There is a washhand-stand in a recess to the right of the chimney, and a small table and chair near the head of the bed. I observed Mrs. Belany lying on the bed, with the clothes all thrown against the wall. She had no cap on, and was in her sleeping dress. I said she is bad indeed. She was quite motionless, and seemed not to breathe from the upper part of the chest. She was insensible, her eyes shut, her teeth closed, and she was foaming at the mouth a great deal. I raised her, and put her head on my shoulder. Prisoner was close besido me. I said, " I have seen my dear girls in fits before, but I never saw fits like this." I asked if she had been subject to fits ? He said she had had fits before, but not like this ; she would not come out of it. I said, " What do you mean—do you mean to say she will not come to ? Do something— send for a doctor." He said, "lam a doctor myself. I should have let her blood before, but she had no pulse." He had a lancet in his hand. Before that I sent my servant for hot water, and I said, " I do not care if you are a doctor, send for another. Send for Captain Clarke and Mrs. M'Geachy." He said, " Send for them ;" and the girl went for them. He said, " She will not come to, it is an affection of the heart. Her mother died of it nine months ago." I put my hand upon her heart, but could not feel it beat. I put my hand upon her stomach, it appeared swollen. She was making convulsive mo tions, as if she was trying to get rid of pleghm, opening and shutting her mouth with a convulsive motion. Captain Clarke and Mrs. M'Geachy live seven teen doors off. Mrs. M'Geachy came shortly after. I was still holding deceased. Prisor.er said she was pregnant. The girl and Mr. Belaney put her feet in hot water. I ordered some vinegar and water. Mr. Belaney took the pail of water from her feet, put it on the bed, and put both her hands in it. He also put some of the vinegar on her head. I asked why Captain Clarke did not come ; at last he came, and he got a clothes brush, and began to rub her legs. I ordered a mustard poultice to be prepared, which was applied to her chest by direction of Captain Clarke. In about twenty minutes after I entered the room she died. She gasped twice after Captain Clarke came in. Prisoner was in the room the whole time. When Mrs. M'Gcachy came in I begged her to fetch the doctor, and she fetched Mr. Garrett, who did not arrive until after death had taken place. I asked prisoner what she had taken; he said only a little salts. I saw a tooth glass and a small tumbler on the table close to the head of the bed ; it appeared to be one-third full of liquid, clear, but whiter than water. On the other side of the bed was a paper of salts and a spoon. There was nothing in the drawers ; no bottle or tum bler. There was no broken glass about the room. I perceived no particular kind of smell in the room. Mr. Belaney gave Mrs.•M‘Geachy a phial full of lavender water after Mrs. Belaney's death. Mrs. M'Geachy sprinkled the room. I was in the front par lour soon after she died. I noticed a letter on the table ready for the post, and another one partly . written. There was no phial in the room. The phial in which the black draught was contained was brought down on Thursday. The bed-room is rather a small room. A person in one of the rooms can hear what is said in the other. Cross-examined by Mr. ERLE—I had desired Mr. Hobson, the bookseller, to procure lodgers for me. introduced Mr. and Mrs. Delaney as his friends. He lives seven minutes walk from me. I first saw them on Tuesday passing by the door. I saw them in the room. I heard Mrs. Belaney sick many times in the course of Wednesday. I cannot say if Mr. Belaney on that even ing carried her from the bed to the sofa when the bed was made ; but I think he must have done so. Mr. Belaney called to have the bed made. He appeared very attentive to her. I saw very little of them until I was called in on Saturday morning. When I saw the state she was in I was greatly alarmed, and was under alarm the whole time. When my attention was first called to this, I remember that I urged Mr. Belaney to send for a doctor. I was called upon to give an ac count of it on the Monday following before the Coroner, with Mrs. M'Geachy and Captain Clarke. We were also examined before the Magistrate. I observed two tumblers on the Saturday morning, one empty, the other containing fluid. I sent them down stairs, and do not know what became of the liquid. The teaspoon was on the table, and not in either tumbler. Sarah Williams, examined by Mr. CHAMBERS—I was servant to last witness, and waited on Mr. and Mrs. Be laney. On the Thursday before she died, when Captain Clarke and Mrs. M'Geachy supped there, I waited. Mrs. Belaney ate some salmon. She played on the piano, and appeared in good health and spirits. I waited on them on Friday. They had no supper on Friday, and went to bed about ten o'clock. On Saturday morning, about five minutes to seven, Mr. Delaney rang, and ordered a jug of hot water, a tumbler, and spoon. lie was in the parlour and dressed. He was in the parlour when I came to dust it. He told me to go out, for he wanted to write. I saw him get the materials for writing. I left the room. At about twenty minutes to eight I heard him call "Mistress, mistress, my wife is very ill." I and my mistress went up directly, and went into the bed room. Mr. Belaney was there. Mrs. Delaney was on the bed, her cap off, the bed clothes off, her hair hang ing all about, her eyes and mouth were closed, and she was foaming at the mouth. I and my mistress raised her up, and had some hot water for her feet. Mr. Be laney said he would use the lancet, but he was afraid her pulse was gone. This was before the hot water was fetched. The pail was afterwards put on the bed, and he put her hands in the pail. He also applied some vinegar to her face. I was then sent for Captain Clarke and Mrs. M'Geachy, who came. There was a tumbler on the table in the room. It was about half full of liquid, rather white and rather thick. The water-bottle was on the wash stand. It could not be reached from the bed. I did not take down the small tumbler. After Mrs. Belaney 'was dead, she was laid out, and directly afterwards, I dusted the floor of the room. I did not see any pieces of glass. I also dusted the parlour, and under the piano I found the stopper of a bottle. It was broken. The top of the stopper was what I found. It was too large for a vial. I put it on on the piano, and have not seen it since. I placed it there between twelve and one on Saturday, and it was gone on Sunday. I saw, on Saturday, some glass on the step door. It seemed like glass from a vial. There was no broken_ window in the room. I smelt no peculiar smell when I first went into the bed-room on Saturday. I set the window a little open when I went in in the morn ing. I took the bottle in which the black draught had been brought down stairs. Mr. Belaney told me to take it in the kitchen. Mr. Belaney went out between twelve and one on Saturday. It was after he went that. I found the stopper. He never slept in the house after. He returned once or twice on