The Express.
London, England, 1851-10-29 00:00:00

POISONLNGS IN SUFFOLK.

ST. ALBANS BRIBERY COMMISSION.

1 On Tuesday last, William ltawlinson was brought
The commissioners, F. Slade, W. Forsyth, and T I
Phinn, Esqs., appointed by act of parliament to inquire into
up at Clare, on the charge of having administered arsenic
the existence of bribery in the borough of St. Albano, met • to his daughter in-law, Diary R aavelinson, and after a further
for the second time at the Court-house, at hi. Albans, yes-
examin ition before the Rev. W. May& was remanded for
terday morning at half-past 10. further examination at Clare on Monday. Diligent inquiry
In consequence of the receipt of an intimation that the
have been made by Superintendent Death into the several
commissioners, so far retreating front their injunctions of eves of supposed poisoning, and from the information
the previous day, did not object to ouch a report of their which he has obtained it appears that Mary Itawlinson (who
proceedings as should not be a verbatim and minute report
of the evidence, our reporter considered himself at liberty since married) was first taken ill on the ith of Aug., but
got better; that on the dltit, having eaten eoine black cur-
to attend and to furnish the ordinary account ()fetich public rant melding which she had made, she wan again seized
investigation. : with sickness and a burning sensation in the throat ; and her
Prior to the calling of witnesses, Mr. Wells applied to be I niece,
g, Susan Cornell, coming to see her that night, ate some
permitted to appear as counsel on behalf of a considerable
! of the puddin and w ee:as. taken sin k, and remained very
Is of the electors, toprotect their franchise right,
which ill all that night and next duy ; that she went home on Sa-
p
they apprehended would be jeopardised without a full and I turdity, the 16th, having eaten nothing else in the house,
fair inqject at the same time being to assist the commis-
uiry, in which their interests would lit, represented ; ! carrying with her the remainder of the pudding, of
their object
winch hi r father and the other children partithing, were
shiners in eliciting the real truth and facts connected with all made ill ; that the mother, Ann Cornell, being with
all the transactions. lie appeared fur Messrs. J. and T. Mary Itawlinson, was sent for by her heathen& and
Kinder, T. Richardson, E. Langridge, J. and A. Debenhara, complained of sickness and pain in the heed ; but they all
T. Bowman, ate others. Tnese gentlemen, who were per- got better at that time; that three weeks alter, Allot:omen
went again to nurse Mary Rawlitison, on the Saturday, and
fectly free from being mixed up with the corrupt practices
alleged to have prevailed in the borough, were nevertheless 1 after taking gargle mutton broth was seized with vomiting
and purging, but got better in the morning; that two of
fearful that their interests might be damnified, assuming
that the report of the commissioners to the House of Com- liar children came on the Sunday mil diners with her off
mons should lie the means of inducing the legislature to mime mutton pudding, after which they ell were taken
pass an act to disfranchise the borough, and they could not ill in the same way, and the hareleanl being sent for took
conceive that Englishmen could in any Way he so seriously her home about six in the evening, and shy died about
injurml as by being deprived of a recognised franchise. eight the halite night. On Thursday an information was
The learned Chief Commissioner, after consulting with laid by Superintendent Death before the Hey. W. Mhyll, for
his colleagues, said they dial rot s.'e how the necessity for the purpose of having the body of Ann Cornell dienitcrred
the employment of counsel arose at present, but that if it Mr examination, and an order to that effect having been
did arise, they would then coneider it. made by the magistrate, the body was opened by Mr.
Stutter, of Wickinembrook, awl the intestines were Mr. Coinmissioner }eased' Gehl an application could be
dc-
properly made on any bill being introduevd into parliament livered to Mr. Image, of bury, for analysis.
affecting the voters, and the legislature would not pass a At the examination on Monday the following evidence
ruemure of the kind without giving the parties opportunity was given :
to hi, heard by counsel. Mr. Stutter, the surgeon, &Towel to being present at
the examination of the bony at Burnardiston churchyard.
Mr. Wells contended that whatever the report of the
committee might be, it would be final as regarded those lie it a , the:
j eeheady, and faunal it had previously undergone
represented. They wished at this stage of the inquiry to a post nun ton examinatiou. The etoinAch was unconnected
protect themselves, a 4 to see that justice was done to the with the body, heving been opened before and emptied.
inhabitants at large, that they might not he robbed of their I opened the intestines to their whole extent. I exemined
privilege.. because a portion of the constituency was corrupt. the kidney., and took them with the stomach end intestines
The Ch'cl Commission replied. that when the question to Mr. bulge liir auelysetion. The father of the deceased,
came more formally before them in the course of evidence Charles leenutond, was present when I opened the body.
they would then decide upon the keita slandi. Charles Hammond, the lecher of the deceased Ailik Cor-
Mr. Ituinliall, an elector, and one of the petitioners against nell, gave evidence of the body exhumed being that of his
the return of Mr. Bell, called attention to a summary or the daughter.
evidence of yesterday, that appeared in some of the Mr. William Edmund Image., the surgeon of Bury St.
morning papers, and inquired whether the publication in EdillUilii.4, was then examined—Om the 20th of ()maim. I
that shape was not an infringement of the rule laid down received from Ir. Stutter a large bork, sealed. containing
by the court. a stomach and intestines; aud also auother bottle, contain-
The Chief Commissioner replied that neither he nor his Mg eon/0 mucous, which Mr. Stutter informed me he had
colleagues had any reason to declare that there has been an scraped off the intestines themselves. The parts had not
infringement of the rule they hail lee" down at present. undergone iierninposition. I analysed tile tissues of the
Mr. Jacob Bell, M.P., the sitting mender, then addressed
stomach, and detected the presence of arsenic. 1 next ma-
lyowd the intestines, and they also conteined arsenic, but in
the eourt at considerable length, by way of supplemental ex-
plea:thou to evidence he hail given yesterday. Ile stated un- much smaller quantities than in the stoinAeli. They were
reservedly that it was his desire to state everything fuliy and indented, and but little if at all decompiewil.
fairly, in spite of a conviction that he had been singled out The Chairman —What is your opinion as to the cause of
fur the purpose of exposing a system of corruption el which, the deceased's death?
unfortunately he had been made the victim. Whatever he
Wei/eel—The result of the analysis leads me to the opt-
could do to promote the object of the inquiry, and to discus- nion that the deceased third front puieon, and that the poison
tinue the alleged corruption, he should only be too hatite y
was arsenic. The fact of the intestine.s not being decant-
to do. Any hesitation that might have cenrecterised t
posed is a strong corroborative moot of the presence of
evidence he had given originated in, hoped, a pardonable arsenic.
desire to avoid implicating others in the transactions eon- Mary Jarman, formerly Maryltawlineon, daughter-in-Mw
meted with the election; and in saying this he alluded to of the prisoner was next examinee'. Since the etteisipt on
Mr. Bruce, who had advised him not to proceed with the her life she bag married al e a
40th ~t,,t
) named 'Thomas larnean.
: August 1 was ill at home
election, and who was anxious to retire from participation
in it, and from any criminal participation in which M bite said—Gia Saturday th
r. at Sowlet' Greco, at Great Thurlew. In the evening I got
Bruce was entirely exonerated. He knew, but only from Mrs. !diesel), a neighbour, to send her little buy fur my
hearsay, that Mr. Coppock, the parliamentary agent, had
sister, Ann Cornell, the deemegel, to attend me. She comae
received money for the purpose of conducting the
about 8 o'clock the same evening. She had for supper at
Ocean&
Mr. George Brace, solicitor, of 21, Surrey.street, Strand,
my place a inc., of mutton broth, which I made for myself
was examined at conside:able length. Was at first con-
ou the previous day. She had it about 9 o'clock. At that
cerned for Mr. Be•Il in the electioneering, but subsequently time she Was quite well. 1 don't recollect whether she had
retired, finding that interviews had taken place between
anything besides the broth. elle had not taken it long be-
Mr. Coppock, Mr. Edwards, and Mr. Bell, in the course Gel fore she became unwell. I made the broth on Friday, and
which it was frequently m. ittioned that 2,7001. would be had wine Get' it on that day and Saturday ramming, but I
