Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-07-04 00:00:00

SUSPECTED POISONING CASE AT

BIRKENHEAD.

TO 'ME ZDECOR OF THE NORTHERN TIMES.

Siß,—Will you permit me, through the medium
of your valuable paper, to make a few remarks in
regard to the above suspicious case, and to express
my contempt for coroner's inquests, when conducted
in the-same manner as this.

The deceased Margaret Gardiner, is described
to have been a good.looking young woman, nineteen
years of age, belonging to Birmingham, who left
her house in good health, without the sanction of
her friends, on Saturday, the 14th ultimo, and
arrived in Birkenhead the same evening about six
o'clock ; she went to an eating house kept by a
person named Dear, where she bespoke two beds.
one for herself and the other for her brother
George, who, she said, was to meet her there
about seven o'clock. She complained of violent
headache, mid ordered a cup of strong tea,
but declined taking anything to eat. About eight
o'clock she became worse, and having ordered a
second cup of tea, she retired to bed, complaining
of serious illness, and repeatedly expressing much
anxiety and disappointment at not meeting with
her brother. Next morning she was still worse,
and expressed an ardent desire to see a doctor.
After a short interval she was visited by Dr.
Ricketts, and ordered to be removed to the
hospital, where she was attended by three or four
medical men, none of whom seem to have known
the nature of her complaint. Dr. Godden only
I saw her once alive, and that was on the day before
she died. He was the only witness examined at the
coroner's inquest, and he frankly acknowledged
that he did not know what was the matter with
his patient. She had a peculiar smile on her face,
and showed a decided disinclination to answer any
questions Her pupils were much dilated. She
complained of pains in the throat, in the urinary
organs, and lower part of the abdomen. She also
vomited a good deal, and did not take anything to eat.
The doctor prescribed a stimulant mixture, and next
morning when he called to see her, she was dead !
He was asked to give a certificate as to the cause
of death, but refused t‘i do so without an inquest
or post mortem examination being made. This the
parish officers would not allow until the Sunday
following, when a post mortem examination was
made by Dr. Godden, assisted by Dr. M'Dougall,
but by that time the body was so decomposed that
the examination was not satisfactory, and Dr.
Godden, on being examined by the coroner, declared
that he could not then account for the cause of
death.

About a week after the body had been interred.
the coroner received a letter from a Mr. Hogg, who
is said to be a respectable tradesman in Birming-
ham, stating that the deceased had been for some
time in his establishment, and that she had died
from the effects of cantharides, and requesting a
strict investigation to be made. The body was in
consequence of this exhuraed, and found to be
almost black through decomposition. An inquest was
held on Tuesday last, and adjourned for further
evidence (Dr. Godden being the only witness who
was then examined on oath.) The adjourned
inquest was held this morning, when, to the great
surprise of the jurors, not a single witness was
called upon to give evidence—and' the result, as a
matter of course, was an open verdict.
Is the matter to be allowed to rest here ? If so, what
further use is there for coroner's inquests ? Why
were not some of the medical men, and others who
attended the deceased, brought forward to give
evidence, more particularly as to the symptoms,
and assist the jury to find a more satisfactory vex.-
, diet? Many eminent medical men have written
treatises on the subject of poisons, and, amongst
others, Professor Christison, of the University of
Edinburgh, who is one of the highest authorities
in these matters. According to his account,
cantharides is familiarly known as a poison, even
among the common people, and is sometimes used
for the purpose of procuring abortion, on account of
its powerful effect on the organs of generation. In the
present instance, one of the medical men ascribed
death to English cholera : another to continued fever ;
and a third refuses to assign it to any diseaes.
Every sgmptom made known to the jury, and also
the morbid appearance of the body externally and in-
ternally were compatible with poisoning by cantharides;
snot 1 ness r,APn proocnt to givo ovirionno, might
not other facts have been disclosed, proving that
death could not have resulted from fever, simple
cholera, or any other natural disease
Birkenhead, 31 July, 1857

A JUROR

In re EDWARD WILLIAMS, CHESTER.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN TIMES.
Sir,—ln your last Saturday's edition, you state,
in your report of bankruptcy matter, that—" In re
Edward Williams.—The bankrupt was a plumber
and glazier, of Chester. Yesterday was fixed for
his last examination, but, as he did not surrender,
the usual proclamation of outlawry was made
against him."

