The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-05-16 00:00:00

TEE WALTRAMSTOW POISONING CASE.

On Saturday Charlotte Johnson, 44, a married
woman, of most repectable appearance, of 6, Norfolk-
villas, Grove-road, Walthamstow, surrendered to her
bail to answer a remanded charge of maliciously
causing to be administered to Charles Johnson, her
husband, at various times during the past twelve
months, a poisonous and noxious drug, with intent to
injure him at London House, Pembroke-road, Wal-
thamstow. In opening his case, Mr. Hadley said the
prosecutor had been married to the prisoner some
twelve years, and they lived first at Stamford-hill,
and subsequently resided at Walthamstow. There
were three children living at present, but there had
been eight. While at London House, Wal-
thainstow, prosecutor had to complain of his
wife's conduct, as she was of intemperate
habits, and they had frequent quarrels. In June last
the left him, but returned soon afterwaids, and was
allowed to occupy one of the rooms in the house. She
finally left in July of last year. A Mrs. Walker was
then living at London House, as housekeeper to the
prosecutor. He did not now deny that he was living
with her. On the morning of the 19th ult. prisoner
called the boy Charles Johnson and the girl Polly
Walker, daughter of the woman with whom the pri-
soner was cohabiting, and gave them some cake. She
told them to call in the evening, and they did. She
gave each child a halfpenny, and took from a tin box
two small packets. She gave one to the boy, and
said, " Put the powder in your father's tea, but don't
tell anyone about it." The girl had a packet given to
her, with instructions to put it in her mother's tea,
or else in something she would have to eat. It
appears that it was the custom of the children to
make the tea, and then take it in cups to the room
where prosecutor and Mrs. Walker were. On the
morning of the 20th they did so, and then put a
powder in each cup. Both were afterwards taken
ill. Prosecutor had to.call in medical aid, and during
the past 12 months he had suffered from similar
symptoms, and during that time he had administered
to him about a dozen packets of the powder.
The prosecutor, who is a tailor, was then recalled,
and repeated his evidence which was to the effect
that he had enjoyed good health prior to his wife
leaving him. He remembered having some tea on
the morning of the 20th ult., and the next day was
very ill with pains in the stomach on the left side;
his tongue was swollen nearly double its natural size,
and his breath was very hot. He was compelled to
consult Dr. Jones, and after obtaining information
from the children, he communicated with the police.
The two children had not told him the truth at the
first, but that was owing to the fact that they were
suffering from fear of a man with a dagger, who was
an accomplice with the prisoner in a burglary. He
would not and did not suffer from delusions. He
was, however, hyster;cal. He had never been charged
with suffering from delusions. The burglary he spoke
of was in the Granville-road, Walthamstow, at a
house occupied by a Mr. Sylvester, and about 12
months ago. He had never seen a man with the
prisoner, but Charley and Polly had. They were
even made accessories before the robbery. They
were made to watch outside, and the man drew a
dagger and threatened them with it if they did not
watch. He only beard of it a few days sinc3, but at
once he communicated with the police. On one
occasion the man, after putting on some false whiskers,
and when the prisoner had given the children some
powders, drew a dagger and said, "if you don't give
them this I'll cut your heads off."

The son of the parties Charles Johnson, 12 years
of age, repeated his evidence to the effect that he had
several times, by direction of his mother, the prisoner,
and under threats from her, given his father several
packets of powders lapelled "Poison "in his tea.
Mary Ann Walker, aged 10 years, said she had
given some of the powder to her mother and some to
her elder brother.

Dr. William Jones, of Stamford-hill, deposed to
seeing the prosecutor on the 26th June last. His
tongue was slightly swollen, and he was suffering
from sickness and diarrlicea. That was during the
time of the cholera scare. About a month after-
wards be again saw him, and then he was suffering
from indigestion and the other symptoms, but in a
much lighter degree. Red precipitate might cause
such symptoms.
Ann Walker, who is cohabiting with the prose-
cutor, stated that she had been ill during the last
twelve months, off and on, with about five weeks'
interval.
In cross-examination she stated that she had
lived in the house two and a-half years. It was not
on account of any immorality that the prisoner left
the house.

Detective-sergeant Day deposed to going to the
prosecutor's house respecting the burglary spoken of
by the prosecutor. He then spoke of this charge,
and called the children in They denied all know-
ledge of the matter. The next day they contradicted
the statement, and he afterwards found that they had
both been beaten. When he arrested the prisoner
she declared that she was as innocent as a babe, and
knew nothing of such an off erce.

Mr. Willis made a powerful appeal to the magis.
trate, and said he considered it a diabolical con-
coction on the part of the prosecutor against his
wife.
The prisoner was committed for trial at theforth-
coming Quarter Sessions at Chelmsford. Bail was
accepted; two sureties of £5O each, and prisoner in
£lOO.