The Express.
London, England, 1846-09-05 00:00:00

POISONING AT CLAVERING„

Yesterday the coroner, C. Lewis, resumed
the inquiry into the deaths of Joseph and James Chesham.
The village presented s scene of intense excitement long be-
fore the hour appointed for the commencement of the in-
quest. The coroner remarked that some of the London
papers had stated that three bodies had been exhumed from
Clavering churchyard. That statement was erroneous, two
bodies only having been exhumed. The first witness was
Sarah Chesham, the mother of the husband of the accused,
who deposed : the deceased were my grandchildren. They
died about a year and half ago. 'Their mother told me,
previous to their death, that they had been taken violently
ill with pains in their stomach. 'The disorder increased, and
at length they died. They were buried in Clavering
churchyard, in the coffin shish has since been dug up.—The
Coroner ; flu any woman told you that she knew all about
it?-7a. On Saturday last, the 29th of August, Lydia
Newman said that it was a sad thing for Sarah, meaning my
son's wife, and that she (Taylor) knew all about the matter.
She said it was a bad job she did not know better. I said
nothing, and have never spoken to her since.
Mr. Brooke, surgeon, of Newport, recapitulated the evi-
dence previously given by him, having reference to the
examination of the bodies, and the delivery of the stomachs
to Professor Graham, of University College.
Mr. Alfred Taylor, of Guy's Hospital, produced the
stomachs, which he had received from Professor Graham,
who was obliged to leave London. They were identified
by Mr. Brooke. The witness stated, from the testa
applied and the results, he arrived at the follow-
ing conclusions: that the stomach marked Ns. 1 (that
of Joseph Chesham) contained a large quantity of
yellow arsenic. That the whole quantity of yellow arsenic
contained in the stomach -and diffused thromgh its
coats may be estimated at from 20 to 30 grains, which was
sufficient to destroy the lives of from three to six adult per-
sons, and that it had been introduced during life, because it
was uniformly diffused over all the internal coat of the
stomach, because it was firmly imbedded in and adhered to
them, and because the mucous membrane beneath presented
that deep red colour which is indicative of the action of a
poison like arsenic upon the living stomach. Therefore be
concluded that the individual from whom this stomach was
taken, had died from the effects of arsenic. It was difficult
to say whether it was white or yellow arsenic, as he found
in the stomach sulphuretted hydrogen gas, which has the
property of rendering white arsenic yellow. 'The yellow
weenie of the shops is called orpimeut, and contains
about 20 per cent of white ; both are deadly poisons.
He was of opinion, from not being able to discover any un-
changed white particles in any p •rt of the yellow mass, or in
the stomach itself, that the poisoa was taken by the deceased
in the form of yellow arsenic, In stomach No. 2 (Joseph's),
the appearance was similar, with the exception of some un-
important differences. The quantity of arsenic found in it
was from eight to ten grains, which was more than sufficient
to kill an adult. He believed that the poison was token dur-
ing life, and was sufficient to cause death. The witnessthen
produced, in two pieces of plate glass, parts of the stomach
of James and Joseph, having upon them yellow arsenic, and
he also produced some copper gauze, having on it some arse-
nic obtained from the stomachs, and also some white arsenic
similarly obtained, which were examined by the jury.
Mr. Stephen C. Hawke', surgeon at Clavering, heard of
the illness of the elder child on a Sunday evening, shortly
before it died, from the father of the children, who called
upon him to request some medicine might be sent. The
father said, in reply to a suggestion from witness that he
should visit the child, " it was of no consequence," or some •
thing to that effect. He sent some medicine, but did not
recollect what it was ; he believed it was calomel. On Mon-
day he was called by the father to see the second child, and
went directly ; when he arrived there he was informed the
' elder brother was dead. He saw the body, which was laid
out on a bedstead in the supper room, but took no
particular notice of it. The surviving child was la-
bouring under a pain in the bowels and purging,
with some degree of sickness, but did not vomit whilst the
witness was present, but he understood that the child bad
been vomiting considerably. Some calomel was sent to him,
but there did not appear to be any improvement. Be after-
wards altered the medicine, and sent some opium with the
calomel. The child became worse, and complained of thirst
and sickness, his bowels being in a disturbed state. The
witness generally maw the grandmother of the children, but
that day he saw the mother, bat could not say whether more
than once. On the next day, he was informed by some
neighbours, he believed, of the child's death; he did not go
again to the house. At the time he attributed the death to
cholera, the symptoms being similar.—The Defeat': : Were
you asked by the registrar the cause of death I—Witness:
To the best of my recollection, the subject was casually
mentioned to me, and I thilik. I said I attributed
the death to cholera, but I am not quite certain.
