The Express.
London, England, 1868-07-04 00:00:00

REMARKABLE TRIAL FOR POISONING.

Our Herlin correspondent, writing on the Ist inst.
says :—One of those ratan eilifres has just been tried at
Posen which would almost justify the belief that men are
occasionally born into the world as entirely destitute of
all principle of conscience as others are of sight or hem-
ing. The trial itself presented no particular points of inte-
rest beyond that of clearly establishing the guilt of the
prisoner, whose crimes almost eclipse those of the noto-
rious Palmer of detestable memory. The facts are shortly
as follows. The master bookbinder Wittmann was
accused of having poisoned six persons in six years,
namely, his four wives and two children. Wittmann bad
worked as journeyman for a bookbinder named Pirech,
of Wollin, where ho made the acquaintance of Mario
Gehm, Pirsch's housekeeper. Wittmanu was on a visit at
Wollin at the end of 1858 and beginning of 1839, on
January 1 of which year Pinch died very suddenly, and
Marie Oehm, according to a previous arrangement,
came into the possession of all his property. Soon
after this Wittmann commenced business in
Wollin, and in February, 1860, married Marie
Gehm, who in addition to Pinch's property had
also inherited some money through the sudden death
of an aunt. Two sons, John and Paul, were the re-
sult of this marriage. Mrs. Wittmann died very suddenly
in 1862, leaving all her property to her husband and two
children, of whom the eldest died in the same mysterious
manner three months later. In June, 1863, Wittniann
married his second wife, Charlotte Hohn, who possessed
some fortune. The latter made her will in the following
December, leaving everything to her husband, and died a
week afterwards. In April, 1864, Wittmann married his
third wife, Augusta Kornotzky, who was richer
than her predecessor. Her fate may be described
in almost the same words. She died in August,
1865, leaving her property between her husband
and her mother. Only two months after her death Witt-
mann married his fourth and by far the richest wife, the
widow Boee, who had one child by her first marriage. This
child sickened immediately after its mother's wedding,
and died in a day or two, by which the fourth Mrs. Witt-
mann inherited its property. Wittman then removed
from Wollin to Posen. It is hardly necessary to add that
the fourth Mrs. Wittmann's life was not of very long
aunties, as she died in September, 1866, having made a
will in favour of her drand fr Month or two beform,
Under the pretext that she bad died of cholera Wittinann
had made arrangements for burying her the day after her
death. But the extraordinary mortality in the Wittmann
family had already excited attention. The police here took
the matter up, and their first suspicions were strengthened
when they found that Wittman had called in no medical
advice. Wittmann was arrested just as the funeral proces-
sion was about to start, and the burial of the body was
prohibited. On searching the house, a large lump of arsenic,
sufficient to poison a hundred persona, was found locked
up in a chest. All the bodies of Wittmann's former
wives, as also those of his two children, were
then exhumed, awl submitted to a chemical in-
vestigation. The result was the same in all six
cases ; a large quantity of arsenic was detected, and
there could not be the shadow of a doubt that Witt-
mann had poisoned his four wives and two children. He
has been found guilty and sentenced to death. If we
consider that the motive for those crimes was no higher
passion than avarice, and then remember the relation in
which be stood to his victims, and the deliberate perfidy
with which he entered upon those relations, I doubt if the
whole record of crime can show a blacker case. Indeed,
it is not improbable that he committed eight murders, as
the very sudden death of Pirech during Wittinaun's visit,
and also of his first wife's aunt, are extremely suspi-
cious coincidences under the above circumstances.

