The Express.
London, England, 1855-03-02 00:00:00

ADMIRALTY COURT.—MAics 1.

wens Di. IMMIDNITON.
Till KAIRISTT....DLIIAOI.
This was an action entered by the Williams, a collier brig, '
bound to the port of London, against the Harriett, for
damage by collision. The accident °evened early in the
morning of the 16th of March, 1863, in Yarmouth Roads, in
consequence of the Harriett getting under weigh. It was
alleged she was not justified in weighing nnchor at the time
she did.
Drs. Addams and Twiu, Haggard and Robinson, appeared
for the different parties.
The learned judge pronounced agaiust the vessel proceed-
ing, oa the ground that she ought to have carried a light.
P•C/01RETT1.—.COLLISION.
This was an action brought by the steamer bo and
from Dieppe to Newhaven, against the above veseel, for
damage by collision off Beachy Head, on the 24th of Sep-
timber last.
It appeared the steamer fell in with a number of vessels
running up Channel, and resorted to the usual methods to
avoid a eillision but was run into by a strange 'schooner,
which she alleged to be the requerette. The vessel pro-
, seeded against denied that her identity was proved by the
evidence.
Drs. Twin and Spinks were heard for the steamer.
Drs. Jenne, and Dane appeared for the Paqueritte.
The learned Judge thought that the proof of identity
bad entirely failed, and therefore pronounced against the
claim of the steamer.

COURT OF

!.—Meson 1.

/MORI MI. COIDUNIONZI
IN as
This was the adjourned certificate muting in the cue of
Lewis Benjamin, jeweller, of Princess-street, Leicester-
square. His debts were 2,6001. ; assets about 3601. A
round sum of 1,0001. was put down as lasses. Mr. Lewis
supported.
Mr. Linklater opposed, for the assignees, on the ground
of fraudulent preterence. It appeared tkat the bankrupt
had given a warrant of attorney to a creditor named Isaacs ;
he had then called together his creditors, and offered them
3a. in the pound, Isaacs threatening If it was not accepted
to sweep everything off. He had carried on the business,
since his bankruptcy, for his sister in-law, who had bought
the stock. In Jan., 1863, he was in a deficiesey of 8001. ;
he had still gone on ; end shortly before the bankruptcy
had purchased goods of Mr. Jane, of Saville-row, to the
amount of 1041, not a farthing of which had been paid.
His Honour said the bankrupt had clearly gone on it'd-
tag too long, and had continued contracting debts after he
was insolvent—a serious commercial offence. He had pro.
cesded with a recklessness which could not have been jus-
tified had he been spending his own capital instead of that
of hie auditors. He was in • deficiency of 8001. at the
commeneement of 1863 ; the losses, stated at 1,0001., were
ascribed mainly to depreci►tion in hie stock, which was a
mere estimate; and he had incurred bad debts to the
amount of 2561. While his profits were estimated (only
estimated) at 3991., the ezpenees were 7601. When he con-
tracted Mr. Jemel's debt, it might fairly be doubted whether
he was not doing so without the prospect of being able to
pay it. The certificate must be suspended for 12 months
from the date of the petition (in May last); when granted,
to be of the third elan; protection in the mean time.

111110111 111. aorarrestorma
IN ZS 1110511.-lAliel
This was the examination meeting in the case of S. M.
Krohn, merchant, of Bread street, trading under the firm
of Krohn Brothers.
Mr. Linklater stated that the bankrupt bad not sur-
rendered, and applied for the usual order of outlawry.
Mr. Lawrence applied for an enlargement of the time
for surrender, stating that a letter bad been received from the
bankrupt at New Y.irk, where ho had been arrested for
debt; and though he had since been discharged, he was
under an undertaking not to leave the coautry without
notice. That was the reason why he had not been able to
surrender. It wu his intention to do so at the earliest
possible moment.
Mr. Commissioner Beans, after looking at the 104th sec-
tion, considered that its requirements were peremptory, and
that he could not grant the application. The case mast be
disposed of in the usual way.
The liabilities of the firm are very large—it is said about
60,0001. ; assets uncertain.

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

HOME CIRCUIT.—iIIIIITFOED, Heim 1.