The Coroner Have you ever had any conversation with the
mother as to the cause of the deaths in her family I—Wit-
ness : I never have. I did express a desire to open the body,
and stated it was a very unusual time of the year for the
occurrence of such cases ; but, as the mother seemed un-
willing, I did not press the matter any farther. Had no
suspicion with respect to the woman, as she appeared to
treat them with kindness.
Thomas Beards, gluier, of Claveriag, deposed that he lived
under the same roof with Richard Chesham, the husband of
the accused. He knew both the deceased children, and saw
them on some day in January, 1845. They were then in
the Dam-lane, and appeared perfectly well. The next morn-
ing Sarah esham said to him, "My poor Joseph is very
bad." She said she did not know what was the matter with
him, but thought it arose from a hart he had obtained in
jumping to avoid a blow attempted to be given him
by Mr. Thomas Newport. He advised her to send
for the surgeon. When he returned home in the evening
he was informed that the second child was taken ill, and that
the surgeon had ant been sent for. In the night he heard
one of the childzin groan, and again on Sunday morning.
At that time he beard much vomiting in the room above
him; some of it ease through the ceiling on to his table,
and eassiliddi yelled his breakfast. The vomit was white, i
and enzMnned M elmbe through all the day. He tried to get 1
into Chishent's Ulm, but he could not succeed. He went
to diso, sod irtila he was returning met Mrs. Chesham
W*MA He asked her whether she knew the
dale lambi& her 'children were ? When he returned home
his wills esiir " What a predicament I am in," and
be still lewd persons vomiting, but could not get
into the hems. He again went to chapel, and
returned home about four o'clock. The children were still
vomiting. He stopped at home a short time, and then went
in the direction of the village. He met Mrs. Cheek= again,
and told her that her children were very bad, suggesting

that the servos should be called ia. She said she would
endeavour to procure au order for his attendance at nine
o'clock. The elder child died ; and shortly after, Mrs.
Chatham knocked at an old walled-up door, and entreated
his to
tan/ist up, u her boy was dying. He did so, and saw
Chatham at the door, who said, " The poor boy is
about gone." Witness then went up stairs, and saw the
elder child lying on a bed quite deed. His brother lay be-
side him very ill. He pnceived there had been much vomit-
ing, but it had been cleaned up.
The Coroner : How did the mother appear to be ?—Wit-
ness: I thought she seemed not to care much about it.
He went to see the other child on the Tuesday morning,
and found him very ill ; he told him he fared he
must die. He shook hands with him and left him, and
in the evening he heard he was dead.—Coroner: Did
you assist in stripping the child after death ?—Witness :
I did.—Coroner: Did you observe any marks or bruises on
the body, indicating that the child had been struck ?—Wit-
nese : Nothing of the kind. Their skins were as white and
clear as possible.--A Juror : At what hour did Mrs. Ches-
ham return ?—Witness : Not till seven o'clock. Richard
Chesham was also out all day, having been at Lialebury,
and returned about the same hour in the evening.
Elizabeth Beards, wife of the last witneai, corroborated the
testimony of her husband, and added that the vomit which
came through the ceiling on the breakfast-table was nasty
green stuff. The mother of the children spoke to her, and
said, in reference to the wish of the surgeon fur a post
mortem examination, she would net have him cut to pieces
by any one.
John Chesham, brother to the deceased children: Did not
know the nature of an oath. Never heard of the Testament.
and could neither read nor write. Did not know how old
he was, but thought he was between Id and 18. After ad-
mitting he knew people who told lies would be punished in
the next world, he was examined. He recollected his bro-
there dying, as he lived at home with them. The elder was
10, the younger was 8 years old. Joseph used to work for
Mr. Thomas -Newport, but left him before he died. Did
not know why. Never asked him. Never heard anything
onthe subject. Did not know what arsenic was. It was white.
Had never seen it.—A Juror: How do you know that it is
white, then? The witness then prevaricated a good deal, and
no further information could be obtained on this point.—
Coroner : Has any one spoken to you about coming here
to-day ? —Witaeu, after some hesitation, admitted that some
had but said he did not kuow who it was, or where it was,
or what he said.—A Juror: Was it a man or a woman ?
Witness : I don't know.—Juror: How long ago was it ?
