The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-01-11 00:00:00

I,EICESTKR BOBouGH sEssioNs.

The Quarter Sessions for itls7".iirougli commenced on Thum-
day, before CHARLES Cott: MAN, Esq. slrryor ; EDW•RDUOUL-
uusar, Esq. Reeonler; and the Mapstrates.
l'a JAN. 7.
POISONING IN JOKE.
Thomas Archer was put to the b.,r, charged with alminia..
tering a certain poison, called tarter emetic, to Thomas Mordy,
'and nine other persons, ails a view to do them sonic bodily
'harm.

In support of the indictment, Mr. Maear to:r produced se-
veral of the witnesses who had partaken of the drug in question.,
as well as Mr. Bantam, from whom it was purchased, &c.
Thomas Mutely deposed, that he knew the prisoner at the bat,
anti remembered his coining to iti• radices shop on the afternoon
of the Illst October last, where lie had worked several weeks before.
The men having got some small neer, one of them asked him to
bare some, but bethre lie had time to reply, another person re-
marked, that they might as well have the gallon of ale in, which
was due to the shop from Archer, tin which he expressed himself,
strecable, and shortly after left the shop, and returned with a gal.
100 for that purpose, which he distributed to all present, es well RA
halt.-1-pint to Jane Newcomb, who wort ed in an adjoining MOM.
Archer then wished sham a g.iod night, sayino he should come to
wait at five next morning. A short time alter the men beeamet
sick, and were vomiting violently in the yard, at which he (wit..
ness) laughed ; but soon became similarly affected himself. Me.
dital assistance was then called in, and antidotes bang givcn them.
they were declared out of danger the next morning ; but were
pable of working for three or four days after. .
PI
The witness being cross-examined at great length by Mr. Pm-
EINGTON, admitted some differ -owes had existed between the pet.,
soner and some of the mien in his father's shop. about some mo-
sey matters, and denied basing heard the prisoner say, if they
would pay the Sl. which was clue at a public-house for ale, and for
which he had pledged himself, he (the prisoner) would subscribe
half-a-guinea for that purpose.
Several other witnesses having been examined as to the effect",
produced by the poison, Jane Newcomb among the number.,
who was unable to attend to her family for two or three week*
after.
Mr. MacautArr next called Mrs. Stretton, wife of Stretton,
landlord of the Old Bowling-green public-house, Oxford street.
who deposed to Archer fetching a gallon of ale on the day in.
question.
Mr. Dickens, Mr. Darris's assistant, was next examined, and
described the situation in which he found the parties, his mode
of treatment, lec.
Mr. Harris also testilini to the same facts, and underwent a long
cross-examination by Mr. l'irxzwott east, as to the cflert whith.
tartar emetic produced when taken into the stomach ; endeavour.
ninfn et roe rs°iitt nut wet
wanCeu gietihat,tenwinp.ersredouswith other poisonous
Mr. Charles Bertram, chemist and druggist, deposed to the pri..
criwiwzto hin steno tap thc day in question, and trsechintinly,
an ounce of tartar emete, when tie bait cannoned min or rue
liwerous properties in unskilful hands, and received for answer—
" You need not be alarmed ; I lure known the use of it Wore yeti
were born," &c.
The case for the prosecution being closed,
Mr. PILEINGTON rose to address the Jury for the prisoner. Ife
slid not stand there to justify such acts as the prisoner stood charged
with, mischievous as they might be, hut he strongly maintained
that the evidence which the Jury had heard, as well as the eircurn-
' stances of the use altogether, went to show that the prisoner intended
the parties no bodily harm. In abort, that he only meant to play
them a frolic, very common among woolcombers, but nevertheless
very foolish, by emptying their stomachs an they lied emptied his
pockets. That such practices were prevalent among such persons
was admitted by the first witness himself, who had stated that, net
perceiving the men sick, he had laughed, thereby showing that he
suspected that the old trick had been played upon then]. Resides,
if the prisoner had a deadly object in view, wooed he not rather have
selected some more potent poison instead of the drug he had made
use of? None more deeply lamented the consequences which had
followed this foolish act than the prisoner himself, who had
hitherto borne a most respectable character for humanity and
every kindly feeling, as the witnesses when he was about to call
would testify.
M'-. PlLlilatexost then celled several witnesses, who had known
the prisoner for twenty and thirty years, as a most humane, steady,
quiet man.
The Reconorn then summed up the evidence. commenting
upon it as he went along, particularly the fact mentioned by one of
the witnesses, namely, that the prisoner bad shaken tbe can while
distributing the ale; and giving it as his opinion diet the charge
bad been matte out as set forth in the indictment.
The Jury then turned round, and alincst immediately s!tcr found
the prisoner Guilty.
The RECOUDEN, in proncuncing sentence, said it was fortunate
for the prisoner that the more lonian mate of indictment had ban
pursued towards hint. as. if he had been tried on the capital charge,
which the nature of the evidence would have justitii el, he must
likely would have had to answer for the ottence wit:i his Lie. No-
thing could be worse than the offence be was accused of--nothing
displayed greater malignity tit* character; nor could any thing be
done in a more heartless, remorseless warner. The (inert bad
one time though: to have made a public example of !dm by the in-
fliction of corporeal punishment, and were only rertrained from
pursuing such a rntiTlC by the good character which had been sleet'
of his former conduct, and the hope that imprisonment would
operate as an eaninple in making him a good man. The sentence
upon hint was, that he be confined in the Borough gaol for eighteen
calendar months.

