The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-10-31 00:00:00

POISONING IN LINCOLNSHIRE.

For three weeks past the agricultural village of
Stickney. Lincolnshire, has been in a state of consider-
able excitement relative to the alleged poiaoning of a
labouring man named Richard Biggadike, by his wife,
Priscilla Biggadike. _ _

-
It appears that Biggadike, his wife, two children,
and two lodgers (named Thomas Proctor and George
Ironmonger), all lived together in a cottage having
but two rooms, and, strange to say, all slept in one
small bedroom. Biggadike, it I,A stated, suspected his
wife's fidelity, and of lat.. they had lived unhappil§
together. On the 30th of September, about five
o'clock in the afternoon, Biggadike returned home from
work, and partook of tea. Half an hour after he had
taken this meal he was seized with a violent vomiting
and went into the yard, and this gradually became
worse. He went to bed, and a medical man (Dr.
Maxwell) attended, but the poor fellow became
gradually worse, and died at six o'clo,:k the following
morning.
Dr. Maxwell expressed his opinion that death hail
resulted from poison. An inquest was held on the
body, and the contents of deceased's stomach were
forwarded to Professor Taylor for analysation. the
inquiry being adjourned to await the result of the
examination. Mrs. Biggadike and Thomas Proctor
I were apprehended by the police.

. .
On Friday last the inquest was reopened, and Pro-
fessor Taylor stated that he was clearly of opinion
that deceased had died through arsenic being admin-
istered to him: there was also sufficient arsenic left in
the body to kill another individual; and the case was
so conclusive that some arsenic was even found in a
perfect state. After some other evidence had been
oven, Mr. Hips, governor of Spi'shy House of
Correction, said : _ . " •

"On the Pith of October Priscilla Biggadike applied
to see me a, she wished to snake a stat,ment. She
was cautioned as to what she might say. tier state-
ment was then taken down as follows
On the last day of September, on Wednesday, I was
standing against the tea tattle, anal saw Mounts Procter put
a white powder of SOtne sort Mb • ateacUp. and he then poured
some milk, which stood on the table, into it. My husband
at that tim • was in the dairy washing Maisel/. My hudenal
Casio 11110 the house directly after and sat himself down to
the table, and then poured his tea out, and he drank it, and
none besides that, and half an hour afterwards he was taken
111. He went out of doors RIO Was sick, and came in and
sat about ten minutes, and went out and was sick again. Ile
then went to bet, and he abet me to fetch the doctor,
which I did. The doctor Waal an Mow before he came.
I went to the doctor's about a quarter of an hour
after he left, mid he gave nie stile medicine, and •
ordered me how to give it to lihn—two tablespoonfuls
every half hour—and I was to pia a mirstard plaister
on the stonmch ; anal he came no more till eleven
o'clock at night. I came downstairs to go out of
doors, and ante I Thomas Proctor to go Upstairs and sit
ith my husband. When I went upstairs into the room, as
I was going nip, I SaW Proctor putting aniline white powder
into the medicine-bottle with a spoon, and be then went
downstairs, anal left no. in the room with my husband. As
soon as lie had left the rts.lo, I poured some medicine into
the cup and gave my bust and, :ind I tasted it myself. In an
hour afterwards I was sick, and so twos for two days after.
What I have just stated about the medicine took place
about two i'clock in the morning, and after the doctor had
gone. I wish poi to send a copy if what I have saint to too
coroner, and I wish to he present at the nattiest, to state the
case before them, as it is the truth.—PRISCILLA BIGGADIKX
X her mark."