Witness : I don't know.—To several questions he persisted
in saying he did sot know. He subsequently admitted that
it was something about arsenic. He was placed in the care
of the police.
Mary Budding, wife of John Budding, labourer, knew
the mother of the deceased children, and heord her speak
of their deaths. She said they died very suddenly, and
on being asked what was the matter with them,
she replied that Tom Newport had been beating
the eldest boy, and had discharged him from his
service. Witness asked the mother whether she thought the
boy died from the effects of the blows, or from the fright.
She said est did not know. She said she would not hare
the coroner come for all the world, for if he came he would
have the bodies opened, and she should not like to have them
cut about, and if they were she should never be happy
again. She thought the children had been taken away from
her through the neglect of Mr. Hawke., the surgeon. On
the Friday night before Joseph's death (-he told her) she
said to him, " You end I are always in somebody's way ; it
would be a good thing if they were both in the churchyard."
Margaret Idynott, of Clavering deposed that she knew
Sarah Chesham andthe deceased children. About a fortnight
before the children died Sarah Cbesham called upon her and
gave her twopence, and asked her to buy some arsenic to
destroy rats. Did not get it, and returned the twopence by
Joseph Chesham, who was sent by his mother for the poison.
She was to have bought it at Newport, where she went twice
every day as letter-carrier.
William Law, rateatcher, deposed—About the time the
children died I was miming Sarah Cheaham's hone.
She was in the yard at the time, and asked me if 1 would let
her have some poison for rata, which she said were in the
house. I did nut let her have any. Ido not know whether
that occurred before or after the children's death.
Mary Chesham, sister-in-law to the accused, said, after the
death of the children, the mother said she had not the
courage to remain in the house, and was constantly walking
about the fields. Before the death of her first child she
alluded to his discharge by Mr. Newport, and expressed a
wish that it would please God to take him.
Lydia Newman, of Wavering, knew the children, and said
that, on the Saturday evening before, Joseph Ch sham came
to her fir some bread, which the gave him ; he then seemed
perfectly well. Coroner—Did you not tell old Mrs. Chesham
that you knew all about it? Witness—l never did.
Old Mrs. Chesham was recalled, and the coroner asked her
whether Lydia Newman did, or did not, say she knew all
about it? Mrs. Chesham—Yes, she did, air.
The witness Newman.—Lor', neighbour Chesham, I never
said no such a thing —After some altercation, the coroner
expressed his belief that she had said so, and pressed lice to
give whatever information she possessed. She at length
admitted that she might have said so, but could or would
give no reason for saying so, except that the accused woman
had said she did not know whet she should do.
Thomas Newport, farmer, of Clavering, deposed: I know
Sarah Chesham, the mother of the two boys. I knew both
the boys. The elder worked fur me for two years or
two years and a half. I discharged him in December,
1844, about the 13th or 14th, because I found two
gees in his pocket. I sent for his mother to 'know
whether she had given him the eggs, as he said she had
She said she had not. She then took the boy away with
her. I did not speak to the woman again for a mont ror six
weeks. That was atter the death of the children. Said
nothing about them to her, nor did she to me. Some time
after that she spoke to me about the boy, saying, she was
sorry I turned him away. The Coroner: I believe you
sometimes keep arsenic ?—Witness : Yes, I do, generally, in
a box iii a sort of pantry. The Coroner: Did you ever give
any to Sarah Chesham ?—Witnees Never. The Coroner :
Did she ever ask fur any ?—Witness: No. The Coroner:
For what do you use mime ?—Witness : Only for poisoning
rats. The Coroner: How often have you bought arsenic ?
Witness: Only once ' • that was at °dams', at Biehop's Stort-
ford—it was two or three years since. The Coroner : Has
any one ever asked you for arsenic ?—Witness : Yes, my
workmen have asked me for some, but I never gave them
"Jo. Chesham, the son, recalled. The Coroner asked
him whether he recollected who it was that *poke to him
about the arsenic. The boy said he did not recollect, but the
man stopped him in the road and said arsenic was white.
The Coroner told the witness that if he persisted in telling
untruths, he was liable to transportation. This seemed to
stagger the boy, who admitted that the person who addressed
him stated that arsenic was white and yellow. He told that
person that the bodies had been taken up, and upon that
they parted. No further information could be elicited from
the witness.

The Coroner said, u it was evident they could not then
close the inquiry, it would be necessary that every exertion
should be used to sift the matter to the bottom. The arsenic
must have been purt based somewhere, and from what source
should be ascertained. The inquiry was adjourned for a
fortnight.