11/011.1 X& DAWN PLATT.
TRIAL FOR
S.arah Newton, 27, • good-looking woman, dressed in
widow'. weeds, was arraigned upon two indiAments, the
first of which charged her with the murder of John Newton,
her husband, and the second with the murder of her son,
William Newton.
The prisoner pleaded not guilty to both charges. The
but indictment proceeded with 'Ns the one which imputed
the prisoner the murder of her son.
Me. T. Chambers conducted the prosecution ; the pri-
mmer had no counsel, but at the request of the learned
judge Mr. Rodwell uadertook to watch the case on her
behalf.
The learned counsel for the prosecution having opened
the ease to the jury, the following evidence was adduced ;
Mr. Godson said—l am • surgeon, in practice at Barnet.
I know the prisoner Sarah Newton, and I have attended
her in her confinements, and did so when she was confined
with the child whose death is now being inquired into. He
was seven years old at the time of his death. On the 21st
July, about nine o'clock at night, the prisoner came to my
surgery with the child, and she represented to me that it
had been ill all day, and was ill at that time. She also' aid
that on his way to school, in the morning, he had picked
up a powder, which he had eaten. She described the
powder as being of a blueish colour, and she said that it
hung about hie lips like flour, and that it had • nasty taste.
The prisoner also said that while he was at school he had
been so sick, and made each • mess, that the governess
had sent him home. She said that the child
had been sick the whole of the day, and that the
vomit was of a dark colour. I asked her if she bad saved
any of it, and she replied that she bad thrown it all away.
I esamined the child. lie did not appear to be suffering at
that time, and made no complaint. The pulse was quiet
and the tongue clear, and there was no tenderness of the
abdomen upon pressure. The child vomited shortly after I'
bad pressed his stomach, and threw up a white clear fluid
like water to the extent of • basin full. I told the prisoner
that the child must have ejected the powder or whatever he
had taken in the morning, and I was satisfied from the ap-
pearance of the vomit that no deleterious matter could have
been contained in the stomach at this time. It any irritant
powder had been passed into the duodenum it would have oc-
casioned fever and Inflammation. The prisoner told me the
child's bowels were confined,and by my directions an aperient
powder was prepared ; it consisted of calomel, ginger, and
julep; and I told the prisoner to administer it to the child
upon her return home ; and I ale* directed her to apply a
mustard poultice to the pit of the stomach, and give the
child barley water or toast and water. I asked the child, in
the presence of the mother, why, if the powder was so
nasthe bad eaten it, and he made no answer. After be
hadbeen sick, he looked up in his mother's face, and said,
tt lam better now," and they then left, and I told the pri-
soner to let me know in the morning how the child was'
going on. I saw him again alive. On the following
morning, about 10 o'clock, the prisoner came to my
surgery and told me that the child was still ill, and that
the powder had not operated, and I gave her an
aperient mixture, to be repeated until the bowels
were opened. Upon this occasion, as on the previous day, I
told the prisoner it was strange that she had not saved what
came from the child, and blamed her for throwing it away.
She made me no answer. The prisoner came again to my
house about three in the afternoon, and brought a jug with
her which she said contained • portion of what the child had
vomited that day. I examined it, and found it consisted of ,
a Said with • grey sediment. I submitted it to test before
her, but could not ascertain what it consisted of, and I then
covered it over and placed it in my private room, and after-
wards submitted it to other tests, which satisfied me that
it contained arsenic. I afterwards took the remainder of
the fluid myself to Dr. Taylor, and I also gave him the
stomach of the child. On the 24th of July I made a poet
mortem examination of the deceased, assisted by my assist.
eat, Mr. Muireany, and took out the stomach and sealed it
up, and I gave it in the same state to Dr. Taylor. A por-
tion of the liver was also afterwards given to that gentle-
man. I am decidedly of opinion that nothing could have
bees on the child's stomach at the time I saw him that could
have occasioned the vomit that was afterwards shown to me.
Cron-examined—l have never before been engaged in a
cam of murder by poison. If the child had taken a colour-
less poison, It might have been in the stomach in a state of
solution. The matter the child vomited in my presence was
not subjected to any test, because I bad not at that time the
onhisst suspicion of anything wrong. lam unable to give
an opinion whether the child was an intelligent child or not.
Than was nothing at all peculiar in the manner or appear-
sass gibs ptillwer, and she described the child's symptoms
shownwery way a mother would do. The prisoner her-
mit bow& so Ws vomit in the jog after I had blamed her
Ise asayssaireisc the former one.
ikomisined_l gad satisfied that amide was not con-
In ifs child's stash whew I frit saw it.
mummy szandood--1 No ea natant to the kit
mg ea s inwsibmst Sip 10711 College of Sus.-
tlri sassaabse the rime, '•-OS to the surgery with
Louring child, and I was Masai whoa she saute alone

THE EXPRESS, FRIDAY EVENING, MARCH 2, 1855.

