The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1861-06-11 00:00:00

WEYMOUTH.

DEATH 01/ A CHILD PAO3II DEINZING VITRIOL.—
Ou Friday last an inquest was held at the Turk's
Head. before H. Lick, Esq., deputy-coroner, on
the body of Elizabeth Jane Watts, 5} years old, the
daughter of a mason residing in East-street —Mary
Wood, said chews. 66 years of age, and grand-
mother of the deceased. She lived with her
daughter and son-in-law. and carried on the dying
business. Vitriol was the only poison she used in
her trade. Ou Wednesday morning she was en-
gaged in dving and used vitriol. She left about a
table spoonful in the cup, which was produced, and
which she placed on the dresser. About 6 o'clock
the deceased came into the room and took • teacup
from the dresser and went to the water tap, in the
yard. but could not turn it. She (witness) then
went into the yard, and while there heard the
deceased retch or vomit, and saw her run over to
her mother who •as on the opposite side of the
way. She noticed that the cup had been removed
from where she planed it, and was satisfied in lier
own mind that the deceased had drunk a portion.
He mother then brought deceased into the house,
and witness gays her some water. Dr.("ocher was
called in, and he gave her some medicine. The
child died on Thunslay evening about 10 o'clock.
Her mini custom was, when done with the articles
used ft dying, to place them in an outhouse. The cup
was not the one usually drunk out of by the deceased.
Concher said that he was passing through Emit-
street on Wednesday evening, and was informed by
• woman that • child bad swallowed some vitriol
Upon entering the house be saw the child, who
exhibited the usual signs of having taken ame
irritant poison. He immediately administered, n iced
with gruel, the usual antidote for sulphunc acid
I —chalk. That was all that was, or could be done,
under the circumstances. Tne taking of the poison
was • secondary cause of death • the primary cause
was asphyxia, produced by :reknia gloitidii, or
swelling of the chink uf the windpipe. When first
he maw the child he was of opinion that there were
no hopes of recovery.— The coroner was not certain
that the grandmother was not liable to a charge of
manslaughter throuith her carelessness in carrying
her trade. —The jury were of opinion that being
an old woman, the act of leaving the cup on the
dresser anew) from forptfulness. —The coroner then
read the law, pointing cut what constituted the
charge of manshiughtcr, and the d fference between
that and excusable homicide. —The jury, after a
lirief consultation, returned a verdict of "Homicide
by misadventure." The coroner severely repri•
mended the grandmother for her carelessness in
leaving the cup containing vitriol on the dresser
after having done with it.
Imiescmox Or me sT'll DORSET RIFLE VOLUN-
ragas.—Thoes who take an interest in the volunteer
movement will be gratified to know that Lieut.
Cul. Miami, after inspecting the Weymouth corps
on Thursday last, in a held near the cemetery, pawed
on them a very high compliment as to their I re-
Tbe company having been put through
various exercises marched, hack, pummeled by their
brave and drum and fife bends, to their drill r,om
at the bottom of lower Bond-street, whet, Colonel
Hansel delivered to them an excellent lecture in
reference to their duties. Before commencing his
lecture, however, be said be wished to say a few
words respecting the chill of that day. He assured
them that be spoke nothing but the truth in loyisig
that b• bad maimed mnlit lbs plitsit Penn

E 11, 1561.

and delight their company drill. Compwrry drill was
the great test of drill generally, ii it was the most
difficult to master, and in this respect tutu corps wad
Aired-rate. He could riot see a single mistake, a
fact which pn.ved what great attention they had
paid to their drill sergeant and the care that tie,d
been exercised by him. Ile might truly say that to
th:s respect they had acquitted themselves in a
masterly manner, for it WAS 111111X41111110 for their
company drill to be better. Their light drill was
not quite so good. However, men abo pant so
much attention as they
tuul done to company drill
must in two or three day's drilling in light drill, be
as etheient in theta's°. He thought their firma au
rather slow ; if they loaded a little quicker, and the
iii
front rank men waited for the rear rank in hiring
advancing and retiring, it woold bean improvement.
Their volley firing was excellin', and their Ole liring
very good indeed. He had often, during his time
in the army, beard men count time for those who
were tiring, and if that practice had been adopted
that day, they could not bare done better than thee
had dune in keepieg the time, each man f .r himself.
He w.es, on the it hole, excieedezly well pleased with
what he bad that day wit.
. He was glad to
see so large a number of men present, knowing, as
he did the grind difficulty soup of them mu it have
experienced to leave their occupation. Since he
last met them a Hide Association had been termed,
and the i were in a position to offer 6 or S prices to
be competed for after harvest. He hoped the
Weymouth corps would attend to their position
drill and thus make themselves perfect in come of the
harder work. He should have great pleasure in
offering • prize for battalion drill, and should be
proud to give it to any member of the Weymouth.
or any other corps, who should be fortunate enough
to secure it. They amid not expect men would
attend battalion drill without some stimulus. besides '
the payment id their railway fare. The time might
come, although God forbid that such should be the
case, but if the time came when their servings
(LH:mu sit:idriinl isonf,raiinlwaceynafusind
should be ri nuired, it would be much better for
them to know what they were about, than to act,
of
confusion. The
eel pe°l'ineeseat The
Coenty Association was to relieve men exercised in
lospector-Oeneral of Volueteers, Colonel
%Li anxious to see the Dorihester Volunteers, and
if, at the inspection which would take place in the
course of the summer. they all did as well ea the
Weymouth corps had dons that day, the Inspector.
General mast be highly pleased. (Applause.) The
gallant colonel then proceeded with his Isequis.