The Sun.
London, England, 1855-12-12 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY Eir_gNlNG, DECEMBER 12 1855

tor was her brother. No one can doubt that he is
actuated by bitter feeling towards the prisoner.
The prisoner was an indulgent husband. The pr.
secutor, although her brother, had never from the day of
her marriage till her death crossed the threshold of
her door. Unless you believe that the prisoner has vio-
lated all the instincts of our nature, it is impossible to
believe him guilty. It is said Mrs. Wooler died by
arsenic. I admit it. But if, as Professor Taylor says,
it might have happened by accident as well as design, I
do not think that I damage my client by this admission.
But when I recollect that one of the medical witnesses
has stated that another patient whom he attended died,
as he believes, by arsenic, I repeat that, but for the
infamous conduct of the medical attendants, Mrs.
Wooler might not have died. Had they divulged
in time the suspicions they entertained on the 7th
of June she might have been saved. They say that
the poison must have been administered by a person of
skill. What says Dr. Taylor ? He says that the
poison might have been administered "or taken." He
drew the distinction between administering by skill and
taking by mistake. What think you of the production of
of that poor man's will ? What has that to do with the
merits of this case ? I am not seeking to accuse anybody,
but I will show you that the prisoner is the last person
who ought to have been charged. They say the poison
must have been administered by a person of skill who
had the means. Dr. Jackson, Dr. Haslewood, and Mr.
Henzell were each such persons. Why should not they
be accused ? It may be said, they had no motive ; no
more had he; his motives were all the other way. It is
said that the prisoner evinced indifference at her death.
They say Mr. Simpson came, but he was sent for by the
prisoner to pray with her. He sees the prisoner partly
undressed and washing himself, but he did not know
that the prisoner had been up nearly all night, and that
in the wife's room there were Miss Lanchester, Miss
Middleton, and Ann Taylor. Mr. Simpson says he con-
soled him. Did Mr. Simpson then perceive that he re-
quired consolation? Did he not use the words of genuine
feeling when, looking at his dead wife, he said, " She has
been a good wife to me ?" Oh ! but, he whispered to
Mr. Simpson, " Are you going to Darlington to-day 1"
Had he not a brother there to whom the intelligence
ought to be conveyed 1 When his wife died he left the
room. He did not make a show of grief in the presence
of strangers ; but was he not weeping when the old gar-
dener came ? They say that he was unwilling to call
in medical aid. How can my learned friend have been
so instructed ? Was not Dr. Devey called in ? And Dr.
Jackson and Mr. Henzell, besides Dr. Devey? Did he
not suggest Dr. Strother ? Dr. Strother was mentioned,
but he did not suit Mr. Jackson, and he recommended
Dr. Devey, his brother-in-law. Mr. Jackson suspected
poison on the 7th. On the Bth he told the prisoner he be-
lieved she was consumptive. He admits that doctors do
now and then cheat each other. If the prisoner was
poisoning her, why, when he got Dr. Jackson, who attri-
buted her illness to natural causes, did he call in other
medical aid? Generally speaking, a criminal is a coward,
and seeks to- conciliate the man who can detect his guilt.
Yet the prisoner abuses Dr. Jackson, and speaks of
him in terms of anger. The prisoner requests Dr. Hasla-
wooi to write out a history of his wife's symptoms, to
be sent to his nephew, in order to be laid before Sir J.
Fife. Dr. Haslewood was requested to give a faithful
statement. He left out the last symptom—the tingling
of the hands. Why did he suppress it ? Then with regal d
to his letters. It is said that he wrote to his brother-in-
law in London, who could not come, but not to his bro-
ther-in-law in Gateshead. But he did write on the 16th
and 19th to the latter, and on the 23,1 to his son. It is
untrue that he gave a false account of the cause of death
when the registrar was at his house ; he had received the
medical certificate of Mr. Jackson. It is untrue that he
left his house on his wife's death, and did not return till
after the funeral. It is said the doctors desired him to
inform them of the tingling when it should take place.
They have all denied that they desired him to do so.
Then it is said that he substituted other urine than his
wife's on the 23d. After furnishing his wife's for many
days before, they would have you believe that he im-
posed upon them on this occasion. He sent afterwards
the urine he had all along sent. Ann Taylor says she
brought the urine out of the coachhouse. One of the
medical witnesses denies that any urine was there that
day, but Dr. Haslewood suggests the solution of this.
He said at the time a mistake had been made. Miss
Lanchester slept in the deceased's room. Other persons
were there also ; might not the wrung urine have been
taken without any evil intention on the part of any one ?
Then as to the possession of a variety of medicines. On
one occasion Dr. Haslewood asked for ipecacuanha.
Why did he bring the basket full of bottles? Why not
bring the ipeca.cuanha, only ! Bu;; it was Mrs. Wooler
who produced the basket ; she was the daughter of a
surgeon. But it is not proved that one drop of Fowler's
solution was in that basket. What was supposed to
be Fowler's solution was only a teaspoonful and
a-half, and the same quantity was observed
twice, which was not enough to have produced
death, neither was the quantity in the bottle diminished.
I admit that deceased died by arsenic. What advantage
would Mr. Wooler have derived from her death ? My
learned friend over and over has admitted that he can
suggest none. The prosecutor can suggest none. But
he had a motive to preserve her. Grant what his
enemies say, that he is a selfish man. Was she not ne-
cessary to his comfort? He is a cripple, and wili be for
life. They loved each other tenderly. Every witness
has testified to this. I grant that a mask may be worn
for a short time, but not for 20 years. A word upon
Miss Brecknell. She resided in the house ; she has been