Sunday. Cross-examined by Mr. CLARKSON—I have always been quite sure that I found the stopper on Saturday. Mrs. Belaney's corpse remained in the house until the Wednesday. There was no bed for Mr. Belaney to sleep in. He appeared very kind to her. When she was ill on the Wednesday he took her tea frequently. She vomited, and he ap peared attentive to her. He consulted her as to what she would like to have. I went into her room two or three times on Wednesday while Mr. Delaney was out, and she declined to take anything until he returned. Mr. Belaney called out to me to be quick in making her bed. Captain Clarke supped with them on Thursday. Clarke and Belaney went out together on Thursday after sup per, and Mrs. M'Geachen, his daughter, was left with Mr. Belaney. Clarke and Belaney returned at twelve. On Saturday I should not have gone up if Mr. Belaney had not called. He was much alarmed ; he was crying very much, and had his bands before his eyes. Mr. I 3 Taney asked if Ihad fetched Captain Clarke, and I said no ; I did not know I was to fetch him. Mr. Mark C. Garrett examined by the SOLICITOR GENERAL—I am a surgeon. On the morning of Saturday, the Bth of June, I was in called to attend Mrs. Delaney. at half-past eight o'clock. Mrs. Belaney was dead when I arrived. Shortly after my arrival I examined de ceased, and said her death was very sudden, and I could only account for it by supposing that she had died of disease of the heart. Prisoner said he thought so ; her mother bad died of it some time before. I asked him if she had taken anything ? He said only some salts. I said to him and Captain Clarke that some inquiry would be necessary. He said if I thought it requisite he desired I would take the proper steps. The inquest was held on Monday, and adjourned for a post mortent examination. I made the exa mination at four o'clock on Monday, with Mr. Curling. We found the whole of the organs generally healthy. In the stomach we found about a pint of fluid strongly impregnated with the odour of prussic acid. It was placed in a bottle and sent to the London Hos pital fur examination. Prisoner and Captain Clarke called on me at nine o'clock that evening. Captain Clarke asked if we had ascertained the cause of Mrs. Belaney's death. I said we had not finished our consultation. Prisoner came again at ten, with Captain Clarke and Mr. Hobson. He said that on Saturday morning he was about to take some prussic acid, which he was in the habit of taking for an affection of the stomach. He had some difficulty in removing the stopper, and had used the handle of a tooth-brush for the purpose, which had broken the bottle ; that some of the acid was spilled, and the rest he had placed in a tumbler. He said I went into the next room to obtain another bottle, but instead of doing so I began to to write. I heard a scream, w ent into the bed-room, found my wife, who said, " Oh, dear, I have taken some of the hot drink, get me some cold water," and she be came convulsed. That was the substance of his statement. I asked what he had done with the bottle ; he said he had got rid of it in some vacant place. I asked him why he had not mentioned it before. He said he was so confused, alarmed, and ashamed, that he did not know what to do, and he was sorry he bad not communi cate it earlier. Prussic acid was the cause of death in this case. If prussic acid has been spilled in the room there would be an odour of bitter almonds in the room. I did not observe any peculiar smell of the kind in the room. I do not think the win dows were much opened. The smell of the acid would become weakened by the window being opened and a person might not perceive it. I a acquainted with prussic acid medicinally, bu m t uot as a poison. The proper remedies for prussic acid are stimulants. Brandy, whiskey, dashing cold water in the face, ammonia or hartshorn applied to the nose, arti ficial respiration—these remedies ought to be well known to professional men. Putting the feet in warm water, and mustard poultices, would be of little use. They would be loss of time, but would not be inn- proper. v Bleeding may be occasionally necessary. Cross-examined by Mr. ERLE—These remedies I have learned not from experience, but from study. After the death I consulted with Captain Clarke as to the inquest. A post mortem examination was not proposed at that time. Re-examined by the SOLICITOR-GENERAL — Captain Clarke was present at the post mortem examination. On smellinc , th e contents of the stomach I made use of the word " r 'hydrocyanic." That is the ehemical word for prussic acid. Captain Clarke was present. lie saw the contents of the stomach put into the bottle. By Mr. Baron GURNEY—A drachm of medicinal prussic acid would be sufficient to produce death—that is sixty drops. The dose is from one to two drops. Less than a drachm might produce death. Mr. T. I'. Curling examined by Mr. BODKIN—I as sisted the last witness in the post mortem examination of Mrs. Belaney. The heart was healthy. Deceased was pregnant. The contents of the stomach smelt of prussic acid. I handed them to Mr. Garratt, who said, in a low tone of voice, " hydrocyanic." I question whether Clarke heard it. The contents of the stomach were placed in a tumbler, covered with a bladder, and carried to the hospital, and delivered to Dr.Leatherby. They were examined the following morning, and found to contain prussic acid. No attempt was made to ascertain tlle quantity, for while the analysis was going on I received a communication stating that Mr. Belaney had said she had taken prussic acid. As small a quantity as twenty drops of Scheelie's prussic acid has been fatal. The remedies in cases of poisoning by prussic acid are cold affusion and ammonia, and artificial respiration. If you have not ammonia, spirits would be good. The poison takes effect immediately upon the brain, destroy ing sensation. The breathing would be affected subse quently. I should say that putting the hands and feet in warm water would do no good ; neither would a mustard poultice. I never met with a case of poisoning by prussic acid. I saw the prisoner in the adjoining room after the post mortem examination. lie asked what I considered the cause of death. I said we had not concluded our inquiries, when we had done so we should be happy to inform him. Cross-examined by Mr. CLARKSON—Mustard poultice is a stimulant, but nothing but the most energetic sti mulants will produce effect. I have often prescribed pussic acid for indigestion Prussic acid produces its poisonous effects very rapidly. I mean by artificial re , spiration the same as that which is used on recovering drowned persons. I never made any analysis of the contents of the stomach, and therefore cannot say whe- ther there were salts or not. By Mr. Baron GURNEY—As long as she lived and breathed I should never have despaired of recovering her. Dr. Letherby, examined by Mr. CRAMBERS—I am as sistant chemical lecturer at the London Hospital. I have made frequent experiments on the effects of prussic acid. The effect of an overdose is to produce a peculiar giddiness — lam speaking of lower animals—a dispositionito run round. The