---
SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

HUNTING APPOINTMENTS.

11. Joßae, Esq.'s foz.bounds will meet tc-morrow at ChoWon,
and Saturday at Reigate eleven.
The Surrey fox-hounds on Thursday at Oodstone, and Saturday
at Pratt's Bottom—at half-past ten.
The harrh to-morrow and Saturday at Kennel—nt ten.
The Bari of Par Huron's fox-hounds to-morrow et Reu,rgb,
Thursday at Studley, and Saturday at Burton Park—at eleven.
The Lambent fox-bounds on Thursday at Flass, and Saturday
at Kennel—at ten.

TATTERSALL';, JAN. lu.

The attendance to-day was verb strong, both in and out of the
Room, and some brink betting took place, being principally on (ha
St Leger. The odds have varied verylittle since our last.

DERRY.

8 to 1 agstleen
9 to l agst Hulas
14 to 1 agst Bolero
15 to 1 agst Webb
18 to 1 agst Advance
15 to 1 'apt 1). of York's tolt
20 to 1 mot Canvas
20 to 1 agst Legacy

22 to 1 eget Piers
22 to 1 apt Sistcr to NCV.IIf
25 to 1 ago Defiance
25 to I agst Nigel
25 to 1 apt Gohanna
20 to 1 agst Jenny
1000 to 25 apt 21ftetitiffItakto)

8 to 1 apt Sorcery
10 to 1 agst Attica
11 to 1 apt Mine
12 to t spit Waltz
16 to 1 apt Ftrzt Fly

18 to 1 anst l'ipylin*
2.0 to 1 agtt Zuleika
25 to 1 agat Shoveller
25 to 1 apt Slater to Premium

ST. LiGEII.

11 to 1 oast Memnon 30 to 1 apt Mandan*
11 to 1 agst Cleveland I3oto 1 apt Mull/wee
11 to 1 apt Redgmantlet 30 to 1 amet Croweateher
20 to I apt Cow Boy 33 to 1 apt The Miami*
22 to 1 apt Homer 40 to 1 apt Romostorat
26 to 1 sit t Androgetts 1000 to le apt Mara
30 to 1 apt His Grace 1000 to* Nei &andel

♦ noted robber named Kelly, waskilled dead in alimpt.
ing to break into a house near Bzllymvncy, on Tuislay.--,
Da lin Paper.