there since. She came down to nurse her sister. She
believes the prisoner innocent. She never saw anything
but kindness between them. She has heard her express
affection for him. My friend, Mr. James, admits they
lived on terms of affection from the time of their coming
to Burden. Do you believe, then, that he inflicted
agony on the object of his love, and that day by day ?
Will you seek to clear up the mystery which surrounds
this case by the mere meteoric glare of suspicion ! I
will now call your attention to another point. They say
that the prisoner was well acquainted with drugs. But
what evidence is there of this ? But if he was, why did
he administer arsenic at all ? No poison is so easily
detected. He had strychnine, which is more difficult to
discover. If he was well acquainted with poisons he
knew all the symptoms of arsenic. Why did he call in
a doctor at all ? His wife resisted it. He furnishes the
medical attendants with her vomits and evacuations.
" I kept a book in which I entered all her symptoms."
Can it be said that any entry is incorrect He informs
the doctors of the tetanic spasms. He consents to the
post mortent examination. After the inquest he causes
portions of the body to be examined at his expense by
Professor Taylor. They have not shown that he ever
purchased any arsenic. The bottles were long kept in the
house, and anybody might have access to them. The ver-
dict of the coroner's jury, that Mrs. Wooler died by poison,
is the only verdict to which any jury can come. By
whom administered it has not been shown. Whatever
prejudice exists without, let it not enter into the jury
box. I implore you not to let prejudice assail you.
The learned Judge summed up with some masterly
observations upon the case and the evidence. He ob-
served that the accu.ation against the prisoner was, that
by continued small doses of arsenic he poisoned his wife,
and in cas 3 of conviction he would undoubtedly forfeit
his life. Much has been said about prejudice in this
case, but observing your calm demeanour and attention,
I should not have observed upon it except for an exhibi-
tion of feeling on Saturday. That deceased died by
anenic was early in this trial admitted by the prisoner's
counsel. The next question is, whether there is suffi-
cient evidence to show that the prisoner administered it?
In most cases of murder certain facts are clearly estab
lished, from which, although circumstantial only, juries
may safely draw conclusions. This ie the first case of
poisoning extending over so long a period. The law
requires that the conclusions of a jury should be drawn
from proximate and evident premises, not from slight
and far-fetched surmises. I have collected the circum-
stances which the learned counsel for the prosecution
relies on to prove that the prisoner is guilty. If you
have read his speech, I pray you not to rely on it, but
on the evidence. It is clear that the prisoner had a
large collection of drugs in his possession. Dr. Jack-
son and Dr. Haslewood state that Fowler's solution was
among them. At the inquest it is said that this bottle
was not produced, but no importance appears to have
been then attached to the circumstance. It does not
appear but that, if the prisoner had been asked about it,
he could have produced it or given an explanation ef it.
The next circumstance relied on was that the prisoner had
not furnished proper medical advice for his wife. Of
capitulatedtth
ehera finds
unsrdgo seudfamuwulztsst
with d g H
h
a[vllinegre ctahlleedleainrnendr.
JiTuadcgkes orne,.
thetheavtidtheue ce
prisonero nth i slkehpeta cal .]booTkhiennwetticmh ahte-
entered his wife's symptoms v
. may assume that no
entry appears to make against him, or it would have
been read. But indeed Dr. Haslewood fully explains all
about this book. The next matter is very important. It
is that the doctors having desired the prisoner to commu-
nicate to them the tingling of the hands if it should oc-
cur, he omitted to do so. Upon this point the counsel
for the prosecution has been misinstructed. Dr. Jack-
son and Dr. Haslewood say they never so requested the
prisoner to inform them of this, neither do they agree as
to the exact time or manner in which the prisoner did
communicate the circumstance. [Here the learned judge
read their evidence on the subject.] The learned coun-
selspoken in harsh terns of
for the prisoner has the me-
dical witnesses. Ido not adopt those terms, but it does
seem to me that their conduct, as detailed by themselves,
was reprehensible. But people are often wise after the
event, and I believe that those witnesses
now think that
their suspicions were stronger at the time than th©y
really were. Why did they not sooner find out I
Mrs. Wotoleisr
symptom of tingling of the hands by asking d
herself ? If they suspected that arsenic was being a m
i-
nistered, they should have gone before a magistrate,
instead of simply using twice an antidote. The learned
judge commented severely upon Dr. Jackson's state-
ment, that ho had withheld from Dr, Haslewood his sus-
picions. I think that Mr. Henzell was the first to sus-
pect, and that the others aid not pay much attention to
his Puspicions. The supposed substitution of another
person's urine might have been a mistake. The conduct
of the prisoner at the time of his wife's death is said to
have been impropor. You have evidence on this head
en which you must form your own opinion. But I
would recommend you not to attach much weight to it.
!Ilerent men have different modes of evincing their
feelings. As to his conduct on receiving the note from
Jackson, it was opined that he gave a false account
of the cause of death. Would a man who believed he was
writing to a murderer have written in the terms Dr.
Jackson
used ? Does the prisoner take the letter as an
imputation upon himself of
murder lt seems to me not.
The will had elddently been
prepared by a lawyer, and
it would require a curious imagination indeed to dis-
cover from that will any intention to murder. As to the
correspondence, the opinion of Dr. Haslewood and Dr.
Jackson did not quite concur. There remains the dis-
covery of the arsenic in the enema pipes. How it got
there is involved in.more mystery than I have met with
in any other case. No motive is suggested. The pri-