sh tie 1111111111&,,_ , sad I hosed hoe dismihe them-e sad she mid, N Teo, b gnat log I eat to peat mime,
dunecw, :aide up mires, =WI" which ibr ft ic relasiesia sail a Sew days since I have lost
was 1.1111 00_011.1rdvaltee, and she the shop. I west to my husband." The poinsaer abs sold she undentood from
the hewn WI win Know: on the same day, and saw her and Mr. Godwia that beed the same eomplaint as her husband
lbs Um" nt;da. He was lying in a bed made upon two had, and she had Om seem to grieve, for she did not wish le
shahs,6l4 'maned to be in very gnat pain. He had a see him weeds his Meer had done.
gunk roles, wee kverish, sad sompldned of pen fa the Mr. Deelhweits, • ahmaist at Barnet, proved that be.Mica,of the sismateit. I Wowed *le boa his paiethg Wen the 12th sad the 18th July the prisoner mime to his
Ow: pert of WIMO. I mini the peiseasell hed Asp mil sided for semi rat poison, and as he found she had
Pettisthe shill may Odle meads* I had poisoned la the partials* see le of the seise article before, he asked her Hit
' owning, sad she replied that she had given him sae dose a had answered her purpose. She said it had, and that her
few minutes before. I diresied her to mistime the mini- house was cleared, but now she wanted some ter the barn.
eines, bet Ido not roneffient whether anything was said He then gave her a sixpenny packet of Butler's Rat
&boat a mustard •poialties. Itheaseked the boy what he hid Powder. Up to this time he had a seen a packet opened,
taken, and the primmer MAIM mower and said, "He hea and he did not know what alone it was.
taken a bluey powder," sad the boy repeated the words, Mr. Butler said he was the proprietor of the compound
" Bliley powder." He was amen in extremla at this time, referred to, and it was made up under his inspection.
end hardly able to speak. The *Mid did not vomit or exhibit Mr. Chambers asked the witness what ingredients were
any symptoms of retching while I was present. About contained in the compound, but the question was objected
three or four o'clock the same afternoon I saw to, and the court ruled that it was inadmissible, unless theft!
the prisoner again at the surgery, and I observed a jug upon win proof that the packet sold by Mr, Donthefaite mad been
the counter, and the prisoner said it contained what the child actually unified kei ;atetrituu.
had vomited. Before she went away some castor oil was Th!: elatedthe Cue for the prosecution.
given to her for the child. I went to the prisoner's cottage Mr. Rodwell made a mast earnest and able address to the
about nine o'clock the same night, and found the child was jury in behalf of the prisoner, and having commented upon
deed. The prisoner and the child's grandmother were in all the facts that had been adduced in evidence, he con-
elietkense, and the latter asked me if there would be a tended that they were insufficient to justify the jury in
ememer's inquest, and I made answer to the effect that it convicting the prisoner of the dreadful crime laid to her
malt he a matter for future consideration. I afterwards charge. It was admit, ed that she bad always treated the
assisted to make a poet mortar& examination, and I was pre- child with the fondness of a parent, and there was an
sent when the analysis was nude of the contents of the jug, utter absence of anything like motive for the commission
sad lam certain that it contained anemic. I sin certain of such an act. He concluded ell eloquent address by
there was &ethics in any of the mixtures that 1 composed urging the probability that the story told by her of the child
that would have produced all the symptoms I observed in having picked up the powder, was true ; and be called upon
the child. Any nauseating substance might have produced the jury to come to that conclusion, and say that she was sot
some of the symptoms. guilty.
By the Court—The activity of the medicine might in a The learned judge summed up, and the jury retorted a
shad have produced the whole of the symptoms I ',nerved. verdict of Acquittal.
The prisoner told me that she had given the child one dose. The trial was not concluded until nes rly 10 o'clock at
lioagamined—Then wee certainly nothing in the night
arillisioe that would have killed the child by nine or tan
(Meek the same night. The medicine consisted of Epsom
salts, diluted sulphuric acid, and syrup ; =done dose would
have been about; a tablespoonful. If; there bad been ,
amnia in the system, the medicine would have tended to '
ommt it.
Cress-examined—The prisoner appeared to be kind and
affectionate to the child. The effect of sulphuric acid would
have a tendency to chugs the colour of any substance that
was in the stomach, end the degree would depeud upon the
strength of the acid. The effect of arsenic upon a child
would be to quicken the pulse.
Re-examined-1 do not believe the quantity of sulphuric
acid in the medicine would have altered the appearance of
what tame from the stomach of the child in the afternoon.
By the Court—We keep arsenic in the =hop, but only in
• state of solution. We have none in a metaLic state. I
know the appearance of arsenic. It differs very much from
Epsom salts, unless the latter be well pomaded. I believe I
know the contents of all the bottles in the surgery. lam
quite sure that no arsenic could have got into the powder
given to the prisoner.
James Ellis, and some other witnesses were then called to
prove the delivery of the stomach, and also its contents
to Dr. Taylor, of Guy's Hospital, and that gentleman was
then examined, end he described, with his usual ability and
clearness, the means which he employed to discover whether
any poison was contained in the matters sent to him The
result he arrived at was, that the stomach and the vomit
in the jug contained white arsenic, to the eateat of six grains
and • halt in the former and three grains in the latter.
There was also arsenic contained in the liver and gall blad-
der, and the total quantity of arsenic discovered was 13
grains. Dr. Taylor also stated that he had no doubt the
arsenic had gone into the body of the child during life, and
that it was the cause of death; and the quantity, he said,
was sufficient to have destroyed two children. lie liaewise
said he was of opinion that the arsenic had been admini-
stered 24 hours previous to the death of the child. It ap.
peered that • suntance similar to charcoal or soot was
found in the stomach, and he said he could not account
for its premier, in any other way than by supposing that
the arsenic might have been administered with
soot, in which state a recent act of parliament directed it
should be sold. In answer to further questione, Dr. Taylor
said that none of the symptoms described by Dr. Godson
as exhibited by the child in the morning when he saw it
would support the opinion that at this time arsenic was
contained in the stomach.
In cross-examination, Dr. Taylor said he differed entirely
