The Sun.
London, England, 1855-08-13 00:00:00

THE RIOT AND MURDER AT HASLEMERE.

RE-EXAMINATION OF TifF PRISON FT AN •
IDENTIFIC IMoN

- -
No ease that has di-graced the aimalm of crime in tai,
part of the county of Surrey for many years has created
a greater degree of alarm than the present, which has
caused a feverish excitement to prevail in the locality,
more especially as another riot and murder were appre-
hended would be attempted to be carried into execution
by the friends of the parties already implicated.
At an early hour on the morning of Saturday last, the
prisoners, named respectively Eastwood, Blackman,
Woods, Foyle, and Smith, otherwise White, were
brought before the bench sitting at Guildford, consisting
of G. Best, Esq., Sir A. M‘Donald, S. Haydon, Esq.,
J. Stedman, Esq., and the Hon. Colonel M. Onslow,
The prisoners, upon being placed at the felons' bar,
looked carelessly round the court, and did not appear to
fcci in the slightest degree the serious position in which
they were placed.

kr. George Parsons, of Haslemere, appeared to con.
duct the case for the prosecution.
William Bridger, of Baslemere, upon being sworn,
identified the iron bolt which the prisoners had used in
striking the deceased, and which had undoubtedly caused
his death. He borroWed it of a neighbour, and bad not
returned it. His house adjoined to one in which the
prisoners lived.

George Lithgoe, of Haslemere. said that he had known
the prisoners at the bar during -the last three months,
and he identified the piece of wood (produced) which was
used for fastening his back door.
William Harding, brickmaker, of Haslemere, said that
he lodged at the house of the deceased Mr. Donaldson.
On the night of the riot and murder he (witness) was on
his way home, when he met the prisoners, who were
armed with bludgeons. Wood said, " Smith is in the
lock-up, and we intend to get him out.",
By the Bench—He was with the deceased when he
died. He told his wife when he was brought home that
he was dying, and he never spoke afterwards.
Richard Carter, a labourer, said that he was near the
market-place at laslemere on the night of the murder.
He saw one man locked up, and five or six other persons
come by, armed with bludgeons, who said they would
rescue him.

Mr. W. Lawton, surgeon, of Chiddingfold, said that
ha was at present attending Freestone, as Mr. Bisshopp
was unable, he having been laid up from Tuesday last.
He saw him on the previous day, and he thought it
would be a fortnight at the least before he would be fit
to be examined. He was glad to say that he was better.
Mr. Bisshopp, who came into court during the day,
identified Smith, one of the prisoners, as the man who
knocked him down the second time.

Alwyn, ostler of the King's Arms, also swore to the
identity of Smith as the man who had been locked up in
the cage ; and the prisoners were then remanded for
another week.

THE SLOW POISONING CASE AT
DARLINGTON.

Joseph Snaith Wooler was brought before the Dar-
lington bench of magistrates, on Saturday, on the charge
of poisoning his wife. The court was densely crowded.
The magistrates present were the Rev. J. Swire, E.
Backhouse, J. L. Hammond, R. H. Allan, H. P. Smith,
H. C. Blackett, J. H. Aylmer, and T. Wilkinson,
Esqrs.

Air. Davison, instructed by Mr. Smith, of Durham,
appeared for the prosecution ; Mr. H. J. Marshall for
the defence ; Mr. Rymer, of London, appeared on be-
half of an aunt and brother of the deceased.

Miss Ann Breckneil, sister of the deceased lady, said
—I had been staying at Mr. Wooler's on this occasion
from two days before Mrs. Wooler's .death. I did not
give her any medicines. Ido not recollect who gave
them. I was not present when the injections were
given. I did not in any way meddle with any of the
medicines.

By the Bench—l did not direct any person to give
Mrs. Woofer medicines.
Mr. Marshall cross-examined the witness—The letter
produced is in my brother George's handwriting. I
frequently had letters from Mr. Wooler previous to my
coming down, pressing me to come some days before I
did. The other letter produced I wrote—l have no
doubt in answer to one from the prisoner. In answer to
several questions, whether she got a letter yesterday, in
her own handwriting, which was found amongst her
brother's papers on Friday, witness said she had a very
bad memory. I lived with my brother George in London;
I cannot recollect when. I think it is two years gone last
Christmas, perhaps three ; lam not certain. I saw my
deceased sister and Mr. Wooler in London together seve-
ral times since I went there; I saw them at my aunt's.
At that time they were very affectionate towards each
other ; I neversaw anything to the contrary. Inever saw
any want of kindness between them. They were the same
as when first married, and conducted themselves most '
kindly towards each other. From the time I first knew of
their marriage to the present I should say most decidedly ,
that has continued. Mr.Wooier wrote frequently for me
to come down, saying she was ill, and then he wrote to
press me. It might be a fortnight before I came down.
Those letters were shown to my brother George, and he
replied to them sometimes. I enclosed the letter put in, in
one from George himself. The letter produced is in my
brother George's handwriting.
Mr. Davison objected that Mrs. Wooler's brothers
should write letters, and they should appear on the de-
positions on a charge of murder.

