The Express.
London, England, 1862-12-09 00:00:00

DEATH FROM PRUSSIC ACID.

Last evening Dr. Lankester held an inquest
touching the death of Constance Vendee Alfeels, a
foreigner, aged 3...8 years, who died at the house No. 90,
Newman-street, Oxford-street, on Thursday evening last,
under very melancholy circumstances.

The tint witness examined was M. Bernard Zuccatti Bul-
lion., who deposed that the deceased bad lived for some
months in his employment as housekeeper ; that site left
his service three or four months ago, and went to live at the
house No. 67, in the same street; and that on Wednesday
last she came and ,applied to him to allow her to occupy an
apartment in Lis house. He did so, telling her at the same
tame that, as he. was about to leave this country, he could
only give her temporary accommodation. She weut up to a
bedroom in his house on Wednesday afternoon, and, as she
did not come down ou Thursday, he proceeded to the
room about seven o'clock on the evening of the latter
day, when he found her in her night dress, leaning against
the side of the bed and working in violent convulsions.
Observing at her feet a small bottle labelled " Essence of
almonds—poison." he raised an alarm, called for milk and
'inner, and sent for doctors. He poured quantities of
milk down her throat, and Mr. Harding, surgeon, and an-
other medical gentleman were speedily in attendance, Lut
she died withiu au hour. Ho had no doubt that she had
taken the poison herself. Why abe had done so he knew
not.

This witness was closely cross-examined by some of the
jury, but all they elicited from him was that be was un-
married, kept a housekeeper and another servant, and some-
times let out portions of his house.
The next witness was • girl named Fanny Clarke. who
said she was servant in the house No. 67, Newman-street,
which wee kept by Madame Deemer, a dressmaker. There
were young ladies in the house working. She could not tell
how man ; she thought three or four. They also worked
at the dressmaking. Some of them lived in the house.
Madame Constance, the deceased, was housekeeper
there for the three or four months previously to
Wednesday last. Witness lived as servant to Mr.
Bulliotte when Conetance was his housekeeper. In
the begioniug of the LA week the deceased purchased
a marrow-bone, and asked witness to buy her two
ounces of castor-oil and sixpennyworth of the mamma of
almonds. She did so, and the chemist who sold her the
latter marked it " poison." The battle found at deceased's
feet was the one which contained it. Previously to Madame
Constance u. h 7. she had partly made the marrow
which she bad extracted from the bone into a pomade. For
some weeks deceased had cried incessantly. and complained
of headache. Witness had no master at No. 67 ; but she
sometimes saw Mr. Bulliotte there.
_ . _

Bertha Wetzler, • native of Berlin, was examined
through M. Albert, the interpreter. She said she was one
of the ladies in the house, 67. Newman-street. Each of
the ladies there had " a friend." Deceased was house-
keeper there. She also had " • friend." Constance had
frequently told her that her life was a burden to her, and
about three weeks ago she asked witness whether she would
like to take poison with her. Witness declined. Shortly
before Coustance left the house she heard luud words
between her and some other person, but she WAS in her own
room at the time, and could sot tell who that other person
WAS. Gaudio:me had been cryiug perpetually for some
time, but, on being asked the cause, said elle could not
tell. ilQioßrdw
An old Frenchwoman, named Madame Steiff, who was
also examined through M. Albert, stated that shortly
before her death a Madame Delaware went to deceased's
room and asked her whether she would have anything.
Deceased said ohs would take some coffee, and within half-
an-boar afterwards, while it was being prepared, M. Bul-
Lotto went upstairs and found her in convulsions.
Mr. Harding, M.R.C.S., proved that the cause of death
was hydrocyanic (prude) acid, contained in essence of oil of
bitter almonda. This witness explained that the latter
article need not of necessity contain the hydrocyanic acid,
and that when it did not it was not only free from poison,
but also a better perfume than when it contained that
deadly poison. He had made several experiments on dogs,
and toned that in no case did the essence of almonds with-
out the prussic acid kill the animal, while four drachms of it
with that acid killed one within an hour, and bee drachms
killed a very strong dog instantaneously.
Dr. Lankester concurred in Mr. Harding's opinion, and
observed that since a better perfume could be had from
essence not coutainiog the poison, there was no reason why
any Butt did contain it should continue to be sold. In this
case the chemist bad marked " poison" on the bottle con-
tainiag the essence ; but probably it was that word which
sugge,ted to the deceased to make use of what she had pur-
chased for a perfume as a means of destroying life. It was
notorious that tho puisouoias essence was very generally
sold.

The jury found that Con<t ,noe Vanden Allonia committed
suicide by taking essence of bitter almonds containing hydro-
cyanic acid, and that when she did so she was in an unsound
state of mind.

AUGMENTATION OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE I
FORCE.— Io consequence of the numerous garotte robberies
and burglaries which of late have occurred in the suburban
districts of the metropolis, the Commissioners of Police
have decided upon immediately augmenting the police force
by 300 men, and also to attach a corps of the A reserve to
the 4 and K divisions. It is also intended to increase the
number of police doing duty in the principal thoroughfares
of the metropolis and crowded parts. The men of the
X division—a division temporarily assigned for the Inter-
national Exhibition, and many of whom have had COolli-
derAble experience—will be drafted to the different divisions.
THE LIVERPOOL MAGISTRATES AND OUR CRIMI-
NAL kOPULATION.—A large number of the Liverpool lay
magistrates, headed by the local stipendiary, having urged
upon the mayor the necessity for calling a public meeting of
the inhabitants, in order to consider the present mode of
dealing with convicts in this country, sod the law sub-
stitu►iog tho sentence of various periods of penal servitude
for transportation, his worship has called a meeting for
Weilneeday, Dec. 17. Sir W. F. Crofton, C. 8., has eon-
Hoed to address the meeting.
I:OYAL FREE HOSPITAL, GRAY'S-INN-ROAD.—
The number of patients relieved at this hospital during the
week ending December 6 was 2,860, of which 78:i were new
meet.

DR. DE JONGH'S LIGHT BROWN Con LIVER
OIL-
In testifying to the unrivalled restorative properties of this Ri-
val!' Me Oil in cases of general debility, Mr. K. Dalton, district
me heal officer st Bury Kt. Edmunds, observes:—'• The effects of
Dr. de .lonsth's Oil are sure and must remarkable, especially in
that broken down state of health and strength which usually
precedes and favours tubercular deposit, and I never recom-
mend any other sort." Bold only In capsuled bottles, 2a. Id.,
4a. lei., and la., by De. de 'ouch's agent., Anew, fiarford, and
Cu., 77, Strand, Undo'', sad amla4.--lAdvazUseattnal