Ferdinand Freiligrath, one of the most honoured
of German poets, reached Cologne on Saturday last, after
au exile of 18 pairs. A large number of his friends and
admirers had asscniblod at the binding-place to receive
him, and a magnificent banquet was given in his honour
the same evening. Alter the dinner the poet was pre-
sented with a splendid silver goblet.
WHITEHALL, JULY 2.- The Queen his been
pleased to direct letters patent to be passed under the
griat seal granting the dignity of a viscount of the
United Kingdom of Great Britain rind Ireland unto Alex-
ander Nelson Baron Bridport, in that part of the said
united Kingdom called Ireland, major-general in her
Majesty's army, and the heirs male of his body lawfully
begotten, by the name, style, and title of Viscount Beni-
port, of Cricket Saint Thomas, iu the county of Somerset,
and of Brouti, in the Kingdom of Italy.-fraelte.
WINDSOR CASTLE. JULY 2.—This day had
audience of her Majesty :--The Chevalier de Almeida
Areas. Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
from the Emperor of Brasil, to deliver his eredentials ;
to which he was iutredueed by the Right Ron. Lord
Stanley, Ler Majesty's Principal Secretary of State fur
Foreign Affairs.- Gazettr.
AERONAUTICAL SOCIETY.—Last night the pro-
fessors and amateurs of this society held their concludintrex-
hibition meeting at the rooms of the Society of Arta, Mr. Le
Feuyre occupying the chair. A number of popers were
read and discussed ; and the unsatisfactory results of the
Ci yodel Palace experiments do not appear to have in the
least disheartened the members, most of whom have
devoted years of study to the subject. "We imitate the
fishes of the sea, why not the fowls of the air l" is she
question they are now seeking to answer ; and Mr. String-
fellow, who purposes to test his model next week, warmly
contended that a man will ultimately be taught to fly as
easily us he Qui now learn to swim. The hold flights of
these aspiring savants, though calculated occasionally to
provoke an incredulous smile were, &V at the former seances,
all sueisaidul on raper. Mr. Spencer gave an account of
a trial of his machine which took place Tedonlay morning
at the Crystal Palace as tarty as six o clock, but the ex-
periment was made under adverse circumstances, and did
led stirs: mil. Mr. Stringfellow created some amusement by
tatiug that they had locked hint up in a room at the tkystal
False' and so prevented him from throwing off his ap-
mu Anus for navigating the air.
METROPOLITAN IMPROVEMENTS.—The sum bor-
rowed by the Metropelihin Briiiril of Works since its
formation amounts to 8,073,0001. Of this sum 400,0001.
has been required for the Covent-garden approach and
tiouthwaik and Westminster communication; 4,200,0001.
for main drainage ; and 2,480,(101U. for the Thames Em-
bankment. The sum already paid off is 1,120,6331. tie. Si
DYSPEPSIA, CoNNUIIPTION, &c., CURLED BY DU
BA RR V'SRRY s Le PTA AWA BICA Fool. to the etHarnh. nerve, ISSISS•
amet liver of Yid *awl yomay. oaring lsiflloot medicine c'r .6.•
dyepep.da Indiscretion 1, ousoltipattou, dIIUTIALIII. Ylidlty. headache,
neuif ul,. lsteris. sishiltsmen. mlorplesensem, debility, Irmtmg
rough, methyl*, Severe, eomenrnption, low volt* Sixty tbousaod
coxes which had revisit d all iundlclues. including That of lib 11011.
n. 14 the Pepe. It mare* *Sty limey is end In other remedies-
TY... In, se. ed.;. Mb* ‘.: 241 be., ten; or SLpew in eI.AL* Ihm
Revelenta Chotedate Powder, wore Yrenerthenssur tnan onormwe
wawa bed.-Du Bany and Cm.. TS.,. RoffootoOwarsot. Inakal
oleo lorbauat and Meow amulet in ttrauesourali Asset; &CONY
OM; a Nod 130, 0-21 tames.)

[STAMPED Id. ADDITIONAL.]

THE QUEEN AT ALDERSHOT.