soner's supposed knowledge of drugs is a two-edged
sword. He pays Dr. Taylor for examining parts of the
body. He does not evade the charge by absconding. I
have commented on this case, and am prepared to read
through the evidence if you desire it. [The jury intimated
they did not.] The law requires not suspicion only,
but plain and natural consequences, not far-fetched
ones, from the evidence. It is for you to say whether
you can safely come to the conclusion that the prisoner
administered the arsenic. lam unable. I may observe
that, if I were to make a surmise, there is a person upon
whom my fancy would rest rather than upon the pri-
soner.

The jury retired at a quarter to six o'clock, and after
an absence of 10 minutes returned with a verdict of not
guilty.
The learned Judge said—The country are indebted
to you for your great attention, and I myself feel ex-
tremely thankful for the care you have bestowed. I
would have interfered sooner, but thought it more satis-
factory to allow the case to be fully heard.

HEALTH OF LONDON DURING THE
WE EIS.

( From the _Report of the Registrar-General.)
In the week that ended on Saturday 1,099 persons,
of whom 554 were males, 545 females, died in London.
The total number differs little from that of the preceding
week, which was 1,124. The average number of deaths
in the ten corresponding weeks of the years 1845-54
was 1,277, and this, if raised by a tenth-part for compa-
rison with last week's mortality, which oocurred in an
increased population, becomes 1,405. But this result
represents more than the normal rate of mortality, in
consequence of influenza, which was epidemic in 1847,
and, together with bronchitis and pneumonia, carried
off in the corresponding week of that year about 850
persons. It may be stated, however, in general terms
that the present mortality is not high for London at the
beginning of December.
Of 242 deaths assigned to diseases of the respiratory
organs, 119 were caused by bronchitis, 93 by pneu-
monia, 17 by asthma, 13 by pleurisy, laryngitis, &c.
Phthisis, which made a larger contribution to the mor-
tality than any other special disease, was fatal in 137
cases, about one-half of which occurred to persons be-
tween the ages of 20 and 40 years. To the class of
zymotic diseases 229 deaths are referred, and they are
thus distributed :—Small-pox, 14 ; measles, 27; scarla-
tina, 53 ; hooping cough, 39 ; typhus, 46 ; croup (which
was unusually fatal), 18 ; diarrhcea, 17 ; erysipelas, 10 ;
metria, 4 ; thrush, 3 ; remittent fever, 6 ; syphilis, 2 ;
rheumatic fever, 1 ; and dysentery. 1. Starlatina shows
a disposition to decline ; the greatest number of cases
occurred in the eastern districts, the disease being rather
fatal in Bethnal-green, where seven deaths from it are
recorded. Two persons died of disease brought on by
intemperance, and two from delirium tremens.
Last week the births of 780 boys and 751 girls, in all
1,531 children, were registered in London. In the ten
' corresponding weeks of the years 1845-54 the average
number was 1,463.

