The Sun.
London, England, 1864-01-26 00:00:00

Suspected Poisoning in. the West of England,

On Saturday an inquiry took place at Crotch's White
Hart Hotel, Hayle, information having been laid against
Richard Oke Millett, surgeon, of Penpol, near Hayle,
charging him with having administered poison to his bro-
ther, Jacob C. Millett, with intent to cause his death. The
accused was present, and Mr. Downing, of Redruth, ap-
peared on his behalf. Mr. Roscarlo, of Penzance, prose-
cuted. The main facts of the case, as far as they have yet
been elicited, are these :—lt appears that Jacob Curnow
Millett, an elderly man, had been living with his brother
(the accused) at Permed, in the parish of Phillack. For
nearly a month prior to his decease he had been suffering
from a cold. His brother had recommended him to stay at
home, but on one or two evenings he went out to go to
chapel. On Christmas-eve the servant noticed that his
cough was worse than usual, and on the morning of the
3O th
ul. he said that ho felt very
poorly. t
, i n
Dinneranswoenr
thatto herday in qvzy
served up at two o'clock,
and consisted of roast beef, garnished with horse-radish,
potatoes, savoys, and turnips. Those who sat at the table
were the deceased, the accused, and Miss Davey, and her
nephew, Master Rawlins, who were on a visit to the house.
The deceased is stated to have eaten with unusual hearti-
ness, partaking of the beef and vegetables, and ale, and also
eating one baked and four raw apples. At the conclusion
of the repast the deceased went upstairs to his bedroom.
The accused and Miss Davey afterwards went to the apple
chamber, a few minutes' walk fram the house, and Master
Rawlins left the house for the purpose, it is supposed, of
going home. The deceased, it appears, had been in the
habit of going to his bedroom for an hour every day after
dinner, and on the day in question, after remaining there
about his usual time, he called the servant to get him his
hat and coat, stating that he wanted to go out. The servant
supplied him with these things, and had returned to the kit-
chen, when he again called to her, and told her to bring him a
glass of cold water, complaining of thirst, as he had also done
in an earlier part of the day. She took him a tumbler of
water immediately, which he drank, and she then continued
her work. She afterwards found that the deceased had
not left the house, but was standing in the drawing-room,
rubbing his forehead with his hand, Which was a common
practice with him. She asked him what was the matter,
and he said he did not feel well, and that he had a pain in
his stomach. The servant then went to the apple chamber,
and called her master, and he came into the house. By his
advice a glass of brandy was given to the deceased, and the
accused returned to the apple chamber. The deceased said
he thought he would go out for a walk, but after some per-
suasion from the servant he remained at home, and asked
for a glass of whisky, which ho drank. The deceased sub-
sequently became worse, and he was taken up to bed in-
sensible, where ho vomited several times, and threw up
a portion of what he had eaten for dinner. He died on the
following morning. Nothing was administered to him for
twelve hours before his death. An inquest was held on the
body, and the jury returned a verdict that the deceased died
from natural causes. Since the body was interred a suspi-
cion has arisen that the deceased had been poisoned. Upon
the information of Mr. William Millett of Hayle, brother of
the deceased, and Mr. Frederick Edmonds, M.R.C.L.S.,
the Home Secretary, Sir George. Grey, gave an order for
the exhumation of the body. This was done on Wednesday
last, and certain portions of the body were sent for analysis
to a medical man. The result of his examination, communi-
cated by telegraph, was the issue of a warrant on Friday last
by the Rev. Uriah Tonkin, county magistrate, and the same
evening the accused was arrested at his residence. The in-
quiry, which is exciting the utmost interest in the neigh-
bourhood, was adjourned till Thursday next, the magis-
trates declining to accept bail for the appearance of the ac-
cused. A portion of the cross •examination seems to point
to a suspicion of the use of strychnine. There are rumours
concerning the recent making of a will by the deceased,
under which the accused would benefit, and that there had
been unkindness on the part of the latter towards the de-
ceased. The deceased, Mr. Jacob Curnow Millett, and the
prisoner, his brother, were in very easy circumstances ; the
former had always lived on his means, and the latter had
given up, or all but given up, his practice as a medical man
in Hayle. Deceased was about 50, and the prisoner about
48 years of age,— Western NOrtitn.q