The Express.
London, England, 1853-09-23 00:00:00

DETERMINED SUICIDE BY ARSENIC.

Yesterday Mr. W. Payne held an inquest at the
Ward School-room, Black Raven-court, Tower-street, on
the body of William Curie, aged 45, who committed sui-
cide under the following circumstances. It appeared from
the evidence, that the deceased and his wife lived at No.
16, Mincing-lane, the latter taking care of chambers as
housekeeper. In consequence of some disagreement be-
tween the deceased and his wife, they had for the last two
years occupied separate apartments. On Tuesday night
the deceased came home at about nine o'clock, and taking
a glass of water with him, immediately went to bed, As
he was not heard stirring fur some time after his usual hour
—that was about six o'clock—at h 46-past eight o'clock his
wife and the servant girl went and opened his room door,
when they were horrified at finding him dead on the floor.
A surgeon was sent f rc, who immediately attended, but he
declared that life had been ezzir.ct for some time. It
seemed that the deceased was much addicted to drinking, and
had often remarked when he came home that that would
be the last time, but, as this observation was frequently re.
pealed, no notice was taken of it. Mr. Ilughes, a surgeon
of Leadenhall-street, on entering the teem. found the de-
ceased dead, and on the drawers a tumbler, in which were
the remains c f seme white liquid, and beside it a p►per
packet, containing about six ounces of white powder, the
greater portion of which consisted of arsenic. The liquid in
the glass was also strongly impregnated with arsenic. The
paper in which it was contained was marked with the word
0 Poison." This packet of arsenic must have been in his
possession for a considerable time, as it was perfectly white,
whereas under the new act regulatibg the sale of arsenic,
if it lad been recently purchased, it would have borne some
particular distinguishing colour. The jury returned a ver-
dict of " Temporary insanity."

GALE AT SEA.—Several of the vowels arrived at
Liverpool within the last few cleys report a violent gale
from the westward on the 10th and 11th inst. The Nicho-
las Biddle, which sailed from Liverpool on the 3rd inst. for
Savannah, put back to that port yesterday with loss of
main and amen topmasts, fore top-gallant mast, and main
yard. Sbe experienced the gale in lat. 52 N., kin. 19 W.
The Devooport, arrived at Liverpool from Apalachicola,
encountered the gale in lat. 51 N., lon. 22 W., which con-
tinued to 6 a.m. on the 12th, with a heavy rolling sea. TIN
British Empire, also arrived at Liverpool from Bombay, did
not experience the gale, being too far to the southward, bat
had a very heavy sea from N N.W. for several days before
making the land. The Admittance' from Liverpool for
Montreal and Quebec, has put into Londonderry, having
caught the gale in lon. 12, where the vessel became leaky,
and crew refused to proceed.
PLAYING CARDS.—Ia the New Stamp Act (16 and
17 Viet., c. 50) which will take s Sect in a few days, there
is a provision to prevent the evasion of duty on playing
cards. It has been customary to cut the corners off cards,
as described in the act, and to omit the ace of spades, on
which the duty was impressed, selling the same as waste.
It is deemed expedient to prevent such a practice, and it is
enacted that no playing curds, except such as shall be bona
fide spoiled and rendered unfit, shall be deemed to be
waste cards; and no playing cards, except waste cards,
shall be sold otherwise than in packs, each pack containing
52, including an ace of spades, duly stamped. For exposim:
for sale cards, other than described, a penalty of WI.
to be imposed, and 201. on a manufacturer selling suck
cards. The cards may be seized by any officer of the
Island Revenue.

THE ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC JUNCTION RAILWAY.
—Surveys for the great central railway route destined to
unite the Atlantic and Pacific are proceeding. The sus•
veyors have &ready reached the Great Colored., of the
west, to which point the passage is found to be a c'n'i-
n•ious valley, goad for railway and for settlement. The
peas at present selected is curiously ascertain. d to be the
primeval buffalo route across these wild regions, this rou:e
being adopted by the enterprising surveyors from a know•
ledge of the fact that if they follow it they will have a lice
direct "as the crow flies." the buffalo. it appears, 113%.ng
an instinct in finding his way by the nearest, most direct.
and richest route. The surveyors and engineers in this re•
markahle exp:oration experience, it would appear, in the
snowy Dud inhospitable regicns they have to traverse many
perilous and imposing adventures totally unknown to
European engineering.

•
ADVENITRES OF A LETTER.—So admirably are
mitten conducted now-a-days under the direction of the
authorities at St. Martin's-le-grand, that an Irish let'er
addressed to Weybridge, and basing to be forwarded sat,
sequently elsewhere to the party to whom it was addreo,d,
%,,s compelled to make the following entraordmory tete'
grination‘ :—Passing through London, it was sent from ttc
central office to Weybridge, from Weybridge it was sent to
Chertscy, from Chert-cy to Wu hridge, from Weyhodge
to
Chertsey, from Cbertsey to Weybridge, from bridge to
LAnlon, and from London to its ultimate destination.

..... ---
UNWHOLESOME FlSH.—Several persons were yes-
terday fined at the City Polite Court, for exposing un>ouad
fish for sale. Mr. Maude intimated to Mr. Noton, went-
tendent of the markets, that great vigiLnce should be wed.
not only iu the discovery of unsound food, particularly fi.b,
but also in getting it out of the way as promptly as pess!ble,
so es not to induce cholera. Mr. Noton assured him that
attention was riaid to the matter, as a proof of which Is
stated that in four days 25,100 lbs. of bad fish hid been
seised.—Manchester Erantaner.