respiration is irregular. There is a scream probably before the animal drops. There are two or three expi ratory efforts producing the scream in convulsions. The animal foams at the mouth, and, after a longer or shorter time, dies. I have never seen the effect in a human being. After the scream volition and sensibility cease. A person who had taken it, would not, after the scream, be able to walk or talk. The most usual remedy is to dash cold water over the person. This is taught constantly in medical schools. I would also administer ammonia, spirits, and stimulants. Hot water to the hands and feet would not be of any service, nor would a mustard poultice. It would be too long in producing its effect. So far as I have heard the account of this lady's death, I am disposed to think that if those remedies had been applied she might have recovere d. If she live d for 20 minutes there would be better h o p es of her recov e r y , and I should continue the re medies lon g er. I ana lysed the contents of the stomach on the Tues day. I discovered on the fi rst anal y sis the presence of prussic acid. On the second analysis, on the Thursday following, I discovered Epsom salts. A different ana lysis is necessary to do this. The prussic acid which had produced death had been taken into the system, and that which was found in the stomach was over and above that which was sufficient to cause death. I can form no opinion as to the quantity. I only analysed it for the purpose of ascertaining the presence of prussic acid. The symptoms I have heard described are those of poisoning by prussic acid. Mr. Donaghue afterwards furnished me with some prussic acid. It contained rather more than 2 per cent. of pure ac id. If it i s spilt in a room there would be an odour. Hal f a tea-spoonful produced an odour which remained in a large room nearly an hour. If it is poured in a glass, there is a slight odour. If half an ounce were poured in a glass and left in a room, it would produce an odour. I have expe rimented with the prussic acid for Mr. Donaghue. I gave a cat 10 or 20 drops of Scheeile's strength, and restored the cat by cold effusion and ammonia. I gave a horse a table-spoonful of acid twelve times the strength, and restored the horse. He was on the ground in convulsions, and apparently dead, and all the symp toms had occurred before I applied the remedies. He was restored in twenty minutes. I dashed cold, water ever his head, and put ammonia to his nostrils. Ammonia is common smelling salt. The mode of producing arti ficial respiration should be well known to all medical men. Cross-examined by Mr. Eats—l isolated the prussic acid from the contents of the stomach. There was a drachm and a half of water mixed with prussic acid, but there are no data to determine the quantity. There was a strong odour of the acid. Prussic acid is one of the poisons easiest of detection after draught. Acetate of morphine is poison. There is no smell from it after death. Prussic acid is detected by the smell. The scream is the indi cation of volition and sensation having gone. The swallowing of prussic acid is not attended with a shock. There is a taste with it. I have tasted it. I have had it spilt on me, and applied to my nostrils, so that it has produced giddiness. This effect is produced in about thirty seconds ; then faintness comes on. It would depend upon the quantity taken whether a person would have time to call out and say anythirg. If prussic acid were taken immediately after some other fluid, that would have the effect of diluting it and snaking its action slower. I am not ac quainted with the effect of prussic acid on the human subject. Re-examined by the SOL ICITOR -G ENER.SL—There is no acid taste in Scheeile's prussic acid. There is a bitter taste. There is no hot taste. At the conclusion of the examination of this witness, the Court adjourned for a few minutes for refreshments. On the re-assembling of the Court, Dr. Anthony Todd Thompson was called, and exa mined by the SOLICITOR - GENERAL—I am Professor of Medical Jurisprudence at the London University. My attention has been called to the effects of hydrocyanic w pr h o i d e u h ce Mr acid upon the system. Hydrocyanic acid would symptoms as those under is described as labouring. but they would also be produced by any other se dative. The smell of pruss i c acid is very peculiar. If an y be spilled in a room the odour remains a considerab le time, such chu Belaney unless there is much movement in the air of the room. If it were in a tumbler the odour would be strong—if it were lifted to the top the odour would be perceived. The effects of taking it are those which have been so clearly explained by the last witness—giddiness , faintness, convulsions resembling those of tetanus, or lock-jaw, and screaming. When the symptoms have advanced to a scream, the powers of volition are gone. Atter the scream it would be impossibe for a party to talk so as to describe what happened. The remedies are well known in the medical world; they are stimulants of all kinds, ammonia, effusion of cold water, and artificial re spiration, and chlorine applied in the form of vapour. I have tried experiments on the effects of those reme dies on animals. I have tried ammonia, cold effusion, and artificial respiration. I have known no cases in which artificial respiration alone has succeeded. Warm water to the feet and hands areof no use. Mustard poultice would be too slow in its effects. If a person lived twenty minutes after taking prussic acid, the pro bability would be in favour of recovery, if remedies were applied. Bleeding has been used in cases of strong plethoric people, but with no good effect. Cross-examined by Mr. ERLE—I have seen cases in the human subject, in which large doses have been taken so as to produce fainting. It might have been a quarter of an hour after fainting had occurred that I was called in. The person recovered in consequence of the remedies. I have taken it myself in sufficient quantities to produce uneasiness. A person would scream from any extraordinary or strong sensation. A person might immediately on taking the acid feel an un comfortable sensation in the mouth and might scream. The evaporation of the acid is very quick when it is spilled, but the smell remains for a considerable time. By Mr. Baron GURNEY—Ammonia is a powerful re medy. Chlorine is more powerful, but is not so easy to be obtained. The first thing I should call for would be a smelling-bottle, Hartshorn and brandy, and I should also use the cold effusion. Thomas Donaghue—l am a surgeon, live ng in White horse-street, Stepney. I knew the prisoner about four years ago. On the Gth June last he came to my shop. He wrote upon a slate that he would call again, I not being at home. He then came again about seven o'clock. He asked for some prussic acid, salts, senna, acetate of morphine, chloric:acid, and carbonate of soda. He said he wanted the prussic acid, as lie was in the habit of taking it. I got it for him. I got Scheeile's prepara tion of prussic acid for him the next day. It was in an ounce phial. It had a glass stopper. I knew by the feel of the bottle