The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-07-25 00:00:00

POISONED BY MISTAKE;

A fatal accident has occurred at the St. Louis Hos-
pital, Paris. Two male patients, one of whom was
being treated for Bright's disease, and the other for
tuberculosis, were ordered a spoonful each of a
certain mixtum The principal attendant pupil in
the apothecary's department of the hospital made q
mistake in preparing the prescription, and instead of
the required mixture sent up two doses of deadly
poison to the ward nurse. These were given to the
two unfortunate patients' who, after swallowing the
fatal draughts, fell back on their pillows and died
without uttering a murmur or a moan. The super-
intendent of the hospital instantly held an inquiry
into the cause of the deaths, and summoned the chief
apothecary to his assistance. The latter communi-
cated the result of his terrible mistake to the at-
tendant pupil, a young man who had passed a highly
creditable examination in pharmacy before entering
the hospital three months ago. The pupil instantly
became almost delirious with despair, and actually
att(empted to poison himself on the spot. He was
only restrained from doing, so by the energetic efforts
a the otther pupils, who were obliged to hold him
dowa. Tic was afterwards, however, allowed pro-
visional liberty pending his formal arrest by the
police., One of the victims was a Commercial clerk,
aged 36 yVars. The other was an older map, E!
*Edith by trade-

EXTRAORDINARY CHARGE OF
ANNOYING A LADY.

At Westminster Police-court, on Monday, Edward
Rowclon, gentleman, said to be a Justice of the Peace,
of 92, Jertayn-street, Piccadilly, was charged on a
summons, before Mr. Partridge, with annoying and
obstructing Mary, Lady Conyers, and her daughter,
the Hon. Violet Evelyn Lane-Fox.
Mr.. George Lewis prosecuted, and Mr. Goodrich
was counsel for the defendant. _ _ _

Before the case was opened Mr. Goodrich saici. he
desired, on the defendant's part, to offer an apology
to the ladies, and the excression of Mr. Bowdon's
regret for past conduct. In a case of this sort it was
undesirable to go into more details than necessary,
for they could only cause pain to both parties. He
hoped Lady Conyers would accept the defendant's
assurance that he would not repeat the annoyance,
and that he did not mean to give her offence. Defen-
dant would enter his own recognisances and give his
word as a gentleman not to further molest the
ladies.

Mr. George Lewis said Lady Conyers was unable to
accept the apology, and the magistrate must hear the
facts of the case. Defendant was a perfect stranger
to Lady Conyers and her daughter, but in 1883, at
Hornberg, he tried to forco his acquaintance upon
them. He then followed the ladies to Paris, and
stopped at the same hotel for ten days. When they
returned to London he travelled by the same train,
and since that time he had never ceased to annoy
them, in the street, in the park, at receptions, and
by correspondence. He bad been cautioned over
and over again without good result, and at last Lady
Conyers was determined to rid herself of the annoy-
ance by coming to a police court and asking for
protection. The man had already been in Holloway
Prison.

Mr. Partridge said it was hardly right to mention
this circumstance. _ _ _ _

Mr. Lewis thought the magistrate should know
something of the gentleman. He had never ceased to
trouble. the ladies with letters of a most impertinent
and offansive character, and since the summons had
been taken out had actually written offering an
apology qualified with the statement that he would
not speak to or annoy them as heretoforo for
six months or for any reasonable beriod." Writing
in the third person be proceeded "This, he imagines,
is as much as her ladyship will get from any magis-
trate. If, however, Lady Conyers will not consent to
any terms of compromise, which would be better
arranged without the further intervention of solicitors,
he is ready to take the consequences of his acts."
Mr. Partridge said if the sworn information taken
before the summons issued was fully proved, he
should feel disposed to send the defendant for trial.
Mr. Lewis observed that he would be satisfied if
the defendant was called on to find heavy sureties.
Lady Conyers deposed that she resided at 108,
Queen's-gate. Defendant was a stranger to her and
her daughter, the Hon. Violet Evelyn Lane-Fox. In
August, 1883,_ they were in Homburg. Defendant
was there, and tried to speak to them on several
occasions. Witness made it evident to him that she
would not know him and did not desire his acquaint-
ance. From •Homburg she went to Paris with her
daughter. Defendant followed them there, and
stayed 10 days at the same hotel. When Lhey came
to London he travelled by the same train. During
the last 18 months defendant had persistently fol-
lowed both her and her daughter. He had spoken to
them in the streets, followed them into shops, re-
peatedly waiting outside till they returned to their
carriage. She had requested him time after time to
cease the annoyance. He had even followed her to
friends' houses when she had gone to a ball.
Mr. Lewis asked her when the last annoyance a'?
this sort took place.
Lady Conyers said she thought about Easter at
Lady Salisbury's ball. Defendant NV as not invited.
He had also followed her to Lord Bateman's house,
and to Lady Borthwick's. In the park he frequently
followed her; and on one occasion while there he
threw himself On his knees before her. (Laughter.)
Mr. Lowndes, a barrister and a friend of the family,
had seen him, and warned him to stop the persecu-
tion. Lord Bateman bad also intervened to protect
her. Beside this, she had been obliged to write to Sir
Edmund Henderson for police protection. Both she
and her daughter had been greatly annoyed with
letters addressed to them.
Mr. Lewis said he had a bundle of letters in court,
but he would merely read one or two. In March
last, after a representation had been made to the de-
fendant, he wrote from Palermo:

Mr. howdon presents his compliments to Lady
Conyers, and begs to say that having had time for
reflection, he must admit that he has acted improperly
and perhaps in an unfeeling manner towards her
daughter and herself. On nearly the last occasion he
saw her ladyship she was pleased to say that he
ought to be ashamed of himself. He feels indeed
that it is so, and begs to express his great regret. At
the same time, he hopes that Lady Conyers and her
daughter will try to find in themselves some measure
of forgiveness for him. It seems to be much easier
for them to do so than for him to deserve such. He
writes this as he will shortly be in London again, and
desires to say as much before his return. It is im-
possible for him to close this letter without saying
what great pleasure even the thought of herself and
her daughter gives him. '
Another letter which he (Mr. Lewis) would read
was the following: _ _ .

51, jermyn-street, S.W., May 24, 1885.
Dear Miss Violet Lane-Fox,—l wished this morn-
ing to ask your mother after your health. Her lady-
ship's words, however, were not so alluring as her
presence, being restricted to "Get along, get along."
I could have hoped she would have added, Get
along, do, for you are so awfully awful, you are."
(Great laughter.) As a late lamented nobleman of
my acquaintance said to me, with a voice that would
have carried conviction to any hearer, "Lady Conyers
Is a fine woman, and a pleasure to behold." I need
not say how heartily I endorse these words, and that
anything her ladyship says will always be received by
me with respect, especially as I do not believe she
means to be so severe as she sometimes seems. I
have to'd you before, or rather have been
obliged to write, saying how ever since I
first saw you I have beeen obliged to take
foreign tours in consequence of failing to obtain
your regard. I have been so dull and depressed as
to be scarcely bearable, and now I can get no sleep
or rest when I imagine you may be dancing or
walking with other people. I cannot give up my
intentions with regard to you. I heard a respectable
old gentleman in the park the other day say to his
companion, another old gentleman, as you passed,
"Oh, I do so like that girl." I felt inclined to at
once ask him to dinner, though if he had been young
I am afraid my desires would have been of a very
opposite character. Ido so hope that you will not
try not to refuse to speak any more; you must re-
member that you and your mother have given it me
pretty hot, whatever I deserved, and that I cannot
bear the idea of any more tours by myself, though it
seems to me that unless you will have a word to say
to me it, must be so. While life, however, remains
there is always hope.— I am, always most truly
yours, EDWARD ROWD ON.
Lady Conyers said many other letters had been
received. On the 11th inst., the day mentioned in
the summons, she was in the park when the defen-
dant almost pushed himself against her. He would
not go away, and she raised her parasol to keep him
off. She was obliged to get a stranger to fetch one
of the park keepers to her assistance.
The Hon. Violet Lane-Fox corroborated her
mother's evidence. In reply to Mr. Lewis, she said
that for two years the defendant had made her life
unpleasant. He was constantly following her and
writing letters to her, which she never answered.
Mr. Willoughby J. Lowndes, barrister, trustee to
Lady Conyers and her daughter, said that in June
last year he called on the defendant on their behalf.
He told him that his conduct was intolerable, and
that he would be prosecuted if he persisted in it.
Defendant said he did not see why he should not pay
his court to Lady Conyer's daughter. Witness told
him it was ridiculous, and that any man in the street
might claim equal right.
Mr. Goodrich again offered the defendant's apolo-
gies and assurances never to molest the ladies farther.
Mr. Partridge said defendant's word could not be
taken, and his idea was, acting on a recent prece-
dent, to send him for trial. His -conduct was abomi-
nable.

Mr. Lewis said it was not desired that the ladies
should attend another court. If good sureties were
given by the defendant he would be satisfied. ,
Mr. Partridge observed that he would not part
with the case like that. He would'remand the defen-
dant for a week in custody, and at the expiration of
that period Le would decide whether he would accept
recognisances for his good behaviour for a lengthened
period, or send him for trial.
The defendant went to the House of Detention