The Sun.
London, England, 1864-06-01 00:00:00

Alleged Poisoning of Three Children.

Yesterday morning Mr W. Carter, the Surrey coroner,
resumal the investigation into the alhged poisoning of three
children of henry and Ann Webber.
The jury, which was originally empannelled in a cottage
near Spa Bottom, between Esher and Cobham, re-assembled
at the White Lion Inn, Cobham-street.

It appeared from the evidence taken on the first occasion,
that Henry Webber was a sawyer, residing with his wife and
five children at a lodge adjoining the residence of Captain
Bretterton, midway between Esher and Cobham. Oa Wed-
nesday, the 20th of last month, John Webber, one of the
children, aged five years, was suddenly seized with violent
vomiting and purging, and he died in 18 hours, without
having been seen by a medical man. On the same day
Henry, a boy aged 14 years, was attacked with precisely
similar symptoms, but medicine being given him, ho ulti •
mately recovered. On Friday, the 22d, Eliza, aged two years
and six months, was taken ill in the same way, and she
died in 15 hours, None of the children had eaten food, other
than their regttlar sustenance. Henry Webber was too ill
upon the first occasion to be examined, but by great care
has survived, and gave minute evidence as to the action of
the poison.

Henry Webber, aged 14 years, deposed—l reside with
my father at Spa Bottom. His present wife is not my
mother. Eliza was my half-sister. I was taken ill on the
Saturday before the Thursday on which she died. My head
ached ver; much. I was not sick. I felt unwell in the
bowels at seven o'clock in the morning. My brother John
was lying dead at that time, at.cl he had been taken ill in
the bowels at first in the way I was. I had medicine given
me on the Thursday night, and it was in the form of a
powder. My stepmother gave me the powder, mixed in a
tea cup, and she said she had given Eliza some powder too.
I saw a powder given to John on Monday night. I gave it
to my stepmother, but I did not see her mix it. Neither I
nor my brother or sister had eaten anything in the woods.
Our usual food was bread and butter or dripping, and beef.
We had tea to drink, and we never wanted food. My father
and mother were not in the habit of quarrelling. All the
children were treated alike. I never heard my stepmother
make any threat. She used to beat me and her own chil-
dren when we deserved it.
Dr. Albert J. Bernays, Professor of Chemistry and Phy-
siological Chemist at St. Thomas's Hospital, said that he
received from a police-constable, a jar containing the sto-
mach and intestines of Eliza Webber. He made an
analysis, assisted,by Dr. Lees. The exanfinatian of the con-
tents of the stomach was without result. In the tissues of
the stomach there was found arsenic. It was distinctly
present, but in a very small quantity. The purging and
vomiting would have the effect of removing the larger quan-
tity of arsenic had it been taken into the body. It was, in
his opinion, totally impossible that the arsenic could have
been conveyed in the chalk mixture given by Mr. Smith.
Looking at the evidence, he should say that some of the
symptoms were consistent with poisoning by arsenic, and
others were not, which certainly raised a doubt in his mind
whether arsenic had caused the death.

Dr A. Swaino Taylor, F.11,C.5., Professor of Chemistry
and Medical Jurisprudence at 11 ay's Hospital, was then
sworn, and he said that he received from a police officer 4
oz. of blood, and the liver and heart, both kidneys, a por-
tion of the brain, and the bladder of the deceased child Eliza
Webber. In the brain and heart he found no traces of mine-
ral poison of any kind. He took 12 oz. of the liver and found
no trace, not the thousandth part of a grain of arsenic.
When a person died from arsenic traces of it could be found
in 4 oz, of liver, that was when the person died in the same
space of time atter the taking of anenic, as the illness of
this child had lasted. He deemed it unnecessaey to examine
the bladder and kidneys, as when arsenic was not found in
the liver, it was never traceable in these organs. He got
about 4 oz. of evacuation, He tested them and found no
arsenic, but there was a trace of mercury, which was to be
seen on the copper gauze produced.

The Coroner said that a small quantityof calomelhad been
prescribed for the child by the surgeon called in. Would
that have accounted for the appearance of mercury ?
Dr. Taylor said undoubtedly it would. He tested and found
that the mercury was not due to the presence of corrosive
sublimate. He had entirely failed to find poison. But he
could not giv 3 an opinion as to the cause of death until he
heard all the evidence as to the symptoms present before
death.

The Coroner then read over at length the evidence in
question, which showed that all three children had been at-
tacked in precisely the same manner.

