The Sun.
London, England, 1864-08-16 00:00:00

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Yesterday Mr Richards held at it Tuiry at the Westmin-
ster Arms Tavern, Warner-place, Ha ekney-road, respecting
the death of Thomas Hill, aged four years, who was alleged
to have died from the effects of poison fag by phosphorus,
Thos. Hill, a warehouseman, 2, We rner-place, Bethnal-
green, said that the deceased was his son. On Monday
witness bought some phosphorus at a chemist's. His
house was infested with rats, and he 'ntended to poison
them with the phosphorus. He placed some of the phos-
phorus on a half round of bread and butter, and then
covered it over with another piece of bret d. Witness put
the bread so prepared in a corner of the ch ildrens' bedroom
The next morning, the rats not having es ten it during the
night, witness placed the bread and butter on a shelf in tho
room. About 9 o'clock on the Tuesday nit it witness her.rd
loud screams proceeding from the children. -Upon entering
witness found his two children, George, wed five years,
and Thomas, aged four years, standing in the r oom in a great
state of fright. Flames, or rather sheets of fire were coming
from the mouth of Thomas. The colour of the flames were
blue and white. The boy seemed in dreadful: agony. Dr
Latham was sent for. and be used all the knotrn remedies,
but without avail. The deceased continued Au insensi-
ble state until Sunday, when he died. All ths. poisoned
bread and butter witness left on the shelf was gor e. Wit..
pees believed deceased had eaten it. The phos•
phorus is sold in packets for one penny each. Witness
had used two-thirds of the quantity he ptuchased.
The poison was close to the children's bed. When witness
found the children on the night in questi,,n, the whole or the
bed was a mass of blue flame. The matter from deceasoci's
mouth had not only covered the bed but his own night
clothes. lie was standing in the middle of one mass of blue
fire. He had no intention of injuring the children when
he put the bread on the shelf. Witness did not get the
doctor until next day,

Shocking Death from Pho

Frances Hill, wife of the last witness, said it was the
constant practice of herself and hpr husband to put bread
and butter on the shelf for the children. They were in the
habit of taking a chair and getting the bread down and eat-
ing it. The children were never told that poison was in
the house. Witness knew it was Wrong to put poisoned
bread on the shelf, the children being in the habit of taking
their bread from it. A powder was given to deceased on the
night he took the poison.
The Coroner said that the case showed gro:;13 carelessness`
on the part of both parents.

A Juror said the case was a most peculiar one. no wad
his brother jurors wished to view the room iu which •,j
children were left on the night in question.

The Coroner said that before taking such a course he
would first take the medical evidence.

Dr. Latham said that the deceased died from poison ing
by phosphorus. He believed the parents gave the nom:dies
he prescribed. The packet was marked " Poison. Phos-
phorus paste." The poison used was one of a most dually
character.

The Coroner having summed up,
The Jury, after some deliberation, returned the following
verdict—" That the deceased expired from the mortal (11.. eta
of poisoning by phosphorus, and the jurors say that the
deceased was killed by accident, and the jurors further say
that great censure is due to both the parents for their g; rose
carelessness in leaving such poison in the reach of the
deceased,"

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