Now. I beg to inform you that such was not the
case. There being no meeting called for that day,
it was not necessary for me to attend. The day
appointed for me to pass my last examination is
the 16th instant, when I shall not fail to appear at
the court, and hope to pass my examination.
Trusting you will publish this in your next Satur-
day's widely-circulated
.journal,—l remain, &c.,
Chester, 2nd July, 18:57. EDWARD WILLIAMS.

DEATH OF TWO CELEBRATED CRICKETERS.—We have to
record this week the death of Mr. George Brown, the once
famous Sussex cricketer, whose bowling wa3 the terror of
all batsmen. He was decidedly the fastest bowler England
ever produced, and it was absolutely dangerous to stand
before it. The other death which we have to relate is
that of C ildecoert, well known in the cricketing world,
especially at Lord's, where he introduced the catapalta.
Caldecourt was what may be termed a hardy cricketer. Of
late years he had been engaged pretty much in standing
umpire in great matches.—Brighton Gazette.
A STn.t.Nue LOVE TOKEN.—At Lambeth County Court,
on Thursday, an action was brought by an apothfcary, to
recover the sum of £5 from a charcoal burner at Hatched],
for perfumery supplied to his daughter, a girl of fifteen.
The plaintiff said that the defendant's daughter was in
the habit of going to his shop, and purchasing various
articles of perfumery, such as honey water, &c., and when
the amount reached £5 he sent in his claim, but payment
was refused. The defendant contended that the plaintiff
gave the perfumery to the young girl, to whom he was
paying his addresses ; and producing a chameleon, he
appealed to the plaintiff whether he bad not given it to the
young lady as a love token. The plaintiff admitted he had
teiven it to her, but he denied the gift of the perfumery.
The judge nonsuited him.

THE CUBAN SLAVE TRADE AND GENERAL CONCHA.—
General Concha has been recalled to Spain. The cause
of this sudden change of fortune against him is that the
English Ambassador at Madrid has demanded his recall
for openly conniving at the slave trade, and accompanied
the accusation with such powerful evidence that Narvaez
has had no other choice than to consent to the necessity.
This fact has affected Concha deeply, as he has always
been ambitions to merit the good reputation ascribed to
him by the English press. He has no one to blame but
himself, for 50,000 dollars per annum ought to place a man
beyond the influence of gold. That he has participated in
the bribes lavishly expended by the slave dealers, no one
here pretends to deny, and he has been so negligent in this
respect, that even his friends have been obligati to confess
that the slave trade has been more active since the year
1856 than was ever known before. At least twenty ex-
peditions have been fitted out at this part to my own
knowledge, and there is no way of finding out the exact
number of cargoes successfully landed. The English
government also complained of the abuse committed by
the under-officers of this island, in granting " cedulas" to
men whose sole occupation was the slave trade, and who
were supplied with the facilities for carrying it on, ap-
parently with the sanction of the laws. When he was
recalled before, he had a bosom friend who wro'e the book
published under his name in defence of the severe' acts of
his administration, but that bosom friend was garotted for
his attachment. We will see who he procures to save his
reputation now.—. New York Times.

Casa AND Dean BOXES.—The next important thing to the posses-
sion of cash is, how (when you have got it) to keep it safely, either in
the counting-house or at home. The same remarks apply to deeds
and other valuable documents. We have seen a large and varied
stock of both these desirable articles, manufactured expressly for Mr.
E. T. Hall, of South John.strset, that challenge attention. The.e
boxes are made on new and admired principles* and possess patent
]Dees, which defy the ingennityof any "pick-lock" in the world to
open, except with the legitimate key. To merchants, solicitors, and
others, these new safes, one small scat*, oust prove valuable ndeed
—Nolliors Daily ltiasa, 214 May, lest

ELECTION COMMITTEES-YISTIRDAY.

By British and Irish, Magnetic Telegraph.

BURY.

The committee sat for the first time this morning. The
petition is in opposition to Mr. Phillips, the sitting member,
who defeated Mr. P,el. Mr. Edwin James, Q.C., opened
the case, alleging serious acts of bribery and treating by
the agents of Mr. Phillips, and witnesses were called in
proof, whose examinations occupied the attention of the
committee during the day.