from Mr. Mulreany with regard to the medicate being likely
to produce the symptoms he observed in the child when he
saw him at his mother's house, and he said be was of opi•
mien that the medicine could not have produced those ap-
pennon.
In answer to • question put by the learned judge, Dr.
Taylor said that sometimes vomiting, even for & considerable
period, failed entirely to remove arsenic from the stomach ;
bat he said that if even one grain of arsenic had remained
to the child's body in the evening when Dr. Godson saw
him it must have exhibited some symptom of it.
Brett, a polies constable, said that on the 20th July he
was on duty at Barnet-common, arid, in consequence of
something be was told he went to see the prisoner, and found
her standing by the stile, near her own house. He asked
her what was the matter with the little boy, and what had
made him sick, and she said he had picked up something
going to school, that he had eaten, and it hung about his
mouth like flour. He inquired it she had had any advice
for it, and she said she had not, and he advised her to take
him to Dr. Godson's, as he old that if the child died
daring the night the coroner would censure her. He then
asked her to fetch the child out, and she did so, sad witness
said to him, " Where did you get the powder that you eat ?"
and he npled, "In the lane," Barnet's-lane, and he said
that it was upon the grass. Witness asked him what the
powder wee like, and he said " Bluey." The child then
asked for some water, and the prisoner said, " Come on, my
dear, and I'll give you some tes.. " The child retched at this
moment, but witness did not observe whether he brought
anything off his stomach or mot. The prisoner started off almost
iinmediately with the child in her pony cart, and he saw
her again about nine o'clock, and she told him Dr. Godson
bad given her a powder for the child. On the following
Monday, the 24th July, he took the prisoner into custody,
and she said she should be very glad when the inquest was
over. As he was conveying her to the station, she said she
had bought anything of Mr. Douthwaite but bleach-
ing powder and antibilious pills. The prisoner was aware
at this time that a witness named Douthwaite had been
summoned. Barnes's-lane would lead to the school the
deceased went to, but it was not the direct road to it.
Rachel Howe deposed that she lived with her mother,
next door to the prisoner, at Rowley-green, near Barnet.
She saw the deceased child about half-past eight o'clock en
the morning of the 20th July, and the prisoner was
brushing his hair, and he and his brother were
about to go to school. At half-put two o'clock
the prisoner brought the dequed child to her mother'e,
and she said that be was very sick and ill from eating some-
thing he had picked up in the morning. the child was
standing by her at the time, but she did not observe that he
had anything the matter with him, and he merely looked
flushed with heat from walking. At a later period of the
say she saw him again, and be was then very sick, and
something quite black came off his stomach. She told the
prisoner to take what he brought eff his stomach to Mr.
Godson, and she brought a jog, and the deceased was sick
in it. Witness was present when the child died, and the
prisoner said it WY very unfortunate to happen so soon
after the death of her husband.
Cross-examined—The prisoner spoke to her about the
powder, and every time she did so the child looked up in
her face, but did not say anything. She would not under-
take to swear that the child himself did not say that be had
picked up the powder.
Harriet Rathbun, another neighbour of tho prisoner,
proved that she was in the habit of seeing the deceased
child and his brother, who win younger than he, go to
school every morning, and that they did not go along
Barnes's-lane. She remembered seeing them on the 20th
July, and she gave each of them a rose. At this time the
deceased appeared quite well. On the same day she saw
the prisoner, and she said she was going to Barnet, and that
William had been very ill all night,and she bad sent him to
school, but she was sorry she had done so. She afterwards
saw the prisoner and the child together, and the prisoner
told her that he had been so ill at school that his governess
had sent him home.
Cross-examined—lf the children had crossed the green
after she saw them,theywould have gone along Barnes's-lane.
Re-examined—She saw which way the boys went, and
they did not go along Barnes's-lane.
alias Edmonds, the teacher of the school at Barnet-
common, to which the deceased and his brother were in the
habit of going, proved that en the 20th of July be appeared
In his usual health, and went through his lesions without
making any complaint. She also said that the deceased child
would not come through Barnes's-lane to school, and she
'Regained the statement of her having sent him home on
account of his being sick end ill. lie left the school
at the usual time, twelve o'clock, and she never saw him
again-
Mrs. Newton, the grandmother of the deceased, deposed
that she saw the deceased ebild about 1 o'clock on the 20th
July. He said he was thirsty Witness was having her
dinner at the time, and she gave toe deceased some fried
bacon and potatoes, of which she was partaking, and be
ate heartily, and made no complaint. Between five and
six o'clock the fellowieg morning the saw the deceased
again, and he was then very ill, and unable to speak, and
be died about three hours afterwards. Mr. Mal-
reany was present, and she asked him whether her grandson
had died from the will of God, and he replied that he had
not, but that death was the result of poison. *The prisoner
was in the room when this was said, and she made no
answer.
John Eytouo Moore, • police constable, proved that be
put some questions to the prisoner relating to the powder
that was supposed to have been picked up by the child, and
she said they wanted to know what it was like. He several
times asked the child to tell him what the powder was like,
and he could get no answer from him, but when he asked
him he merely looked up in his mother's face. He told the
prisoner he thought the child would get over it, as he had
taken the powdar so lung a time, and she replied," I do not
think he will."
Ellis Evans, the ehopman to a clothier named Thimbleby
at Bernet, proved that on the 16th July the prisoner came
to his employer's shop and asked for a suit of clothes for her
little hey, all.led if the clothes were for the same,
boy she purchased a 410 for at the death of the (alb per
and she said they were. age knew that these deems had
been purchased for William • the other herr 11.1 In sit
had none to suit, but he woield procure was; and ea OW
20th July an, same again, aced he showed her a suit of
clothes, and she said she hoped they would fit, as her son
,-7oald have to follow his younget brother to the grave oa
the !Wowing day. Witness inqnimi if her wee deeds