The Queen, accompanied by several members of
her family, visited the camp at Aldershot yester-
day, for the third time this year, and reviewed the
troops. Her Majesty left Windsor Castle in the
afternoon, and proceeded by special South-Eastern
train from the Great Western terminus of the

royal borough. Travelling over the narrow gauge
line vii Reading, the train reached the North
Camp Station about half-past four o'clock. The
announcement of the review in the papers, and the
promise held out in some quarters that the Duke
of Edinburgh and Sir Robert Napier would be of
the party, caused an unusual number of visitors
to travel from London to the camp. During
the whole of the morning the trains from
Waterloo to Farnborough were thronged and the
horse-boxes and carriage tracks that arrived were
enough to perplexany kissable station-master than
Mr. Adkins. Some of the horses from the royal
stables had been sent down on the previous day,
and were stabled at the quarters connected with
the railway station ; but the " carriage folks"
who came yesterday to see the spectacle brought
their own vehicular property with them. It was
well they did so, for the whole country round had
been drained of its horses and carriages by
engagements entered into the moment the review
was fixed, and the hapless individual who was
deposited at Farnborough without having made
such a provision had to pay heavily for being
transported over the eight miles between it and
the reviewing ground. This was on the table-
land known as Caesar's Camp, whence a magnifi-
cent view is to be obtained of three, if not
four counties, and where the hardships
of military movements, to some extent
at any rate, are sure to be tasted by the
troops who are manoeuvred upon the slopes that
sink into the valley beneath, where large reviews
are usually held. The paths by which this emi-
nence is approached were well lined with specta-
tors, dusty, panting, and hot, and the heath along
which the troops were to march was occupied
by a long and deep line of carriages. For an
hour or two previous to the arrival of the
Queen the road from the camp presented a
very picturesque appearance as the horse and
foot soldiers followed its bends and ascents.

They could be seen for miles distant slowly
progressing amidst clouds of Aldershot dust
—a term that cannot be understood by those
who have never felt it, but which will be grimly
appreciated by those who have. The Queen had
to traverse a portion of this highway in coming
from the north to the south camp, and the
royal carriages and their inmates were not exempt
from the universal whitening of dust which
was experienced by everybody else. The stragglers
along the road, the spectators who were lying
under the hedges, amidst the furze, and upon the
heath, with purple bloom for their pillows, were
roused into activity by the appearance of the
Queen and the Princesses, and the customary
cordial reception greeted them then, and during
the remainder of their eta y. The same remark
will apply to the Duke of Cambridge, the Prince
of Wales, the Prince Teck, Prince Louis of Hesse,
and Prince Christian, the firstthroo of whom came by
express train from Waterloo. They mounted as usual
outside the station, were met by Lieut.-General
Sir J. Yorke Scarlett and his staff, and rode off at
once to the scene of action. There the troops were
drawn up ready to receive them, the artillery to
the right, the infantry to the left, the cavalry in
the rear ranks. About 5 o'clock the royal salute
was fired from the distant camp limits, and the
dragoon escort soon afterwards appeared, heralding
the three carriages containing the royal party.
The first was occupied by the Queen, Princess
Helena, and Princess Alice, the second by Princess
Louise and Princess Leiningen, and the third by
the ladies-in-waiting. The Duke of Edinburgh
thejiero of the Abyssinian war were not pre-
' faint, much to the disappointment of those who
had, without sufficient reason, built upon their
coming.
The Queen, who, as on other recent public ap-
pearances, delighted the spectators by her evident
good health and spirits, at once drove in front
and rear of the troops, and returning, took up
position for the march past. The band of the
Life Guards was stationed opposite, and a
troop of the same regiment was the guard of
honour. The marching past was commenced by
the Horse Artillery with their Armstrong's,
followed by the Ist Life Guards (who have
only just arrived in camp from Windsor),
the sth Dragoon Guards (Princess Charlotte of
Wales'), the Ist King's Dragoon Guards, and the
Prince of Wales's Own Royal 10th Hussars, with
his royal highness at their head. A few batteries
of the Royal Artillery brought up the rear. The
infantry then marched by in four brigades. A
couple of companies of Engineers time first,
followed by the Grenadier Guards, marching, as
did those who came after, in grand columns of
companies. The Bth, 57th, 54th, 6th, 40th, 20th,
80th, 34th, 51st, and 98th pawed by ; then the
pontoon train, then the military train, and then
the ambulance corps. It is unnecessary to say that
the marching was superb, that the horses and guns,
the officers and men, were such as people might with
justifiable pride refer to as " ours." The some
was imposing, as only military displays in which all
branches of the service are blended can be, and
was enjoyed in the glorious summer day by some
thousands of persons. The bayonets sparkled,
the helmets and cuirasses shone dazzlingly, the
flags, although torn and tattered, couldnotbut look
bright under so golden a sunshine, and the ever-
changing colours that went by the saluting flag
had a groundwork of blossoming heath, and a
background of faint blue haze simmering between
them and the hills. After the march past,
the Queen and her companions moved to the edge
of the plateau, followed by a motley gathering
of ladies and guitlemen on horseback, well-to-do
country folks, and wretched t women and
children. The carriage hal at a spot where the
valley, the camp, and a reach of many miles of
beautiful country scenery were laid out like a
panormuie view below. A few movements were
gone through, but they were hardly worthy of
being considered a sham fight, as none of the
infantry was engaged. The cavalry were thrown
out, and the horse artillery were pushed forward
towards the Long Valley. The guns fired a few
rounds, and the cavalry wheeling to the left
charged up the valley in splendid style. The troops
that remarried then returned to camp, some of the
heavier regiments having left as soon as the march
past was over. The Queen and the Princesses
went to the pavilion, sad after resting for about
half an hour drove to Windsor by the usual route.
Both in the camp, along the road, and in the
villages through which they passed, crowds of
ais wore waiting to welcome them.