Professor Taylor said that after hearing all the evidence,
and bearing in mind the results of tue analysis, he came to
the nape conclusion as Mr. Smith. that the child died from
ii.flammation of the stomach and intestines, not caused by
mineral poison. He might say that children were very sus-
ceptible to inflammatory action arising from the effusion of
cesspools. Contiguous to Weber's-lodge was a cesspool,
which, though perhaps not necessarily emitting a n,,xious
smell, ought to be removed. He was inclined to consider
that such was the cause of the singular attack from which
the two children died. But even if he had found arsenic
in the quantity mentioned by Dr. 13ernays, he would still
consider that the poison had not caused the death, but that
it was due to gastro-enteritis.

The Corner having summed up,
The jury returned a v, rdict " That deceaseds' deaths
arose from gastroenteritis the result of natural causes."

AQUATICS.

ROYAL THAMES YACHT CLUB.

The first regatta of the above distinguished club this sea-
son took place yesterday, and was one of the finest matches
on record, although is is touch to be regretted that the rain
which fell heavily during the afternoon marred much of the
pleasure which would otherwise have been experienced in
witnessing it. There were four prizes for competition for
the first class—cutters exceeding 3.5 tons, a prize value 100
soya for the first boat—and 50 sovs for the second. For
the third class, exceeding 12 and not exceeding 20 tons, a
prize of 40 ewe, and 20 sovs for the second boat—and the
following had been entered and started :

First Class,
Yachts. Tons. Owners.
1. Illoequito ..•• 59 .. M. T. Ouldsworth

2. Surge 5l Mr. W. W. F. Hay
3. Astarte . .

4. Volante GO .. Mr. H. Maudslay
5. Vindex

Third Class.
1. Vampire 2O .. Capt. J. E. Commerell, RN,
2. Satanella 13 . , Capt. B. Bennett
3, Dudu l5 .. Captains Baldeck and Rudge
4. Zerlina
5, Alexandra l5 .. Mr. G, Harrison
Half a minute time per ton for difference of tonnage.
The course originally intended for the larger craft was
from Gravesend round the Mouse Light and back, and for
the smaller round the Nore Light and back, but owing to
the wind being dead on end and the flood having begun well
to make ere the larger class got more than 3 miles below
the Nore, the course was reversed and they turned round
the steamer, which was there anchored for the purpose, the
lesser yachts going nearly the entire distance. The Prin-
cess of Wales steamer had been chartered by the club for
the conveyance of members of the club and their friends,
and left London-bridge at ten in the morning with a
very large and fashionable party. The vessel proceeded
direct to Gravesend at full speed, where at two o'clock the
noble commodore, Lord Alfred Paget, ordered a gun to be
fired for the fleet to get in readiness, which was succeeded
by a second, in five minutes afterwards, to start.
Of the above fleet the Mosquito, the far-famed clipper of
former years, then the property of Lord Londesborough, has
not been engaged of late in match sailing, but although
built about 15 years ago, her owner gallantly entered her
in this race to contend ageinst the new clippers of the pre-
sent day. There she was,back in her old form, and well she
played her part in the great race which followed. The Surge
is an entirely new boat, by Tepe, of Fairlie, last year, and
was very successful in the Irish Channel. The Astarte was
also new from the hands of Roy, of Southampton, and the
Volante and Vindex are both well known as very fine wea-
therly craft, the former of the two being an old boat. In the
third class the Vampire has fbr years been well known as
the most formidable boat of her class; the Satanella is a
new boat, by Aldons ; the Dudu, a new boat, by Hatcher ;
the Zerlina, a new boat, by Panhill; and the Alexandra,
a boat of last year, by Mr Harrison, her owner. Besides the
Prince of \Vales there were two other steamers and the fol-
lowing fleet of gentlemen's yachts accompanying the races:
—The Stella, Cyclone, Antagonist, Aquiline, Mars, *Violet,
Agatha, Medea, Night Thought, Syren, Whirlwind, Phenix,
Minos, Phantom, Fleur-de-lis, Blue, Bell, and others.
When the signal was fired simultaneously for the start of
both classes, the seamanship on board the yachts was worthy
of this great club, and soon their elegant spars were covered
with canvas, We may treat of the first class at some length,
but the third class were soon lost in the attention bestowed
on the larger craft, The Volante was very quick to get her
canvas up, Surge next, then Mcsquito and Vindex, The
Surge was first away, the Mars second, the Vindex third.
There was at the time a nice wind from E.N.E., which
freshened into a whole sail breeze. They all made a board
directly to the northward, the Vindex smartly setting her
topsail, which was immediately followed by the Surge
doing the same ; the Mosquito, which had a nice berth at
the start, leading the Vindex, Surge, and Volante, the latter
racing close in shore. The Musquito and Surge now began
to steal away from the others. The Astarte had gone about
astern of ail the others first. The Mosquito immediately drew
away from the Surge, and the order by the Lower Pier at
Gravesend was Mosquito, Surge, Volante, Astarte last.
Nearing East Tilbury the Mosquito was leading by some
lengths, the Volante and Vindex crossing each other on
different boards, Soon after this the Mosquito was two
boards ahead of the second boat, and showing her fine turn-
ing properties as in days of yore. The Surge was at this
rime fourth, and the Astarte last. In the lower part of the
Reach tee Mosquito had slightly increased her lead. The
Astarte and the Volante were now engaged in a very fine
race, when the Volante was by accident unfortunately put
hors de combat. The Volante it was thought did not turn
so fast to windward as formerly, and the Astarte having dis-
posed of the Surge by passing her on the same tack, had
become almost level with the Volante. The Astarte going
about under the lee of the Volante, and not being quick
enough her boom caught the topmast stay of the Volante,