MAYO.
Examination of Archbishop Mac Hale con tinned. The
committee re-assembled at the usual hour this morning—
Mr. Scholfield in the chair. The rush of strangers was
greater even than yesterday. The Archbishop arrived
some time before the opening of the committee. He was
I attended by Mr. Swift, the late member for Sligo. A great
number of ruffs were present. Archbishop Mac Hale was
re-called, and examined by Mr. M. Smith, in reference
to a pastoral letter issued by him last Easter.
With permission of the committee the very rev. gentleman
read the letter. It urged the priesthood at the coming
elections to advise their flocks to support none but those
who had been faithful to past pledges. It concluded by
exhorting the priesthood to inculcate forbearance during
the coming contest by Colonel North. This letter was
published in the Freeman's Journal. It has not come to
my knowledge that any of the priesthood did not act up
to the advice. Mr. O'Malley : The hon. and gallant
member will find that they acted up to it very fully. By
Mr. M Smith : I never disguised that I was opposed
to Colonel Higgins, considering that he had broken his
pledges. I never countenanced intimidation during the
last election; on the contrary, my pastoral shows that I
did all I could to prevent it, and I have no hesitation in
saying, that if any of the charges in this petition could be
be made out against any priest in my diocese, I should
visit him with the severest reprehension. But I know
sufficient of my priesthood to be convinced that they are
incapable of the conduct imputed to them. I have no
hesitation in repeating the opinion I expre'sed yesterday,
that the meeting of the clergy of Team held before the last
election had nothing to do with the resolutions said to
have been placarded over Mayo shortly afterwards. We
are so particular about denunciations, that I am sure we
could not have passed a resolution recommending the
clergy to denounce all who opposed Moore and Palmer.
Sir John Harnmar : Dees your Grace believe that
your pastoral reached the clergy for the election? Wit-
ness : I do. It was specially sent them. Cross-examina-
tion continued : I did not name Colonel Higgins in my
pastoral, but of course my allusion was to him. Why
not ? I believe Colonel Higgins broke his pledges,
or rather, I believe, he wrote the conditions upon
which he was returned. I know that a large num-
ber of Catholics supported him, but if there bad
been no coercion on the part of the landlords and the
gentry, I am satisfied there was not a man who would not
have voted against him. If they would abstain from
violating the law of their country and their religion in
that way there would be no necessity for the interference
of the clergy, but while such influences are used, it is the
duty of the priesthood to protect the conscience of the
voter, and let all the landlords and their agents abstain from
interfering at elections, and there would be an end of the
necessity for priestly influence. The priesthood are often
compelled to attend at the hustings to protect the voters.
Sir John Hammer : Does your Grace mean to say
that the elector, in the exercise of the civil right,
like the franchise, ought to follow the advice of
his priest. Witness : No, I don't wish to be understood
as saying that the consciences of men in civil matters
ought to be in sacredotal keeping; hut if in doubt, an
elector cannot do better than c omit his spiritual adviser.
Mr. O'Malley : Do you think an Irish Roman Catholic
neasant ought to be guided in his vote by the priest.
Witness: My principle is that Roman Catholics, like
Protestants, or any other religionists, ought to follow the
dictates of their own consciences, except when in doubt,
and then a clergyman would be his bast adviser. Colonel
North : Don't you think he would do better to apply to
his landlord in case of doubt, Witness :No ; he could not
consult a worse casuist in case of doubt than a landlord.
(Laughter.) Mr. Faller : Dr. Mac Hale, you have stated that at
former elections you directed your clergy to abstain from every_
thing that could deserve the name of coercion. Witness :
I always discountenance coercion. I did so at the last
election, Mr. Fuller : But it is said repeated complaints
of coercion have been made. Did you ever have occasion to
threaten, correct, or admonish any of your clergy for such
tiaconduct at elections ? Witness : No, not that I am
aware of. The coercion complained of has generally been
that of the landlord or his agent. The Roman Catholic
tenantry of Ir-land are too of en called upon to exercise
the franchise under the influence of fear; they have no
leases or tenant rights secured by law ; and being first
at the mercy of their landlords, they are coerced, as it
were, to do what he likes—not as their conscience dictates.
„, _ i•-•"tas, Yves Uvua
to oak the archbishop; and that with this evidence
vvs the ease for the petitioners. The committee then
adjourned.