The Express.
London, England, 1851-10-13 00:00:00

TIIE POISONLNO CASE AT BATH.

The cave against Elizabeth Slater was resumed
before the bath magistrates, at the Guildhall, on Saturday
morning.
Mr. Ilerapath, analytical chemist, of Bristol, was het
next witness exantinell. Ile almond as follows:—On the
7th of October I received from Mr. Lawrence, surgeon, of
Caverton-street, Bath, a brown jar, sealed, which contained
two napkin., which I now produce. In each of these I
found very blight traces of arsenic, which I now produce.
should think the tube I now produce contains about two-
thirds of the arsenic I discovered in one napkin. On the
Bth I received from Inspector Brown • paper panel con-
taining a foul napkin. In this 1 found faint traces of arsenic.
I also received from him at the mine time a child's night-
gown, which I produce. There were marks of sickness
upon it in small quantities. Upon boiling the bedgown in
wider, and evaporating it in dryness, I found in the residue
slight trace, of arsenic. Three tubes I produce contain the
whole quantity I found in the bedgown. At the same time
I received from Inspector Brown • napkin labelled,
"napkin removed at 10 o'clock on Wednesday morn-
ing, October Bth, 18.11. B. &ark." In this I
found slight traces of arsenic. There was another
napkin delivered at the same time to me, stated to have
been removed at 4 o'clock the same day, but I will not
speak p‘c.atnivccelyaututo th
be, wati.th lahseusbaline dway.,l received iireelprofz:
it. cut it in two and dissolved out the sublimate, which
was small in quantity. 1 tested the solution with am-
moniac sulphate of copper, which predund 'cheeks green,
and with hyro-sulphurie acid, which produced the yellow
orpiment, or sulphate of arsenic. On the 111th 1 received
from Inspector Norms a whity-brown twisted paper, con-
taining a white powder. In this there was no arsenic.
From the same person I received • bottle containing a
small quantity of white powder, which was also free from
arsenic. I received from Mr. John Pearce a bottle of
powdered borax, in which I could find no arsenic. 1 have
tried experiments upon two galley pots of borax awl honey,
but I find that the ordinary modes of analysis are not ap-
plicable to such a mixture ; and that I must therefore
make a new series of ceperiments upon it. I received the
pot, of borax and honey—one from Mr. Tyke, chemist, of
Bath, on the 11th, the other from In-pector Brown on the
111th. On the 14th 1 received from Mr. Lawrence a napkin in
a beaker glees; in this I found no arsenic. There were several
other napkins I received which were stated to have been
removed at an earlier period, but these I have not yet had
time to examine. I have worked till half-past 12 each
night and got up at six in the morning; but if you wish me
to continue the analysis of cruet I will du so.
Mr. Williains—M hat would have been the probable effect
of such an amount of arsenic as you have found upon •
small baby ?
Mr. Ilerapath—Of course it is to be supposed that what I
was thrown 01l was only a small quantity of that ailminis-
tend, if administered at all. In all cases when person'
have died from arsenic, and I have examined the body, I
have found it in the liver and other tissues, and this has
been the can where the patient has passed arsenic by sick-
ness and motions before dying. In 99 cases out of 100
arsenic produces • burning sensation in the stomach. It
will also affect the mouth and cause disinclination to swallow. '
It will also produce salivation in the mouth when its ad-
ministration
is long continued. The general symptoms pro-
ductal an violent action in the stomach and in the hetes-
boat canal, sickuen, pur.tine, cramps, great pains, burn-
ing pains in the stomach, and sometimes coldness in the
extra-milieu. It sometimes produces palsy, but that is rare.
I have never seen a case of ulceration of the mouth from
arsenic. Any irdtating body upon a mucous substance
will produce irritation, and ulcers sometimes result ; but I
don't think arsenic wand.' remain long enough in the mouth
to produce it, and I eliould nut like to say anything
about it.

Uj . cannoCgive an opinion of the quan-
tity of arsenic found—it wu very trifluag—mcre truss is
sub sau.
__

IyMr Williams—The smallest dose of arsenic recorded
as the cause of death in a single dose is just under three
grains. I have reason to believe, however, that a smaller'
quantity would cause death. It is eztremely difficult to
know what qu.ustities have been administered. There are
only few ir stances where quantities have been recorded;
but this much is known that a slight overdose of Bowler's
solution will have a disastrous effect.
Mrs. Elisabeth Grant, sister to Mrs. Searle, corroborated
her evidence in all the main points, and added that when
the cMld was removed to the country she accompanied it,
and that its health improved whilst it was away. On one
occasion also, observing something on the child's mouth,
whilst the prisoner was nursing her, she took it and said,
" 31y little darling what have you in your mouth, what
have they been giving you ?" L pon which the prisoner
took the -baby from her, saying, "Give me the little pig."
lhe mime., in cross-examination, admitted that the pri-
soner always appeared fund of the child.
Mr. Searle confirmed other witnesses, and stated that it
was in COlllayucnce of suggestions which occurred to his
mind when reflecting as to what could cause the child's
vomiting and purging after its mother left, which induced
him to consult with Mrs. Searle, and send the child into
the country. A. third occurrence of similar circumstances
induced him to send the following letter to the prisoner
" Bath, Oct. 1, 1851.
" Dear Madam,-1 have much pleasure in informing you
that your darling baby is (after another most trying illness)
inprosing. Immediately after you left the dear babe ap-
peared to be in much pain in the stomach, and was very
auk. ;Lad her dear mouth appeared in a very painful state,
continuing to be very restless indeed, so mach so that we
could get no rest with her day or night. Indeed, our rest
for many nights has been very disturbed, and oac night I
caught a severe cold getting out of bed to try and relieve
the dear little sufferer, and it is only during the last three
days that we have been able to *ay she is getting better.
Had any one besides ourselves been nursing of her I should
k.!'re thought she had been treated badly, or had some-
,ruhlhe proper administered to her. Of course her dear
huh' body is very thin, meagre, but I doubt not, if she
continues to get better, she will ram pick up flesh. Mrs.
Searle has been feeding her very often between her other
fad with jelly, which was the only thing we amid get to
ktlle on the stomach fur some time. Mr. Lawrence has
continued to attend her, hut of course little can be done in
the say of medicine for her. The principal thing that
could be done for her has been good nursing, and great at-
teution to diet, te. I urn very pleased to be able to say she is
m.hung quite lively and perceptive, even laughing aloud
Scathe
rourning.l am, yours most respectfully, B.
e"