The air was cold throughout the week, and on five
days the thermometer fell below the freezing point. At
the Royal Observatory, the mean temperature, which
had been above 39 deg. in the two previous weeks was
36.1 deg. last week, which is 5.1 deg. below the ave-
rage. On four days the mean was from 5 deg. to 8.7
deg, below the average. The highest temperature oc-
curred on Tuesday and Wednesday, and was 45.1 deg. ;
the lowest on Monday, and was 28.5 deg. The mea❑
temperature of the water of the Thames was 32.1 deg.,
and the difference between this and the mean air tempe-
rature was 40 deg. The highest reading of the baro-
meter was 29.92 in. on Monday. The mean of the week
was 29.564 in, The wind blew from the south-west on
Wednesday ; at other times it was in the north, gene-
rally north-west. Rain fell to the amount of 0.23 in.,
most of which fell on Saturday. Snow fell on the night
of Monday, and the mornings of Thursday and Saturday.

MORTALITY IN THE METROPOLIS,
NUMBER OF DEATHS FROM ALL CAUSES REGISTERED

IN THE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, DEC. 8.
Zymotic Diseases
Diseases of Uncertain Seat
Tubercular Diseases
Diseases of the Brain, Nerves and Senses
Diseases of the Heart and Blood-vessels 52
Diseases of the Lungs and other Organs of
Respiration
Diseases of the Stomach, Liver, and other Organs

of Digestion . - 54
Diseases of the Kidneys, &c.
Childbirth, Diseases of the Uterus, &c.
Diseases of the Joints, Bones, and Muscles
Diseases of the Skin, &c.
Malformations
Premature Birth and Debility 29
Atrophy 26
Old Age
Sudden ll
Violence, Privation, Cold, and Intemperance 22
Causes norspecified

DEATHS FROM ALL CAUSES
population Deaths in corre- Deaths
Enumerated. sponding week in the
1851. of 1854. Week.
West Districts
North Districts 490,396
Central Districts 393,256
East Districts 485,522
South Districts

Totals

1,331

1,099

Males 554
Females 545
BIRTHS IN THE WEEK.

Males
Females

780
751

Total

1,531

The London Gazette of Last Evening.

At the Court at Windsor, the 7th day of December,
1855—present, the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty in
Council.

Her Majesty having been pleased to deliver the cus-
tody of the Privy Seal to the Right Hon. Dudley, Earl
of Harrowby, the oath of Keeper of the Privy Seal was
this day administered to hi-A, and his lordship took his
place at the board accordingly.
At the Court at Windsor Castle, Dec. 7.
-- • - • •

Her Majesty having been graciously pleased to deliver
the custody of the Duchy and County Palatine of Lan-
caster to the Right Hon. Matthew Talbot Baines, the oath
of Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster was this clay, by
her Majesty's command, administered to him accordingly.
ST. JAMES'S PALACE, DEC. 8.
The Queen has been pleased to appoint the Hon. Mrs.
Alexander Gordon to. be one of tho Bedchamber Women
in Ordinary to her Majesty, in the room of the Hon.
Amelia Murray, resigned.

FOREIGN OFFICE, Nov. 22.
The Qneen has been graciously pleased to appoint Thos.
Joseph Hutchinson, Esq., now her Majesty's Consul in the
Territories on the Western Coast of Africa, comprised
within the Bight of Biafra, and lying between Cape For-
mosa and Cape St. John, to be also her Majesty's Consul at
Fernando Pe.
The Gazette of this evening contains a notice for the elec-
tion of a temporal peer of Ireland, in the room of the late
Viscount De Vesci.
WAR-OFFICE, DEo. 11.
BREVET.

Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Parker Campbell, C. 8., l'Oth
Regiment, to be promoted to the rank of Colonel in the
Army, for his distinguished Service in the Field.
To be Aides-de-Camp to the Queen, with the rank of
Coloael in the Army :—Brevet-Lieutenant-Colonel Wm.
Montagu Scott 141`Murdo, Director-General of the Land
Transport Corps ; Brevet-Lieutenant-Colonel Edward
Robert Wetherell, Scots Fusilier Guards.
ADMIRALTY, DEC. 11.

Vice-Admiral of the Blue John Coode, K.C.8., has been
appointed to receive a pension of 150 t. a year, as provided
for in her Majesty's Order in Council of June 95, 1851,
vacant by the decease of Admiral James Carthew ; and
the name of Vice-Admiral John Coode has been removed
to the Reserved Half-pay List accordingly ; and, in conse-
quence of this removal, the following promotions, dated
the 30th ult., have taken place :
Rear-Admiral of the Red Alexander Renton Sharpe,
C. 8., to bo Vioe-Admiral of the Blue.
Rear-Admiral of the White William Walpole, to be
Rear-Admiral of the Rest.
Rear-Admiral of the Blue Sir Michael Seymour, K.C.8.,
to be Rear-Admiral of the White.
Captain Charles Graham, C. 8., to be Roar-Admiral of
the Blue.
Retired Captain John Wilson (B), to bo a Retired Rear-
Admiral, on the terms proposed in the London Gazette of
lst September, 1846, without increase of pay.

Joseph Pargeter Brindley, Gent., to be Lieutenant, vice •
Mecham, resigned.
Royal Bucks King's Own Militia—Wm. Cecil Penn,
Gent., to be Ensign.
East York Regiment of Militia—Wm. Handcock Mid-
dleton, Gent., to be Ensign in augmentation ; Theodor©
Francis Haskoll, Gent., to be Ensign in augmentation ;
James M`Creery, Gent., to be Ensign in augmentation.
North York Rifle Regiment of Militia—Ensign John
Swainston Strangwayes to be Lieutenant ; Thomas Hall,
Gent., to be Lieutenant.

sth, or Royal Elthorn Light Infantry Regiment of Mid-
dlesex Militia—Robert Henry Sawyer, Gent., to be As-
sistant-Surgeon, vice Walker, promoted.
Ist Regiment of Derbyshire Militia—Raymond Wilson
Radford, Gent.., to be Ensign.
North t'omerset Yeomanry Cavalry—Captain P. W. S.
Miles, to be Major, vice Gore, resigned ; Lieutenant
Napier to be Captain, vice Mildmay, resigned ; Albany
B.uchier Savile, Esq., to he Captain, vice Miles, promoted;
Hedwosth Hylton Jolliffe, Esq , M.P., to be Captain, vice
' Tudway, deceased Cornet the Hon. E. B. Portman to be
Lieutenant, vice Napier, promoted ; Richard Charles
Strachey, Gent., to be Cornet, vice Norman, resigned ;
William Henry Milos Gent., to be Cornet, vice Portman,
promoted.

W. Blake, John-street. Bedford-row, solicitors, as far as
regards F. Blake—R Rhodes and P. Taylol, W.-lel, Whit-
tle, Lancashire— W. Andrew and C. Sueviu, West Wood
Wharf, West India Docks, timber merchants—M. Dale,
W. Jackson, and R. Millner, Bridlington, ironfounders
S. W. Lavender and S. H. Fitz Henry, Liverpool;drain
pipe manufacturers—J. Taylor and T. W. Toulon, Mar-
ket-street, Paddington, carmen—C. K., G. I'., and S.
Woods, Liverpool, hosiers and glovers, as far as regards S.
Woods—W. Parrot and J. T. C. Winkfield, East Green-
wich, cement manufacturers--J. H. and A. Elford, Great
Pulteney-street, St. James's, tailors—J. and J. Cunliffe,
and J. Myers, Manchester, lithographic and generri prin-
ters—J. Arnot and J. Smith, Newcastle-upon-Tyne,
joiners—C. Griffiths, D. Jones, E. Griffiths, and B. Ro-
berts, Wrexham, Gresford, Hamner, and Oswestry, mil-
lers, as far as regards D. Jones and B. Roberts.