it was covered. I saw him after his wife died, and he told me that the neck of the bottle was broken, and that he poured it into a tumbler, which his wife took, she having taken salts. He wished me to at tend the inquest. Cross-examined by Mr, CLARKSON—I knew him four years ago. I knew then he was in the habit of taking prussic acid. He told me lie would return the bottle. A morphia is also taken as a sedative for dyspepsia. Dr. Letherby recalled —The acetate of morphine would be slow in its effect, and easily known. George Gall, examined by Mr. CHAMBERS—I was errand-boy to Mr. Donaghue. I went to Evans's to buy some prussic acid. I gave it to Mr. Donaghue. I bought it of Mr. Evans, of Bartholomew. close. Richard Willis Powell—l am shopman to Mr. Evans. I recollect selling some p r ussic acid on the Gth of June. I sold it f o r M r . Donaghue. It was called Scheeile's preparation. Thomas Long, examined by the SOLICITOR-GENERAL —I am gardener of the City of London Tower Hamlet Cemetery. I saw the prisoner there, about 12 o'clock, on the Bth of June. There were two gentlemen with him. He told me he wanted to purchase a piece of ground to bury. Captain Clarke was with him. H e said he wished the burial should take place on the Tues day. I told him he should give four clear days to get a brick grave done. They said they would have a seven foot grave till they could have a brick one made. He He contended that the prisoner's story as to the manner went away, and had a handkerchief to his eyes, appa- in which the poison had been taken by the deceased rently weeping. Captain Clarke said he would hear no was most probable, and that it was borne cut by all the more of the burial till Monday. circumstances spoken to by the witnesses. What was John Haynes, examined by Mr. BODKIN—I am in- more probable, then, than that the unfortunate deceased, spector of the metropolitan police. I went down to after taking the salts, which it was proved she had done, North Sunderland. I saw Mr. Bell there. I got the should have got up and taken some water in order to letters handed up by me from him. The two papers I remove the taste of the salts from her mouth, found in a cupboard in the house of the prisoner. and seeing this glass upon the drawers, that she should George Gray Bell examined—l live in North Sunder- I have employed it for that purpose? He called upon the land. I know Mr. Belaney. I was agent of some lime jury to weigh all the facts of the case minutely, and he works, of which the prisoner was a partner. I became felt satisfied that the result would be that they must agent in September. Mr. Belaney was living near the acquit the prisoner; and he felt convinced they would place. Mrs. Belaney was living with him. About July think it impossible for human nature to be guilty of so he was leaving for London with Mrs. Belaney. I re- monstrous and aggravated a crime as that imputed to his ceived the letters marked from No. 1 to 6 from him. unfortunate elient, for if the charge were true, he must They are in his handwriting. The two papers handed be the blackest fiend that ever walked upon the face of up I believe to be in his handwriting. There is a letter the earth. It was impossible that he should be guilty. He addressed to Mr. John Denning. I know the copyhold had been acquainted with the deceased in early life. property which the late Mrs. Skerrett had. She was They had grown up together, were united, and the mother of Mrs. Belaney. It would now sell for about during their conjugal intimacy lived most happily 3,7001. Mr. Robson was a partner in the lime works. together ; and he would ask what possible motive the ' The share of Mrs. Belaney, including a colliery, was primer could have had for the commission of so heinous worth about 2,400/. I made an estimate of the property. a crime? His Learned Friend might tell them that he It was about 6,0001. would exchange his life interest 'for the fee, but what Cross-examined by Mr. ELLE— I heard Mr. Belaney would that be ? He could sell the property, and that talking of an excursion in the month of September. Ile was all. Was there the least evidence of any intention spoke of going to the south. I heard of the excursion on his part to dispose of the property? He would ask frequently spoken of between September and the Ist of the jury, as husbands and as fathers, whether they could June. Mr. Belaney was fond of falconry. He said he believe it possible that the prisoner had committed this wished to see an exhibition of falconry on the Rhine. awful crime under such circumstances? He had a young He keeps a great number of birds. I never saw anything and lovely wife, in the flower and bloom of life, and but the greatest kindness subsisting between Mr. about to become a mother ; and the prisoner was charged and Mrs. Belaney. She seemed apparently perfectly with the murder of that wife, without the slightest happy. I was put into the agency by Mr. Belaney. Ile motive being assigned for the commission of the act. It had full control over the lime works, and managed certainly was a most mysterious case, and he begged the as he pleased. There was a house building on the pro- jury to recollect that they were inquiring into the intention perty for them, of their fellew-m an, an intention which could only be known Re-examined—l did not see much of Mr. and Mrs. to God ; and he therefore implored them, if they had Belaney after their marriage. Mrs. Belaney was twenty- but a single doubt, to give the prisoner the benefit of two years of age. that doubt, and acquit him. • Alexander Wilson—l am farm steward in the service of At the conclusion of the address of the Learned Coun- Robson and Skerrett. I knew Mr. Belaney. I remember sel, the Court adjourned until this morning at ten o'clock. his marrying Miss Skerrett. It was on the 23d of February, 1843. She was an only child. Mr. Belaney practised as a medical man before his marriage. He gave up practising after his marriage, and took the manage ment of the lime works. Mrs. Skerrett died on the Ist of July after the marriage. On the 31st of May this year I heard Mr. Belaney:say he was going to the Con tinent. I had some business to transact with him. He said to me he wanted a witness to the wills which were made ; that it was a thing which was generally done when people went from home. The papers were pro duced. Mrs. Belaney was present. He read one of them over, and he said the other was to the same effect. I put my name to the papers. They had been signed before by Mr. and Mrs. Belaney, but they went over them again with a dry pen. The next day they left for London. Cross-examined by Mr. ERLE —I have been employed thirty years, but have been farm-steward only since March last. Mrs. Skerrett was an old woman when she died. Mrs. Belaney appeared to me to be happy in her marriage. Mr. Belem?y had the management of the pro • perty. I heard Mrs. Belaney say that she was anxious to see London. His character was that of a kind man as far as I knew. Ralph Moore—l am a shoemaker, residing at North Sunderland. I witnessed the wills. I knew Mr. Be laney for several years. John Dinning—l am a farmer