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

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Yesterday Mr Richards held at inquiry at the Vial:llia
ster Arms Tavern, Warner-place, Httykney-road, respecting
the death of Thomas Hill, aged four years, who was alleged
to have died from the effects of poisoning by phosphorus,
Thos. Hill, a warehouseman, 2, Warner-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 intended 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 bread. Witness put
the bread so prepared in a corner of the childrens' bedroom
The next morning, the rats not having eaten it during the
night, witness placed the bread and butter on a shelf in the
room. About 9 o'clock on the Tuesday night witness beard
loud screams proceeding from the children. Upon entering
witness found his two children, George, aged five years,
and Thomas, aged four years, standing in the room in a grei-1
state of fright. Flames, or rather sheets of fire were coming
from the mouth. of Thomas. The colour of the flames w e.ro
blue and white. The boy seemed in dreadful agony, Dr
Lets,nin ~ctes sent for. and he used all the known remedies,
but without• avail. The deceased centimnd 'e, an ineer si.
his
state uu iij Sunday, when he died. All the poisoned
bread and bu: ter witness left on the shelf was gone. Wit..
noes believed deceased had eaten it. The phcs-
phorus is sold i a packets for one penny each, •Witneses
had
used twoer,'-irds of the quantity he purchaseu'n
Tho poison was close to the children's bed. When witness
found the children on t`ho night in question, the whole of the
bed was a mess of blue fiatue. The matter from deceased's
mouth had not only covered the bed but his own night
clothes. He 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 tho.
doctor until next day.

Shocking Death from .Ph

Frances Hill, wife of the last witness, said it was the
constant practice of herself and her husband to put brue.d
and butter on the shelf for the children. They were in Coe
habit of taking a chair and
getting the bread down and Qiit-
ing it. The children wore 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 ease, showed gross carelessnee a
on the part of both parents.

A Juror said the case was a most peculiar one. He aad
his brother jurors wished to view the room iu which t;2'he
children were left on the night in question.

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

Dr. Latham said that the deceased died from poisoning
by phosphorus. He believed the parents gave the real edieS
he prescribed. The packet was marked " Poison. phos_
phorus paste." The poison used was one of a most deadly
character.
The Coroner having summed up,
The Jury, after some deliberation, returned ft e following
verdict—" That the deceased expired from the nor tal effects
of poisoning by phosphorus, and the jurors EB3 that the
deceased was killed by accident, and the jurors ,lttrther say
that great censure is due to both the parents for their gross
carelessness in leaving such poison in the reach of the
deceased."