Mr. Marshall answered that the question had been
put by the prosecution as to the brothers not getting
letters, and this answer was to that, and not to allow a
false impression to be made on the public.
Mr. Davison—Mr, Marshall has got the gentlemen in
London or elsewhere who wrote those letters, and pro-
poses to produce their writing to make out a piece of ,
evidence. Mr. Marshall has alluded to matters going
forth to the public, and it would, he hoped, go as the
prosecution had put it, that Mr. Wooler, knowing that
his wife had died from arsenic, and that a post mortem
examination would take place, wrote to a brother in Lon-
don who was not likely to come down, and did not cc rite
to the brother who was in the county, at Gateshead. (A.
burst of applause followed this from the body of the
court, but the bench immediately checked it.)
Mr. Marshall continued the cross-examination—l
cannot say on what terms Mr. Wooler and Mr. Break-
nell, of Gateshead, were on. Mr. Joseph Wooler: was
much delighted on my arrival. He expressed much
anxiety respecting his wife. I was continually in Mrs.
Wooler's room, but she would not allow me to stay at
nigh'. Ido not recollect the doctors being seat for on
the morning of my sister's death. I was sent for to
go to my sister that morning, as she was much I
worse. I heard my sister, shortly before death, say,
"Dear Joseph," "My dear Joseph," referring to the
prisoner.

By the Bench—l never knew any quarrels between
them during their married life.
Cross-examinati n continued—l cannot say when I
first became aware that my sister was said to have died
from arsenic. I think it was after she died. I cannot
say whether I heard anything before she died. Mr.
Wooler was always very anxious to ascertain who had
poisoned Mrs, Woofer. He did not send for the police.
The servant was not examined till the inquest. • I do not
recollect Mr. Wooler saying anything about having the
house searched. Ido not know that Mr. Wooler had
the house searched. Mr. Mewburn gave me the key of
the store room after the inquest, Ido not think I ever
was in the store-room before that. So far as I know
there was no search made. I did not see the bottles
found in Ann Taylor's be x.
Miss Elizabeth Lanchester said—l live at Houghton,
where I keep a school. I have known Mr. and Mrs.
Wooler for about seven years, and have been pretty in-
timate with them. About four weeks before she died I
went to Burdon, to Mr. Wooler's. I continued to see
her from time to time every day to the day of her death.
I was there after she died. I first became aware, on
hearing the certificate read by Mr. Wooler, that Mrs.
Woofer had died from poison. Mr. Joseph Woofer did
not have the house searched. He did not send for the
police. Mr. Wooler went to Darlington, but there was
nothing done that I know of.
By Mr. Marshall—lt was after dinner when the certi-
ficate was read. Miss Brecknell, Ann Taylor, and my-
self were present. I asked where the doctor's bottles
were ? The servant said some of the medicines were
poured out fur the doctors to take vomits home in the
bottles. The certificate came on the Friday afternoon.
The inquest was held on the following Saturday.
i o.wooiei
Allay—Has it come out who directed the inquest
toMmrber made l Wrtdiwreacntetdfotrheaicm.oroner to be sent fur ?
Mr. Davison—The medical man requested it.
Witness's examination continued Mr, and Mrs.
r
Woofer lodged in my house for six onthffsa. I. afterwards
visited them. Both expressed strong
each other. During Mrs. Wooler'sillnaesse, tio
rn. t‘ovwoao ri
rs
had the greatest anxiety that she should recover. Mr.
Woofer went to bed about twelve o'clock,and was called
up by Ann Taylor at throeiengintothiarling
morning
of Mrs.
Wooler's death. He rendered all the
assistancetoi he could..
Darlington
Mr. Woofer said he was g
got the certificate about her. He said, " Twhen he
hey are
making it out that my dear Jane was poisoned."
By the Bench—Mrs. Wooler did not wisle to have a
doctor, as she thought she had only got a cold. During
1 the time I knew her her general complaints were weak-
' nese and biliousness.
Serjeant Brown was examined—l produce two enema
syringes found at Mr. Wooleer. I put them in a drawer
folded in separate papers, and covered up with some
Gazettes, on which I put a bottle. I found them there in
gaes y lor.
sent
for
the same state ai when I put them in. No one could
get at them.
Mr.
atthe prisoner's Marshall appliedsnea cost t
r haveto
oProfessor the syr i !Ti
analysis
This was agreed to.
h aeseysed by Dr. er-
the syringe—a part of which ,
Mr. Marshall also rpplied tr have the remainder of
gill—sent to Profess r Taylo f -r anafys,s.
Mr. Heezell was next called.
Th
lie
e
bottle- ceetaining urine. I found it in the surgery. e
load
on the 25t - June as far as I can recollect.
I Id—l reeft
ewd a
a s
iwnasisdelaptpheed pianpaer ivecaes a
of
note which
haionhd
Itiehdavweithhesrter.ingi
analysed the urine. I had examined the urine daily
before, and did examine it after that. I had been tot
Burdon on the day before. I looked for that
morning
morning in the coach-house, but there wag none, and I
asked for some to be sent. I received some urine the
day after I asked for it. (The note was here identified
by Miss Lanchester to be in the writing of Mr. Joseph
Woofer.) I analysed the urine that came with that note.
Therervion:las y
tbl found it most remarkably different from that I had
po
nanoalyinsedfraninadmrto.huajnt etalkfosroanftt. that I
ert h
wards analysed.
nothing to
from
ccthe
medicines she got
cdiadnge in
not
men-
tion that to Mr. Wooler, but to Mr. Hazlewood, to
whom I made a communication on the sublet! . I think
it was in the coach-house he stated to. Mr. Woofer tha ,