residing at Elford, near North Sunderland. I knew the prisoner for about three years prior to June. I was from home in June. I re turned on the 10th, and found a letter from Mr. Belaney before me. A letter posted in London on Saturday would reach me about five o'clock in the afternoon. I got this letter about ten in the forenoon. I destroyed that letter. It was dated from the Euston Hotel, the 6th of June, to the best of my belief. The contents of that letter were, to the best of my belief, that I would be sorry to hear that his wife was taken unwell ; that she was attended by two physicians. He was about to remove her to pri vate lodgings, and he would not be able to take her to the Rhine. He also said that he was afraid that was going to happen which had happened before. I under stood this to mean a miscarriage. Cross-examined—Mr. and Mrs. Belaney appeared to me to be living on happy terms. Mr. Belaney was fond of falconry. I heard of the tour spoken of some time before. Mrs. Belaney was anxious for, and she seemed desirous of, going to London, and to go to Arlington, where Mr. Belaney's brother resided. He bore the character of a man of kindness and humanity. Thomas Robert Younghusband—l am a farmer re siding at Elwick. I know the last witness. I have seen the prisoner before. On the 11th of June Mr. Dinning showed me a letter from Mr. Belaney. It was dated the Euston Hotel. The witness described the contents of the letter to the same effect as the last witness. I was not then aware of the death of Mrs. Belaney. I heard of her death on the Thursday or Friday after. The con tents of the letter occurred to me more strongly when I heard of the death. Mr. Richard Straker—l am the postmaster of North Sunderland. At the time in which this transaction took place, a letter put into the post-office in London, would reach North Sunderland at eleven o'clock in the forenoon of Saturday. Mr. Dinning's letters were taken to him by a servant. The letter directed to Mr. Dinning from Mr. Belaney was in the post-office on Saturday the Bth, to the best of my belief. It must have been posted on the 6th in London, to arrive in North Sunderland on the Bth. Cross-examined—Mr. and Mrs. Belaney appeared to live happily together. He had the character of being a kind man as far as I knew. Mr. Dinning was recalled, and said that he had been from home from Thursday, the 6th. William Blott, a clerk in the General Post-office— This letter, No. 2, bears the morning mark of the 10th of June. It must have been, therefore, posted either be fore half-past five on the evening of the 9th, or before eight on the morning of the 10th. The 9th being Sun day, it must have been posted after half-past five on Sa turday evening. This letter, No. 3, must have been posted before eight o'clock on the morning of the 10th, or before half-past five in the evening. It bears the evening post mark. Mr. George Scott—l am registrar of births and deaths in North Sunderland. Registered the death of Mrs. Skerrett, in January, 1843. I called on Mr. Belaney for the particulars. He had called on me to register. When I asked him the cause of death, he stammered, and said, " Well, you may say, bilious fever." The entry was put in, and read. Mr. Dinning recalled, and examined by Mr. E RLE— I visited Belaney's house during the illness of Mrs. Skerrett. I believe Mr. Hunt, a medical man, attended her, but I am not sure. Mr. R. Ferguson, clerk to the manor of Bramburgh, was called, and proved that Mr. and Mrs. Belaney called upon him, and she handed over the interest in the copyhold for the use of herself and children. Sarah Williams recalled, and examined by Mr. ERLE —Some articles were brought for Mrs. Belaney to the house. Those were a bonnet and some other articles. The wills were then put in, and read. They were dated the 17th of May. One conveyed all the pro perty of James Cockburn Belaney to his wife, Rachel Belaney, and the other conveyed the property f Rachel Belaney to her husband. The letters of the prisoner were put in and read. The case for the proeecution having closed, Mr. ERLE asked the Court for time to proceed with the defence till to-morrow, as he felt that lie would be better able to do justice to the case if he was allowed time till to-morrow. The COURT thought that it was too early an hour to break up. Mr. ERLE rose to address the jury on behalf of the prisoner. He commenced by entreating them to dismiss from their minds all they had . heard upon the subject of the charge against the prisoner out of door, and not to allow any rumours or.reports that might have come to their knowledge on the subject to prejudice the inquiry. He then proceeded to state that there would be no difficulty as to the cause of death, which was clearly occasioned by prussic acid, and the only question for the jury was, whether the prisoner had wilfully administered that poison to his wife, and with the intent to murder her ; and this was the point which the jury had to decide. He then proceeded to remark that the evidence showed the prisoner to be a man of respectability ; he had contracted what appeared to be a happy marriage ; there was no imputation of any rival affection ; and yet, without any apparent motive whatever, the jury were called on to say that he had committed the most enormous crime that could possibly be committed by any human being. He begged the jury to remember that it was impossible there could be any pecuniary motive for this act, for it was proved that from the moment of his marriage the whole of the property had been placed in his uncontrolled possession. The copyhold property was handed over to him, and be might have done what he pleased with it ; therefore there could not have been any pecuniary motive to induce him to commit the murder. The will that had been been referred to gave the pri soner no more power over the property than he possessed before, fur by his marriage the property became his, and if his wife had died first the whole would have devolved upon him. He begged them to recollect that if the prisoner had died his property would have been divided amongst relations, and it was, therefore, a most natural and honourable course for him to endeavour to secure to her, in such - an event, the property which he had himself derived from her. As to the will of the deceased, it was mere waste paper, and was invalid in every respect ; and ' if it had been a valid instrument it would not at all have benefited the prisoner. With regard to the letters being dated from the Euston Hotel, when the prisoner and his wife had left that establishment, it might, he considered, be very easily accounted for by the fact that the prisoner and his wife were not anxious to have it known that they were living in a small apartment, but desired to have it thought that they were in a stylish place, like the Euston Hotel. It should be recollected, also, that the place where the prisoner did take up his abode was of all others the only part of London where he had any friends, and he would ask them if it was likely that he would have chosen such a spot for the commission of a cool and deliberate murder? The Learned