CRYSTAL PALACE.—In oonnegnenee of the visit
of the royal family this day the doors of the Palace will
not be opened until 12 o clock. The fret part of the
concert will begin at four precisely, and the second at •
quarter to six. The great fountains will be played at
bait pest seven, and the trend dispta_y of fireworks, which
_
will include a representation of the Duke of Edinburgh's
ship. the Galatea, will take place et about a qiuirter to tem.
Tiil LADY ELIZABETH dIiCANDAL.--Wilf are in a
pieition to state, notwithstanding reports to the contrary,
that John Day has not withdrawn from his action against
Admiral Rout.. Massie. Valiance and Valiance have, we
understand, this week delivered the "doularation" to the
adiunal's rolicitork and the affair is progressing. The
deinugee are laid at 5,000 i. —Nportirig Pre.
DR. DE JONOIeB LIGHT-BROWN Con LIVER Ott..
—Nee vital. dispensary, and private practice, all furnish intionue
'able cram in which Dr. de Jonelee Dif hew been sehninietered with
eh.: lumpiest revolts in COMIMISI ption sad all Diseases of she Mesa
Kn ten.ttly w. rapidly pentane the exhauated strength, liapnis ea
the outritive tunetime. 'dope or diminishes emacdattoe. iambi the
prrepivatien, quiets the cough and rapeetoretion. or 'rodeos* a
were worked and famearable influence as the keel meW7. s
Said
u nly cep paled Imperial Haltpieta, b. ed. Plate, fa: 144
d
sn eholaida Bole Oorps• Amor, partora, addTi,
Itirand, Lartdea.—f,Attrartletwatl

ONE PENNY.

MR. SPURGEON AND THE BISHOP 0'

OXFORD.