broke her Mast, ~thich, falling, broke the gaff and her top-
sail hung over the mainsail to' leeward. Thin was entirely
the effect of accident, and, being so, no protest to an made
by the owners of the injured craft. This left the Astarte
second, the Vindex third, and the Surge fourth. Half-way
down the Lower Hope the Mosquito was still a couple of
boards a-head, the Vindex and Astarte holding a fine race
for the second place. At the middle Bligh Buoy the
Mosquito still led as before, the struggle for second place
continuing between the Vindes and Astarte ; but on arriv-
ing at the Chapman the Astarte went ahead of her, the one
being on the port and the other on the starboard tack, the
Astarte holding a very good wind, but, as it was thought,
being somewhat slow in stays. Off Southend the Astarte
forereached the Mosquito, both being on the starboard tack ;
but in the next board the Astarte, being hampered by a
schooner, had to bear up, and thus give the Mosquito an
advantage, by which she profited, and so again took the
lead. Tho Astarte and Vindex now shifted their topsails,
and set jib-headed ones; but the Astarte again gradually
overhauled the Mosquito, the wind freshening, and went
into first place, which she continued to hold till rounding
the steamer. Throughout the journey down, the Vindex
had proved herself a very fine yacht to windward. There
was a signal of protest by the Vindex against the Astarte for
not giving way when upon the port tack, as she was bouni
to do, but it V. as not persevered in. The rounding was as
follows :

H.
1 Astarte
2 Mosquito
3 Vindex
4 Surge 3 20 25

In rounding the Vindes broke the jaws of her gaff. They
all now spanked up before the wind with a flowing sheet and
good flood tide under them, and nothing occurred worthy of
notice upon the return, the race finishing in the following
times and order :

11. M. S.
1 Astarte
2 Mosquito
3 Vindex
4 Surge

Of the third. class match we are not able to say much, for
the reason before assigned. The Vampire, Satanella, and
Dudu were very smart in setting their canvas and getting
away, but the Zerlina and the Alexandra were somewhat
slower. The first three were soon in trim, but the Zerlina
getting her peak halyards foul was thrown astern of the
others. Placed in a line below the others they also made a
board to the north shore, and the Vampire soon after the
start took a decided lead, which she held some distance up,
There was some fine sailing between the Alexandra and
Dudu, and was continued to Thames Haven, where the
Alexandra led, the Dudu second, and Vampire third. but
oil approaching the Chapman, the wind freshening, the
Vampire passed her boats and took the first place, and from
that point continued to lead all the way down. No time
was kept at the turning boat, but the following is the order
in which they rounded :
Vampire three minutes ahead.
Dudu second, by a minute.
Alexandra one minute ahead of the Zerlina, which was six
minutes before the Satanella.

They kept the same order all the way home, finishing as
follows :

S.
1. Vampire
2. Dudu . 4 55 3
3. Alermdra
4. Satanella
Zerlina, not timed.

The noble Commodore then presented Mr. A. Duncan,
of the Vindex, with the fist prize of his class, and Mr.
Houldsworth, of the Mosquito, with the second, winning
by time ; Captains Cermoran and Baldock, the owners of the
Vampire and Dudu, with the prizes of their class.
Too much praise cannot be given to Mr. Watt, the steward
of the Princess of Wales, for the excellence of the provi-
sions on board,