The Express.
London, England, 1848-06-12 00:00:00

NORTHAMPTONFHIRE.

TWENTY-ONE PERSONS POISONED AT A PUBLIC
DlNNER.—Northampton has been the scene of a v. ry serious
case of poisoning. On Wednesday an ordination service
took pace at the King.ntreet Chapel, when the Rev. G.
Nicholson, 8.A., was introduced as the minister of that
edifice, in the room of the Rev. T. Milner. Among-4 this
company were the Rev, A. Morris, of Holloway ; Rev. T.
Priest; Rev. Mr. Lloyd, of Newport, Isle of Wight; Rev.
J. 11. Goodwin, resident tutor of Highbury College. At the
conclusion of the senice, a public dinner was given to the
reverend gentlemen and their friends at the New Hall in
New Land.street, at which nearly 60 persons sat down, Mr.
Franklin, of Northampton, providing the entertainment. It
consisted of roast beef, veal and ham, lamb, mock turtle and
gravy soup, salmon and soles, peas, young. potatoes, gout,-
berry and plum puddings, custards, tart., jellies Lail Alarm
mange, salad, cbsez and but:cr. Diore the c nt'i was re.
moved several guests complained of illness, and were com-
pelled to retire. In the course of the evening others were
similarly attacked. Among these were Mr. W. Courfeilii, a
well-known accountant or Northampton, Mr. Alderman
Porter, Mr. G. Macqnire, Mr. J. Broom, :kir. J. Betts, and
Mr. G. Betts. Their symptoms were of the most alarming
nature—violent vomiting and excruciating pains in the
stomach and head. Most of them were conveyed home, and
medical aid was called in. The brat named gentleman
lingered till .5 o'clock the following (Thursday) morning,
when de ..th terminated his sufferi gr. Th., megistrate, on
being apprised of the death, despeched officers to Mr.
Franklin's premises, when all the cooking vessels and the
remnants of the dinner w. re seized. At 2 o'clock in the after-
noon the inquest on the deceased gentlemen, .'s r. William
Courfeild, took place, when the following evidence was given
—Ann Courfeild. the widow, deposed that deceased left
home about half-p at len in the morning. He appeared
then quite well. He returned home in an omnibus about
twenty minutes past six. George Sheppard was with him.
Deceased was very sick directly he came home. He had a
little tea and a little brandy gruel after he was in bed. He
had some more tea about one in the morning, and the sick-
I nest left him. About five o'clock she came doter. to make
him some more tea, and he said he should like a 'attic toast.
Was gone about twenty minutia, and when she returned ha
was dead. He did not complain of any pain. When ha
returned home he said the sickness was caused by some
jelly that he had eaten at the dinner. He was perfectly
sensible to the last.—Mr. John Faircloth, surgeon, stated
that having seen the deceased since his death, and having
beard the evidence of the widow, be was unable, without a
post naortem examination, to form as opinion u to the cause
of death. The coroner then ordered a post ',torten exami-
nation to be made. In the meantime the following evidence
was taken :—Mr. Betts dined at the New Hall with the
deceased. Sat opposite the deceased. Saw that he ate freely
of blanc-mange. The jelly was white, covered with green
colouring, apparently from three-eighths to a half inch in
thickness. (The colouring was, it is said, produced by
emerald green.) Witness also partook of blancmange and
soup, and small portions of meat and fish. The prevailing
flavour in the blancmange was the almond. Witness felt
unwell when he left the New-hall, about six o'clock, and had
been very ill all night, with a burning sensation in the throat.
Had not been sick. Witness did not eat any of the green
covering. Believed deceased did eat some of it. Did not
taste anything peculiar in the other dishes. Witness's son,
who dined there, had been, and was at that time, very sick.
Mr. J. Groom, Ald. Porter, and Mr. G. Macgture were
also sick. They had all partaken of the blue-
mange. The deceased partook twice of the soup, as
also did Mr. Josh. Cooper, who had not been attacked. Did
not know whether Mr. Cooper had any blancmange. The
blancmange was not all eaten. [The remainder was pro-
duced and examined by the jury. There were very slsght
appearances of the green covering, though Mr. Betts rated
that the covering was left in proportion to the jelly.] By the
jury : The fish and meat were good. Mr. Maequire ate
lamb instead of veal ; he also partook of blancmange and
was Ill.—Solomon Sumpter occasionally assists Mr. Franklin
as a waiter. Assisted in waiting at the dinner at the
New Hall. Randall, Mr. Franklin's man, made the
blanc mange. Mr. Franklin. he believed, made the soup.
Witness removed the blanc-mange Irma the table, after
dinner. There was some green covering upon it, 01 which
he ate a considerable pieces and never was better in his lib