TO THIP =TOIL OT TKO 111111,385.
Eta,—l have asserted frequently the superiority
of the voluntary principle to that of state support in the
matter of religion, and I have also at other times lamented
the poverty of many ministers whose stipends are sub-
scribed upon the system which I prefer. The two thing
appear to me to be quite consistent ; but several of the
newspapers judge otherwise, and one or two of them have
printed my two statements in parallel columns, as if they
contained a self-evident contradiction. The Bishop of
Oxford was evidently much amused with the now well-
worn paragraph, and being in a facetious vein, felt moved
to read quotations from my two letters for the delec-
tation of the peers of the realm. lam happy to
have afforded some little mirth to the grave and
reverend bishop, and would willingly share in it,
but lam quite unable to see the point of the joke. Per-
haps a parallel case may render my obtuseness less remark-
able. If the Bishop of Oxford, after having in such a
becoming manner, with such solid reasoning, defended the
union of church and state, should nevertheless be found at
some future day pleading for starving curates, or even
preaching for the excellent society which relieves dis-
tressed clerks in holy orders with pecuniary grants and
bundles of cast-off clothing, or if we should hear him de-
ploring that a clergyman should, according to advertise-
ment in the Rork, be subsisting upon buttermilk and pota-
toes, would his lordship be charged with inconsistency, an
would it be commendable for some hamourous member of
the venerable bench in tones of mimicry to make him the
subject of public ridicule? The aim is precisely parallel
to mine, but if there were any fun in it it would surely
lie in the folly of the person who should imagine the non-
existent inconsistency.

The poverty of some dissenting ministers is ouly an
argument against the voluntary principle so far as the
extreme distress of a considerable number of the Anglican
clergy is an argument against state support. The pain-
ful evil of clerical poverty exists under both forms of
maintenance, and it ought not to be made the ground of
mutual attack or recrimination, but should be deep ly
deplored and manfully grappled with. From reasons nott
essential to either system, a great evil arises; a ceslot,i
emulation as to which shall soonest rid itself of the mil-
chief would be most honourable, but to twit each other
with our sorrows is as unwise as it is ungenerous. Every

man who speaks freely what he believes, and follows
truth with a confident unreserve, will be open to tho
charge of inconsistency, and yet there will be only aa
apparent ground for the accusation. Such I am sure is
the fact in thin case. If I advocate the voluntary system,
must I shut my eyes to its failures, or be impeached for
folly P Must I defend its working as absolute perfec-
tion, or else be grossly unreasonable in preferring it ? If
I point out its shortcomings in order to amend them, am I
self-ooavieted of inconsistency P It may seem so to the
Bishop of Oxford, but I claim the right to differ from him
I without being ridiculous. One illustration, and I will
not further occupy your !mace. Suppose that two farms
in Ireland are put in comparison. I declare my prefe-
rence for No. 2, and yet regret that it is much depre-
ciated in value by a piece of incorrigible bog.
A gentleman, who vehemently advocates the supe-
riority of farm No. 1, hearing my two statements, re-
solves to make me his laughing-stock at the next
agricultural dinner, and being in the full swing of his
oratory exclaims—" This Mr. Spurgeon, to whom some
people look up so much, has spoken in a certain letter most
glowingly of the farm which be is weak enough to admire,
and yet I will read to you from • document in which ho
admits that there is a horrible and irreclaimable bog upon
it. Ladies and gentleman, the absurdity is manifest even
to the blind; but what • prospect is before you if his
judgment is followed. What say you to universal quati
mires? How would you feel if your homesteads aul
estates were all turned into quiveringmorssaea, and if the
fine property of his lordship in the chair should be tran
formed into a vast slough of despond r' In some uncivil-
ised rural nook there may be a benighted population suf-
ficiently moonstruck to admire the logic and applaud the
humour of such observations; but even with so congenial
ea audience the acclamations would soon be silenced what
the conveniently forgetful orator was reminded that his
own favourite farm, about which he could not utter suf-
ficient laudation, was afflicted with a bog equally bottorulen
with that which he so much decried.
It is probable that our imaginary orator would scarcely
have sense enough to wish that he had not spoken ; in
this only does his case differ from that of Mr. Samuel Wil-
hcrforce.—l am, fie., C. IL SPUBIIEON.
Clapham, July 3

