The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1858-12-28 00:00:00

NORTHERN CIRCUIT.
YORK DEC. 20.
(Before Mr. Baron WATSON.)

THE POISONINGS AT BRADFORD.
Charles Hodgson, chymist, was indicted for the man-
slaughter of Elizabeth Mnry Midgley, at Bradford, on
the 30th of October, by negligently selling arsenic, which
was manufactured into lozenges, instead of " terra alba,"
of which lozenges the deceased pnrtook.
Mr. Price and Middleton prosecuted; Mr. Campbell
Foster appeared for the prisoner.
Mr. Price, in stating the case, said that this was •
charge of manslaughter by negligence, and to make it
out to be manslaughter when a person is currying out his
lawful trade gross negligence must be proved. Ho then
quoted Tessyinan's case, in which • ohyiniat's apprem
tine, wbo negligently sold • poison for medicine, which
canned death, was held guilty of manslaughter, and
Regina v. Lowe. Mr. Price then stated the facts. The
deceased was a little girl residing with her mother at
Bradford, and on the 30th of October the mother bought
sonic, lozenges of a man named Hardaker, who kept a
stall at Rradford•market. The little girl had part of one
of the lozenges given to her, and sometime afterwards
another part. The little girl was taken ill and died with
all the symptone of poisoning by arsenic. The man
Hardaker lied bought his lozenges from • confectioner
called Neal. Neal kept a shop at Bradford, and was
aocustomed to use a substance called " daff," which is a
preparation of gypsum, and is called in commerce " terra
alba," to mix with his lozenges. He sent to the shop of
the prisoner Hodgson, who was a cliyinist at Shipley,
near Bradford, for some. Hodgson was in bed ill at
this time, and at first hesitated about letting the man
have it. Ultimately he instructed his assistant, Goddard,
who had only been with him three weeks and knew
nothing of drugs, to go up to • garret and let 121 b. of
"terra alba." He told him it was white an like flour,
and was in a cask in the corner of the room. There
were several casks in the garret ; one contained arsenic
which bears • certain resemblance to " daff." The buy
Goddard took 121 b. of arsenic out of this cask, and gave
them to Neal'a man. The result was that the arsenic
was Itlado up with peppermint and other things into
401 b. of lozenges. There was no label on either cask.
'the question for the jury would be, Did the keeping a
barrel containing arsenic in such a manner, and to which
lie dent his aseistant, who WM ignorant of drugs, with
such indefinite directions, amount to such gross negli•
puce, in ease of its musing death, as to he manslaugh•
ten 1 The following witnessei were then called :
James Arolinr.—l know Mr. Neal, a confectioner at
Bradford. I have often called on Mr. Hodgson, who keepe
is druggist's 'hop at Shipley. When I have called on
lion he ham told me that he had some "terra alba"
(that is, "daft"), that he knew Mr. Neal used. I
I mentioned it to Mr. Neal, who said I might bring some
nut time I went ; and I consequently went to the shop
,of Mr. Hodgson at Shipley. There I saw the young
alas Goddard, and told him what I mane for. God.
dant then went to Mr. Hodpon, who, he said, was sick.
When he came back he said Mr. Hodgson said I had
I better let it alone this thno. Then I said if he could
oblige me with 121 b. it would do. He then left me, and
Ma short time returned, and said I might have 121 b.
Shortly after he brought me in two paroels ; they were
, paper bags, whioh I wrapped up in canyons, and put them
Into a tin box. I then returned to Mr. Neal's at Brad.
ford, and I pnt the tin box oaa the shop floor with my
othea boxes. This was on Monday, and I gave, the box
ou the Wednesday following to Appleton.
William Goddard examined.—ln October last I lived
with the prisoner Hodgson, at Shipley, and had been
with him three weeks as assistant. I had formerly
beim at school as a pupil teauher. I was going to be in
ths Excise; and if I did not get a situation there I was
going to remain at Hodgson 's to learn the business of
a slaymist. On Monday, the 18th of October, in the
afternoon, in oonsequenoe of what last witness (Archer)
said, I went to Mr. Hodgson. I told him there was a
men in the shop who had come for some " daff."
Hodgson said, "I don't know what it is." So I went
bade to ask the man what it was for, and whom it was
for. The man said it was for putting in spice, and was
wanted for some man in Bradford. (then went bask to
Mr. Hodgson and told him this, and I described to him the
man who had owns for it, Hodgson told me to go back
and tell the iliall to wait till ha could attend to it himself.
I did so ; and again returned to Mr. Hodgson, as the man
Insisted upon having it. Mr. Hodgson said Ishould I
find it in • corner of the room in a barrel, and I asked
what kind of stuff it was. He said it was white and
like flour. I went into the shop and got a pair of tea
scales. I got some weights and went up to the garret,
and I went to the wrong cask, which cask had a little
has on it. I took the hoc off. I looked into the barrel
and saw the contents were white and something like
flour, and I weighed out 121 b. I put it into two bags, nnd
I gave them n to Archer. I don't know the different*
between arsenic and " daft"' by appearance. I know
the arsenic, which I had to mall in the gimp, which was
coloured and labelled. I saw another cask in this rosin.
As far as I know, the clanks remained in the same con.
(Mien till &unladen, the policeman mine.
Cross-eximiined by Mr. Poster. —My muter told me
that It was white and like flour. I handled the guff
first. I can't say whether it was soft as flour, but it
did not feel as light. I saw several casks in the room.
This cask Will on the top of tho staircase, and not in the
corner of the room. The cm( I went to was at least
four yards from any corner of the room. I had been In
the attic bufore, which WWI used as a warehouse by
Hodgson. I had been up there with him. He has
pointed out to me part of the things in that room.
He had pointed out to tee this barrel as containing
arsenic. lie told he to be "mindful" of it. There wns
a bnrrel in the corner of the room which oontninoil
"terra alba," or " dalf." My master was very ill in
bed. When Archer determined to have the stuff he
spoke angrily to me. I had served before in this shop,
but had not sold things from the warehouse, and the
man's anger flurried um, as I had to leave the shop
against the rules of my muter. My master always tel
use to be very careful about poisons. He told is. never
to sell any poisons unless he was present. I had been
five years a pupil teacher. I knew that arsenic was
pi:3llon.
Ita•examined by Mr. Prioe.—l wee applied to by the
attorney for the premonition, and refused to answer any
questions. I believe this prisoner Is going to marry a
relation of mine. Hodgson ;minted out to me the
arsenic the Prot week I was there. I did not know
Mist "terra elite" Was Sill I was arrested,
Mn, Limon Watimil said that his rosily could not 4.11
ony negligenom When he Ant read the tienuidtiono he
heel made up Ida mind to leave the question of negli.
genes to the court of eriminal appeal.
Mr. Prism old he would Gall another witneu, and if
his Lorilehip 11111 not think that 14 'turned the um any
further, he would not go on,
Borlllot4mlh,-1 sill a doleotiva Aar, I went on
the Illst of Oelober to Mr lioilpon'o shop, The soak
uontaining Arsenio WWI MUMS 14 ur lb Inches from the
taunt the roll at the skip basil and WWI 110 nest A
owner of the room, The 'dot sub was about four
feet train lila left bond corner, ham wee no soak thou
In env sumer of the runt, There Wee WI hellai all lila
arY4lllll MIL Tila ' tiar' NM was ouvonol by mine
paper and a dirk
Liroomegainlin—On Ilie Wednewley following 1
foupil a eleeq laudl WI 114 bottom of the mord. seek,
WIIIIIII WM Mb, weir., ,Ills ellek of " all, wile ot
In the 11111111 i winter u lie roinii, 1 should egll kt In tic
timer. Tlill sale A Ile moods we. aII Monday, lis
litli 1 • rid pit el tine to the amnia imit if
Ilts liiiiiiiirplut"l4l44 Witt Iliwoilkesgit Mien was no um
11
for) ie nry,
lilt
Me, lel mild he thought tie prisoner soll4 to Ilese
/1111111 ell the 11111 111 time *rump,
Ile Low MI it Milieu illibute4 114 limy to 111111114
el
pe IMHOF, low lo llt Ile loin liie 111 re ell a y
liegligemis mete? limo inuotobe him. sr MIMI 14
Wee 111 AHIISIIIIIIIO lIVIMIIIer. 0 did not now Ilia
111011 eellld mill MOM Inept no lormi omit e, Me II
!meet Me yuitille Illee 11)14 114 moll 11111‘1111114 APIIIIie
Illel If Wee moon, 11111 111111 alleellialli 111111 Is p Is
lIIV m
lIIIP 111111111/oe Iles lielllllll nipilevil,
'le ;iry millted the peloonse egetirdlngly,
Mr fll4l Old great seem it Was 111410 The iall In
provent iig the mimed of thou pullout' Inamtge wide
hail already milled moot lamentably lit 114 eat i 111
twenlyione 110111111.