Counsel then proceeded to remark upon the other factS of the case, and lie said it certainly appeared that the prisoner's statement that two medical men were in attendance upon his wife was not true, but the prisoner's explana tion was, that if the illness of Mrs. Belaney had con tinued, it was his intention to have called in medical assistance. As to the possession of the poisonous arti cles, he should be in a position most satisfactorily to account for this circumstance from the fact that the prisoner had for several years laboured under dyspepsia, and the only means of relief were the administration of strong acids, and the medical gentlemen who had prescribed for the prisoner was in attendance to prove this fact. He then remarked upon the affection which it was proved existed between the prosecutor and his wife, and the kind manner in which he had ministered to her comfort, and asked the jury whether they could reconcile such conduct with the belief that the prisoner all along intended to carry out a deliberate plan of murdering his unoffending victim? NEW COURT. Henry Wheeler, aged 21, bracemaker, Arthur Richman, aged 18, and George Richniun, aged 10, also brace makers, were indicted for stealing twenty-four brace lengths of silk India rubber web, of the value of 285., the property of Benjamin Wigg Ilickling. They were also charged upon several indictments with stealing a quantity of tools, the property of the same prosecutor. Mr. Payne appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. Bal lantine and Mr. Prendergast appeared for the prisoners. The prisoners were engaged in the service of the pro secutor as bracemakers. The articles named in the indictments were part of the stock of the prosecutor, and the prisoners were discovered disposing of similar articles. In the course of the evidence, however, it appeared that part of the property was found in the pro secutor's premises after the present charge bad been in stituted, Under these circumstances, The COMMON SERGEANT stopped the case, and directed an acquittal to be entered in favour of the prisoners. They were again indicted for stealing some tools. These tools belonged to the prosecutor, and the prisoners were discovered, after the tools had been missed to have pawned them. The jury also acquitted the prisoners in this case. Ther«. was another indictment against the prisoners,'but Mr. PAYNE said he would not again dare the glorious uncertainty of the law. The prisoners were accordingly acquitted on that also. Mr. PAYNE said he would not proceed further. John Wheeler was again put forward on another in dictment. Mr. PRENDERGAST inquired what was meant by the prisoner being put forward? Mr. PAYNE said he had not been instructed, and there fore be could not consent to an acquittal. Mr. PRENDERGAST—Why, what is the Meaning of these tricks being played with the Court ? Mr. PAYNE—What do you mean, Sir, by that ? Mr. PRENDERGAST—Why, you said at first you would not go on, and then you say you will not consent to an acquittal. This I call playing tricks with the Court. • The CosDioN SERGEANT here directed the witnesses to be called, but, as they (lid not answer, the prisoner was discharged, and the Learned Counsel quietly sat down. A respectable-looking man, named Henry Sage, 34. described as a surgeon, was indicted for stealini , a cheque for 301., the property of a lady named Sydney Maddocks. Mr. Doane appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. Ballantine defended the prisoner. The prosecutrix was accommodated with a seat on the bench. She stated that she was a widow, residing at Kensington. Mr. Robarts, the banker, was her brother, and she kept an account at his establishment. On the day in question she was in Regent-street, in her brother's carriage. She called at a shop, and left her reticule, containing the cheque in question, in the carriage. On her return to her carriage, she discovered that the cheque was gone. She immediately gave information both to the bank and to the police. The prosecutrix's coachman and footman were put into the box, but they knew nothing of the robbery. Mr. Harrington, one of the cashiers in Messrs. Ro barts, Curtis, and Co.'s banking establishment, stated that, on the day after the robbery, the prisoner presented the cheque in question for payment, and upon his doing so he was requested to walk into an inner room. He stated that the cheque was his own. J. Roberts, Esq., was then examined from the bench, and he stated that he questioned the prisoner when he presented the cheque, and ultimately gave him into custody. Mr. Goodman, the chief clerk at the Mansion-house, produced a statement which was made at that office by the prisoner. It was, that he had seen two foreigners in the street disputing about the cheque, and he pointed out the banking-house to them, and they asked him to get the cheque cashed for them. This was the case for the prosecution, and Mr. BALLANTINE having addressed the jury for the prisoner, called two witnesses. The first stared that on the day in question he saw the prisoner in Lombard-street. He was talking to two persons, apparently foreigners. One of these gave the prisoner a paper, and they all walked up the street together. The witness was cross -examined by Mr. DOANE, and said that he had known the prisoner about ten years. He used to keep a chemist's shop in St. George's-in-the- East. He had attended witness. This witness was fully corroborated by another person, who was out of Court during the examination of the first witness. He corroborated the witness to the letter. Mr. DOANE—My Lord, under the circumstances, I cannot think of going on with the case. The COMMON SERGEANT—I think you are quite right. The evidence for the defence is so straightforward, that the prosecutors will see that you have taken the right course. The jury then returned a verdict of Not Guilty. The announcement of the verdict was received with clapping of hands, which was instantly repressed. POLICE INTELLIGENCE. (YESTERDAY.) GUILDHALL. A poor half•starved looking man was placed before Mr. Alderman John Johnson on a charge of having this morning broken one of the gas-lamps in Fleet-street. The poor creature, to inquiries from the worthy Al derman, said that he was starving, as he could get no work, and that he broke the glass to get into prison. Alderman JOHNSON—Have you applied to the union ? Prisoner—l did last night, and they refused me relief. Alderman JOHNSON—What is your trade?