CONVOCATION.--Both houses met yesterday. In
the Lower House committees were appointed to promote
the authorisation of the use of a harvest service, and to .
consider the marriage law in reference to the remarriage
of divorced persons. Archdeacon Denison presented a
gravamen, signed by 28 members of the house, complain-
ing of the bill before parliament for abolishing cliur
rates, and urging the bishops to resist it. The debate on
the address rent: down from the upper house, praying
her Majesty net to assent to the disestablishment of the
Irish church, was resumed by Canon Selwyn, who moved
to add to it, that the lower house strongly feels the
peculiar di/Rennie of the Irish church, and would gladly
witness the adoption of well-oonaidered measures for the
solution of those difficulties. This was seconded by Canon
Woodgate, but was opposed by Archdeacon Denson be-
cause of its vagueness: 'fhe Dean of Ely, while proteetiu3
against the &establishment and disendowneut of the
Irish church, was favourable to such reforms in it
as would make it more suitable to the circum-
stances of the country. He supported the addition,
if only to remove an impression which Mel
else obtain out of doors, that convocation would resist any
change. After a discussion the amendment was sigma
to. The Dean of Westminster moved, that in the opinion.
of the house and many eminent statesmen the Rm.=
catholic religion ought to be endowed and recognised as In
other European countries; but after giving his reaame
in support he withdrew it. An address to the Queen V)
authorise a reform in the constitution of the lower house
by increasing the number of elected members to 104, and
giving the right to vote for them to all beneficed clergy-
men and licensed curates of non-resident incumbents, w.. 4
adopted, but with an alteration extending the right of
voting to all licensed priests, which was carried by gl to
13. Canon Seymour submitted a resolution, thanking the
upper house for communicating the report of the committee
as adopted by the upper house on the Natal que.eion,
together with their lordships' judgment, that the church
as a spiritual body might rightly accept the validity of
sentence peened on Dr. Coleus), and declaring the concur-
rence in their lordships' judgment. The Rev. J. Brant-
stone seconded it. The Dean of Westminster held that
as the church of England only existed as a spiritual body,
in counexiou with its legal status and organization, they
were not in a position to declare that the Bishop of Nat-I
bad been rightly deposed while such strong doubts exist. .1
as to the legality of the deposition. The opinions of the
bishops were vague and indefinite, except the Bishop of
London, who considered the deposition illegal, and gave
reasons for his opinion. Canon B moved
an amendment that they should accept the
bishop!' communication with thanks, but express
no opinion upon it. This the dean seconded, but
after a discussion it was put and lost, the original
motion being carried. The Bev. J. W. Joyce movel
that the house do not agree in the arguments of the Bishop
of London, in dissenting from the conclusion of the other
bishops ; but at the suggestion of several members, this
was not passed. It however elicited from Canon Blakes-
ley, Archdeacon Harvey, Archdeacon Kaye, and some
others,
.an expression of sympahy in the Bishop of Lon-
don's views. Ultimately the thanks of the home were
voted to the upper house for sending down his lord-
ship's protest and reasons. The remainder of the busi-
ness was mmly formal, and at sin o'clock the house ad-
journed to this day.
MEDICAL EDUCATION.--At the meeting of the
General Medical Council yesterday the following resolu-
tion on the preliminary education of medical students was
adopted by 13 to 4 votes :—" That it be recommended to
the lloeesmg boards not to accept a certificate of profi-
ciency in preliminary education unless such certificate
testifies that the student to whom it has been granted he
been examined in (1) English language, including gram-
mar and oompoathon ; (2) arithmetic, including vulgar
and decimal fractions and algebra; (3) geometry, am-
ercing first two books of Euclid ; (4) Latin, including
translation and grammar; and in one of the following
optional subjects-Greek, French, German, natural philo-
sophy, including mechanics, hydrostatics, and pneu-
matics."

During the past quarter of & century Horniman's
aa have had an amsa sale, and thot aye tat IncPalliha aheshae
in conavasience of the itadneed Dot,. Hold, seourad Did.never loose, by IN coalaakaars la larks. mad UN asadam ha
the soantry.—Ravatisssat