required for carrying out the election. Had lent Mr. lull,, did nut t. el any ill effects irons it. I was ill before I took
Mr. Bell's partner, I,OOOL, on the 28th November, ISA, the broth. My sister was taken very sick, and retcheal
which had been repaid. Lent also a second 1,0001. soon throughout the whole night.
The Cheirman—Where was the broth kept
alter, and received letters from Edwards, saying he would
send his son to Coppock's fur .. packets.” No money passed Witnee. —ln a eaucepan oil the hub by the side of the
from witnesses hands to Coppoca. fire- lace.
Chairnme—And where was the prisonsr?laee.
Ti
Mr. T. 11, llills, of Oxford-street, one of the partners of
the sitting member, depereed, in very hesitating terms, Witness-11c was in the house the whole evening; by
to sending, but without the enaction er knowledge of Mr. the side of the tire-place, mostly.
Bell, during an interval of six weeks, sundry " packets," Wituesa's examination connaued—Deceased felt a little
containing .mOOl. in gold, to Mr. Coppock's, the paella- better on the following morning, but I don't know whether
she had any breakfast, or, if the had, what it consisted of.
mentary agent, which were regularly called for by Ed:
About 11 o clock I told her to make a mutton pudding for
werils's son, the total sum amounting to between 2,000 e.
and 3,000/. by cheques and money. on his own amount. her dinner. The dour was kept in the trough in the usual
Expected that it would meet with Mr. lien's approbetiou, place, and the mutton was close by. The pudding was
mil that he would reimburse him after the electio u, as a snide, and I saw her eat berme of the dough, but none of
matter of honour. the meet. ller two child'', n, who acconanitatel her, also
Mr. N. Colt (Mr. Brace's partner), Mr. Simpson (solicitor,
pArtoek of it, and the three were taken unwell very shortly
afterward.. So bail did the deceased become that I was
of St. Album',,), and Mr. A. S. Bowen, were ALISO examined
at length as to these trans:melons, compelled to get Mrs. Chi nuery to assist lite, and I sent
Mr. James Copnock was called upon to appear in answer Thomas Jarman for Cornell, the husband of the d.cete•ed.
to his summons, but did not appear; and, after some further lie came about live o clock, and took her away in a cart.
evidence, the committee adjourned. She was suit ring much, and could nut walk. That was
the last time 1 saw her. She died about eight o'clock the
same evening.
By the Bench—The prisoner was in the house all the time
the dm-ewe:it was in my house. Charlotte Sparks, am ith her
two children, was aloe in the house. The water used tor
the broth mime from the pond round which the obi mein
said he hail placed arsenic to kill rat.. I can't say what Ito
had for his tea.
Benjamin White, an aged, reapectable-looking man, who
described liiiiieelf as an ii,si,tant and kind of man ogee of a
chemist's shop belonging to a Mr. Daniels, of Greet Thar-
low, was thee called.--On the 21st or 22nd of August I
sold our ounce of anemic to the prisoner William Haw-
bewail.
Mr. Bevan, a magistrate—when you sold him this ounce
of arsenic did he state what he wanted it for ?
Witness (somewhat coolly)—No, really I do not recollect,
but it must have been something but the. rats and mice.
Mr. Bevan—Then you have not the slightest recollection
about what he said, excepting that he must have talked of
rats and mice ?
Witness—No, I du not recollect whet he Will, it is very
likely it was about some mice, but I sold hint it so often.
Mr. Bevan—Very often, perhaps ?
Witness—Yes, frequently.
Mr. Bevan—How many times?
Witness—l can scarcely recollect.
Mr. Bevan—More then twelves times probably ?
Witness—Yes, it may he twelve thine, MU 1 cannot recol-
lect what was said every time.
Mr. Bevan—What were your instructions relative to the
sale of arsenic ; hail you any from Mr. Daniels ?
Witness—No, norm in particular, merely to write the
word poison upon the paper.
From the general examination of this witness, it would
appear that lie exercised but little care in selliute arsenic in
his professional calling. It seems that quantities es small
as hallperaly-worths and pennyworths could be procured,
an ounce being obtainable for the larger bum. OH the
Alice reasoning with Min as to the risk he ran in incurring
penalties under Lord Campbell's Act for selling poison in
so unguarded a meaner, he urged perfect ignorance Mauch
a responsibility.
The evidence in both cases closing,
The Chairman inquired of the old man whether he haul
irthing to say, at the same time enforcing upon him the
- caution.

