The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-05-22 00:00:00

THE LYNN POISONING CASE.

On Friday, Mrs. Langford was brought before the
Lynn magistrates on a charge of murdering her child,
Challotte Langford. Evidence was given at great
length, but no new facts were elicited. Mr. Ford,
barrister, addressed the magistrates on behalf of the
prisoner, but the bench decided on commiting her for
trial at the next assizes at Norwich. Evidence was
then adduced an to the death of Mr. Langford.
Superintendent Ware of the Lynn police, wished the
charge against Mrs. Langford to be one of feloniously
attempting to cause deceased's death by poison, as he
did not believe that the evidence would sustain &graver
charge; but the magistrates decided that the accusa-
tion against the prisoner must be shaped in the same
form as in the first case. The prisoner was, therefore,
charged with the capital crime. The magistrates sat
until late on Friday evening, and then adjourned until
10 am. on Saturday. The case occupied the bench for
hodni on Saturday, and, after hearing Mr. Ford on
behalf of the prisoner, the magistrates decided on
committing her for trial for wilful murder in the
second cane also. The unhappy woman showed no
other mood or feeling hut apathy or sullenness from
beginning to end. In consequence of suspected
suicidal intentions on the part of the prisoner, she has,
from the first, been watched night and day. The un
happy woman will remain at Wymondham Bridewell
until her trial for murder at the next Norwich assizes.
Although the infant died, it is understood that Mrs.
Langford has still seven nurvivins children. From the
respectable position in life occupied by the parties the
case has created considerable excitement in the district.
The family of the Langfords have resided in Lynn for
many yearn, and have always enjoyed a good repute.
Mrs. Langford appears to have been a very pretty
woman in her youth, and has been kind and attentive
to her husband and children until the sad occurrence
which will now have to undergo judicial investigation.
She appears to have laboured under the impression
that, in consequence of the failing health of her hus-
band, his business would come to nothing, and she and
her family would be reduced towant. With this feeling
she discharged her servants a few months since, and
applied herself tothe conduct of her household with only
the occasional assistance of &charwoman. his urged by
her friendsthat the strain which she had thus to sustain
was too much for the poor woman, that her reason gave
way, and that in &moment of frenzy and despair she ad-
ministered strychnine tuber husband and child. On the
other hand, it is noticeable that the poison was given
to her husband and child on a Monday morning, the
assistant, who attended to the chemist's shop kept by
Mr. Langford not being on the premises for the greater
parts! the Sunday, so that Mrs. Langford would thus
have an opportunity of procuring strychnine unob-
served.

THE FATAL POACHING AFFRAY
BEAR GRIMSBY.
The rural population of the villages lying between
Caistor and Gran4by, of which Cuxwold Hall is the
centre, was on Sunday morning last thrown into A
state of excitement and alarm by the rapidly spreading
report of a murder having been committed in an affray
between gamekeepers and poachers. Cuxwold Hall is
the seat of Henry Thorold, Esq., and the estate
embraces the villages of Fast and West Ravendale,
seven miles from Grimsby.
Evidences of poaching having been observed by Mr.
Thorokre gamekeepers on the farm of Mr. Bingham, at
East Ravendale, arrangements were made for the cap-
ture of the nightly mauranders, four or live of the men
servants connected with the hall agreeing to go out to
lie in wait for them. Two only, however, kept the all-
ointment, namely, Marshall, the gamekeeper, an
elderly person, and Enoch Goldy, the head gardener,
a young RINI of f our and twenty.. Accordingly