PriiN popiwilm To till Ilyrowio,— Tlimmko Tole, it
LtitivaW ii the
trit Isittelion, 11 eiiiivietsd
Herta to le tom', iiring the anige er
tenni, end /Iv ie nuesimie
reed rein to melte geheDi Woe toi 114 My I
111111i1V 131(11tlf ilf Inn Wen nr in II
OM were Me hie been meilleheed to be kenl in
mom mettile or Ilk
On 111014lf 11,1101111 Week,
ihosul td cloak, the dwelling hone
.of Minn,
work el iigetworth, t d 1 wee
masted, end Yll9 lac lid, chile,,, lit t to e.glin
mid I inutoono•leather mishit oh, r, end /Its,
firattoniwho ore both old mink live In the hum*
1110 fin, Thay_ retired In kit AMMO 10 ltinlnult. Inni were
Awakened hy holm In Ike hitehen, end in a short
time ertvrtvartle a light flashed tiii the Malta, Mr.
Oration got toil of bed end went to the landing of the
atalte, wFan four nien lame upoteirs wills 'oodles in
their handl, and wearing mask., The old man attempted
to smell the MA 1111111 beak, whim lie wee drools down
with a Ili reserver, and lie fell egalnal the bed, The
four mien owing mitered the room, one of them held Ills
aid then own on the bed, a mound Blood heron the
old woiiian and held her on the bed, while the other
two ransacked the room. 'they took LW 10., (hi,,
including a ED Chesterfield thinking Company's note,
the rest hung in gold and 'diver. There were Iwo men
in time lower rooin esarolilng the drawers and a oup.
hoard I a plated tea-pot was reinoved from the auplionni
to the pole, but nothing was token away. A single.
barrelled gun and • pocket•book were also taken from
the room upstairs. The burglars were adore at the
husinesa, and the whole house waii ransacked In a short
spew of time. They had placed some straw beneath the
window, so us to avoid making impressions of their
feet. The police are prosecuting inquiries into the
matter, Mr. Gratton le suffurine from a skull wound
which was inflicted with the life preserver. He le a
emid
evwliourni qolet
etdl loie f
.loydyenEyalt,
dtihiphits the
feel eild",,b.". %L IS. h
aistin od"viroi
theay.
other tenants on the estate, and no doubt the burglar,
were aware that the old people would have money in
the house,