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.

OLD COURT.-MARCO 1.

saran. XL asses VAI:0 SAX WILLIAM
George Daniel North, 18, gardener, was indicted for
setting fire to a chapel belonging to June Whitman
Bounquet.
The prosecutor is • gentleman living upon his estate,
Clayhill, at Enfield, and the chapel in question is a private
one situated upon the property, and not far from the
dwelling-house. The prisoner had been for three years up
to September last in the prosecutor's employment, but was
then discharged and given in custody upon • charge of
firing a cottage, but upon this the magistrates, after several
investigations, dismissed the charge, and since then the
prisoner had lived in the immediate neighbourhood of the
prosecutor's estate. Upon the evening of the 28th of
January, at about half-peat seven, a firs was observed
raging fa the chapel, which was ultimately entirely
destroyed. The prosecutor war the first who reached
the spot, and observing some footprints upon the
snow near the chapel, prevented say one from interfering
with them' and gave directions that prisoner should be ap-
prehended. The police found the prisoner at no great dis-
tance from his home, and brought him to the spot where the
footprints were, anti they there made footprints with the
prisoner's boots, which corresponded in point of length and
eine' but some nails in the boots taken from the prisoner's
feet were not observable in the footmarks made near the
chapel. It further appeared that about 6 o'clock the same
evening the prisoner had sent a neighbour's child to beg
him a inciter match to light his pipe. It was afterwards
found that the place had been fired by piling some of the
hassocks beneath the stairs, and setting them on fire. The
prisoner had not ever been heard to ensues any feelings of
animosity towards the prosecutor.
The jury Acquitted the prisoner.