—A glazier. Alderman JOHNSON—Have you ever been in prison ? —I am just out of Tothillfields, where I was sent for begging. I cannot starve. The Alderman ordered that he should be taken to the West London Union. CLERKENWELL. Michael Fleming, bricklayer, Tottenham-place, Tot tenham-court-road, was placed in the felons' dock, charged with feloniously cutting and wounding Bridget, his wife. The prosecutrix, a sickly, careworn-looking woman, was brought into Court by two policelconstables ; her head was bound up, and she seemed labouring under pain and excessive debility. The Chief Clerk said he did not think she was inclined to prosecute. The poor woman, in a low tone of voice, replied that she had no revengeful feeling towards her husband, but she entreated that she might be protected from him in future. Mr. BROUGHTON, however, determined upon hearing the facts of the case. The prosecutrix then deposed that on the previous night, about twelve o'clock, the prisoner came home. She was in bed, and he spoke harshly to her ; after some time, however, he went to bed, but continued to speak very unkindly. She remonstrated with him, upon which he jumped up, and asked where the candle was ? She refused to tell him, fearing that he might want it to search for some weapon ; he got a lucifer-match box, and lighting a lucifer, threw it on the bed clothes. She besought of him not to be so cruel, but he seized her by the hair, and dragged her out of the bed on the floor. She fell from the bed with so much violence that she became insensible, and recollected nothing more until she felt herself bleeding from a wound in her throat ; she was then bleeding very much. After recovering herself a little, she staggered out, and meeting a policeman, was conveyed to the hospital. BaotrcnroN-LHave you any children ? Prose cutrix (sobbing►)—No, they are all dead. thank God. I was the mother of eight children, but they are all gone from me. Why do you say thank God ?—Oh, they are beyond the reach of his cruelty. The complainant went into further statements of inju ries inflicted, but the prisoner met them with a general negative.—He was committed for trial. EXTRAORDINARY ROBBERIES.—OrtaVita an he, a young man of liberal education and highly respectable family, stated to be the son of a deceased clergyman, was brought before Mr. Bingham, the sitting Magistrate, for re-examination upon several charges of robbing different clergymen whom he visited. He already stood committed upon two charges. In one of these cases it appeared that, on the 16th of July, he visited a gentleman named Leese, at Lloxtoa, and passed a good part of the day with him. The next day he called while that gentleman was from home, and being shown to his bedroom to shave and dress, he broke open the drawers, from which he stole a gold watch, sev,ml rings and other jewellery, some linen, &e., and drove in a cab, carrying with him a valise and velvet shootin ! : coat, telling the servant that he and _Mr. Leese would probably return together at ten that night. In the other case be had, on the 23d of February, borrowed a pony from Mr. Smoothy, a farmer at Bard Crook, in Essex, promising to return it next mor n i ng ; b ut t h e prosecu tor never saw him again until last weok, when he was la custody at this Court, and he then acknowledged that he had sold the pony near Smithfield for 31, because, he said, it fell sick. Sergeant Rogers, of the C division of police, who sr prehended the prisoner on the sth instant in Queen' street, May -fair, and obtained possession of nine paW brokers' duplicates, now brought fora ard several gt ntle men, owners of portions of the property found in pawn. Mr. Richard King Pierce, a young surgeon, living in chambers in Child's-place, in the Temple, stated that be bcame acquainted with the prisoner about two years at." and on the 10th of last month received a note from hill' expressing an intention to pay him a visit. He accord - ingly came and passed the evening with complainant and another gentleman named Dukes. The following morn' ing he called again, and witness having to go to a lee" ture, invited the prisoner to accompany him, but be declined doing so, and asked permission to remain there and smoke a pipe. Witness told him to remain there 0 long as he pleased, and appointed to meet him there at lour in the afternoon, but he was never seen again unti l the present time, and the witness missed his ease of in' struments, a silver lancet case, a number of coins pierced and strung upoli a string, and other articles. Mr. Thomas William Dukes, a solicitor, stated that he occupied the same chambers as Mr. Pierce, and the prisoner passed the evening of the 10th or July with them. The next evening., when witness returned home , and informed Mr. Pierce of what had occurred, he 0 01 ,,," mined his bed-room, and missed three gold rings, a g old pin, a razor case, pearl handled knife, and silver tobacco stopper. The three gold rings, two gold pins, the case of in' struments, lancet case, and silver tobacco stopper Wer e now produced by two pawnbrokers, in Holborn, with i whim the prisoner had pledged them on the llth July, and they were identified by the respective owners. John Dennett, footman to Captain Chappel, of 1 70 Queen-street, May-fair, stated that on the sth instant/ the prisoner, who bad f,rmerly been a visitor at } I L° • master's, met him at a public-house, in Q uee n-street , and put nine pawnbrokers' tickets into his hand to telt! care of for him while he went to see his mothertw Essex. Witness kept them for an hour or two, and tbe ll gave them up to Sergeant Rogers, who took the pi , soner into custody. The depositions in these cases having been taken and read over, the prisoner, who appeared much dejeotet, and admitted his guilt, handed to the magistrate a We,', written letter, in which he professed to explain what P. termed his " extraordinary conduct" and his motir es ' and he was about to be fully committed, when a not . ,ber charge was unexpectedly preferred against him by r * Alexander Steward, a nurseryman and seedman at Salt* hill, near Windsor. Mr. Stewart stated that he had known the prison! ! for many years, and knew his connections to be high?. respectable, hut had lost sight of him for a considers in ` time, until about the 16th of last March, when the Pr e i i soner called upon him at Salt-hill, and having remin d him that they had been schoolfellows, proceeded to 0 0 ' that he had become captain and part owner of the Ru b j brig ; that he was bound for Constantinople, and b 6 been commissioned by the Sultan to select and take o L e • with him a large quantity of seeds. He remained at i t t i o house of the complainant until the 31st of March, 1011 0 the meantime the seeds were selected and paobe u . h ". wooden boxes, the prisoner stating that he was to get 4 money for them, and for other purposes, from his moths o. lawyer, a gentleman named Sawyer, in Lincoln's In They then came to town together by the Great We ete tt Railway, and the boxes of seeds were taken in a on" a public-house called the Essex Serpent, in Charles; street, Westminster. They were about together for teed three days, and the prisoner several times borr ow complainant's watch to enable him to be punctual to t e b• appointments. On the morning of the 3d of Apr il borrowed it again, and they then walked about ne tt they came to Carey street, Lincoln's Inn-fields, wh e r 4 prisoner left him upon pretext of going to his mothe,.. solicitor's for the money, and promised to return to in; in an hour. He did not return,however, and complain l/P e i proceeding to the Essex Serpent, found that the bo x y of seeds had been taken away. His watch he said "ije worth 41. or 51, and the value of the seeds was 301 never saw the prisoner again until yesterday. The depositions