The wretched old man raised his head and, with team in
his eyes, simply mutter.sl out " Nu, I have nothing to say;
I know nothing about it
The Chairman then informed him that it was their pain-
ful duty to commit him fur trial at the next assixo fur tho
county, on the two fold charge of murdering Ann Cornell,
and attempting to destroy Mary Itawlinson, otherwise• Mary
Jarman.
The old man, who was scarcely able to walk, was removtd
preparatory to being conveyed to the county gaol at Bury
St. Edmunds.

The unfortunate woman, Ann Cornell, has left 10 eltildrett
to regret her Lite.

A HINT TO TILE I'REMIER.—A few day' ago on
the snow at the top of Snowdon was written, in a well-
known hand, the following memorandum, with the date
attached—" J. Russell, F. Russell, and party." A SULPIC.
quest visitor to the " high places of the earth " had
added—" Heaven bless your lordship, and may you give
us a good reform bill."
NAVAL PROMOTION.—ADMIBALTY, OCT. 28.—W
Kit k, promoted to acting boatswain in Brikuinia. APPOlNT-
saaNrs.—Lieutenant T. I). Sullivan, to Crane. Assistant
Engineer J. Taylor, to Birkenhead. Clerk W. 11. Fitz-
patrick, to Firgard. Clerk's Assistant F. Oliver, to Im-
pregnable.,
A FOREIGN ARCIIITECT'n OPINION OF OUR
STREET 3, S4AVALLE3, PARKS, AND PAVEXENTS.—Exeept
in sums streets and squares at the west end, the private
houses are in general built without elegance, of bad bricks
of a very unequal yellowish red colour. The colour does
not matter much, since the smoke from the coals furnishes
an imperceptible but grey rain to the town, which covers
everything with one tint, that is, a dirty black, which at-
taches itself to everything inside as well as outside, and
render,' wretched every person who scrupulously looks for
cleanliness. You are establishing many bath-houses
for the public good. This is all very well for the
body; but wash•houses for your buildings, how are
they to be managed? The distribution of the houses
in London is very mournful. Lit by a small number of
little windows, winter, of course, gives long nights and
short days to the capital of the world; but as gas
is introduced everywhere, light of I.IIIC sort is not
wanting. The squares are arranged with much taste, but
as the plants in the gardens want freshness, they cannot bo
what they should. The parks are large, capitally arranged
for public amii,emi nt in a very judicious manner, but in
general want shade, and are at too great a distance from the
City, so that the very people who most want fresh air can-
not get to it. The Inner 1 emple Gardens arc the only ones,
and are not sufficient. The streets of the west cod, and in
general all the newly constructed ones, are perfect in their
proportions, pavements, and roadway,. Those of the City
are much tiro narrow fur the trattie of these day*, but what
can be done These streets were made fur a population of
600,000, and not for one of 2,600,00.4 souls. It Fleet-street
could be joined by a straight line through raternovtecrow
with Cheap.ide, and if Cornhill, Leadenliall-street, Fen-
church-street, stud Graceehureh-strea could be enlarged, I
guess that the traffic would be considerably improved.—
Builder.

GLASGOW AND SOL:Tit-WESTERN kILWAY.--•
Traffic fur the week ending Oct. 2.1: 4,0151. Is. 61. Coe-
respording week iu list year, 3,3141. 61. 7d.