were taken for the prisoner's co . . . . tal in this case also. Mr. BINCHAM handed to the prosecutors the - 1 10 /1 which the prisoner had addressei to him before the o f charge was brought forward. The following is a coil the letter : " Clerkenwell Prison, Aug. 20, 1, 44 t ;t0 " Sir,—Hoping your pardon for this intrusion, the liberty of addressing these few lines to you, bed anxious to communicate with my friends, and f ey .7 0 1 convinced that I cannot do so through a better ch s ' than your Worship. distin el " I stand before you charged with three - tee lt crimes, to two of which do I own myself guilty, n ap the first and the last; but with regard to the horse 9 t to ing, most decidedly not guilty.. The animal was len be sl me, while in my hands it fell sick, and I thought it for all parties to sell it ; if I did wrong, it was 113 ,1 0 r an error in judgment. The gentleman of whom rowed the horse is one of my aunt's tenants. I fel t o so( fectly safe in doing so, feeling certain that my 131 .0 would have no difficulty in arranging such a trifling " with her own sister. " My object in writing this letter to you is to egl a r to my friends my motives for such extraordinark` o 7o duct. I had not the slightest intention that the) . lose one single article, but was fool enough to il r :7 0 0 that by committing some desperate act my re' s- 0 1 (who have so long deserted me). would come foil 0 and give me that assistance which I have long bee ll o l much in need of. Your Worship will perceive ti" , ; old companions are the only people that have su"6 l 4 from my premeditated attacks. My reason for soli ci them was, that I hoped when I had explained to tile my object, they would readily believe, from their kl iv o i ledge of my liberal character, that the crime 1 0 !,,i,ei committed with any mercenary point of view or ?T en et intention ; because, having once gained the COO.", Is of my relations, I should have been enabled to gcl 101 each person that which belonged to him. And 009 ju;t returned from France with the determination 0.101 leave my mother until she had given me sufficient teloo to carry this into effect, when the police took tr be eS custody, fast asleep at the door, where I low, to standing for many hours. The only course now 'L, pursue is to throw myself on the mercy of the CO"' Your obedient and humble servant, " O. H. CLAD a The prisoner was fully committed for trial yr, several charges in which the depositions had beef pleted. MARKET NEWS. (YESTERD— CORN-EXCHANGE. t Since Monday the arrivals of English Wiles; •01 been on a very moderate scale, and we had scaree'lcor fresh samples of that grain. The finest parce ls 0 011 manded a steady sale, at full prices. In other kind s ithea l a moderate business was doing. Fine Foreign by v° was held at full 'prices, but the business doing w i fitly, o means extensive. Barley and Malt moved off 51 °"400 Monday's quotations. The Oat trade was very 9 "rep' and full prices were paid in every instance. Bean s ' and Flour, ruled about stationery. ARRIVALS. oro Wheat. I Earley. I Oats. . /70 , English.... 1,210 qrs. —qrs. 1, 50 qrs. ',....... Irish Foreign ...... Malt. 2.010 ors. WEXTECHAPEZ. while the de ' 6 j The supply of meat was only moderate, V mand was steady at full prices. Beef, from 25 4 , P I 3s 6d ; Mutton, 2s 8d to 3s Sd • Lamb, 3s 8d t o od Qtr Veal, 3s 6d to 4s 4d ; and Pork, 2s 6d to as 1 Blbs., by the carcase. MARRIED. Ile ( ' On the 15th inst., at Great Ness Church, Sal O P , t ic t1 :011 1t. Charles Orlando Kenyon, son of the Hon. Tkotaag,,„,. — of "" of Pradoe, to Matilda Eloise Cotton, only daugu' — 0 1 Rev. Henry Calveley Cotton, Vicar of Great Ness. 010110 On the 17th inst., at Plympton St. Mary, Dev, °11 1 0 110,,,0• 9 Svdenham Markland, Esq., only son of Captain - to Markland, R.N., C. 8., of Handley House, Dorsti. h , c o line, daughter of George Eastlake, Esq., of Plyain u , „' r ovi,.n. o l On the 12th of May, 1844, at Hansi, north-wes'i Ine s of Bengal, Manby Nightingale, Esq. , of the Ben 0 04: ' establishment, to Frederica Ellen, only daughter o P. Hurst, Esq. -pt,aue , 941 On the 7th inst., at Hutton Manse, David .-- Alter publisher, Fleet-street, London, to Alicia, second dani" London, C Re O v . n s tl . the 10th ro l e o e t i%m h i inst aa ury, 0 .. ,1 Ann e h i a d r , l the Rev. John Egar, minister of Wilkinson,utton. ofColetainKse tee lo t; 'ill DIED. Corneck,eS s i d e 7 ex d . On the 15th inst., Henry Hordern, Esq. , n- Pun fe , IS i i Staffordshire. aged 49. On the 15th inst , in Warren-street,Ft roy-gclus 1 a . f ., et• Liam Frederick, the . son of W. IV • , li Es q• ittic , q. . ter/ '' or• On the 15th inst., at Lewens, Wimborne rains Cod a Elizabeth, the wife of the Rev. John Baskett. __, Co On the 16th inst., at Maida-hill, Robert William= (. 1 0 Esq., (late 3d Dragoon Guards), aged 46. hill, the On the 16th inst., at Ladbroke-place, Notting oielo, Thomas Clements Browne, Vicar of Halse, Sgn ers ic e bsrd . P *ugh:o iftsiitm On the 16th inst., at Hexgrave-park, Notts, R . a ° ward, Esq., a Magistrate for the county. rhe iteab On the 16th inst., at Lansdown crescent, ' A, Catherine, wife of W. H. Hooper, Esq , M.D. ~ c ksoa I S' ''' Ja in On the 16th inst., at Morningtoncresceut, Ja 0 ton, Esq., of Warnford-court, solicitor. Gray's Din, On the 17th inst., in Verulam-buildings, Ilich1"1- A Dunlop, Esq. H2 O in n te t r h , eßleBctthorinofstN,.,eawtnhCarmoydcuonm, Smitarpreley,Dtuhe R eli c o ven o t . oo , On the 18th inst., Mr. Stannard, of River st r eet, 0 vale, aged 65. Chalt enl l. o/ ` . . On the 18. h inst., the It , r. G. Lawrence, at o ~,e l a te On the 18th inst., Frederick, third sot ._ ll '_„...- 1 . Graves Hansard, Esq., aged 26. „0 el London ! Printed and Published bi- No. 112, Strand, Printer, at Tie Su ,,.. C oon Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, to ta g Middlesex, Thursday, August 22, 1844. .: 1 111 ,, RD 0 0 ,5ce % ° 11 0 0.4 Of , . Blbs., by the carcase. BIRTHS. t-tori liri. On the 12th inst., at Hawarden Rectory, the •- Glvnne, of a daughter. joi° On the 14th inst., at Athlone, the lady of CAP t ‘ iii 0 Rooper, of the Rifle Brigade, of a daughter. On the 14th inst., at Semington, Wilts, the leaf 14 .eli* Rev. A. M'Ewen, ofa daughter. On the 15th inst., at Ampthili, Bedfordshire, M r°. i'v of of a daughter. cis On the 15th inst., at Belvoir-park, Belfast, oh°l „o', Captain Gladstone, R.N., M.P., of a daughter. n e llsw• .:On the 17th inst., in Frederick-place, M rs. Lewis ' d of a daughter. f " ,..4 4 .1 On the 17th inst., the lady of W. J. J. Higgell i t ' IV Hambledon, Hants, of a son. Will iii° o g On the 17th inst., in Blackheath-park, Mrs. . Y" of a son, still-born. C . On the 17th inst., in Portland-place, the lady of As Pre, Esq., M.P., of a child still-born. f On the 18th inst., at Thames Dittos, the wif e O go. Edwars, Es of a son. On the 18th inst., at Chester-place, Regent's-P ¢,kt A. Edmund Brandt, of a son. of J °°' i On the 18th inst., at St. John's-square, the la dy th e nald Read, Esq., surgeon, of a son. -sci llif* On the 19th inst., at Chester-place, Hyde-Falk lady of John James Johnson, Esq., of a son. -..1.