The Sun.
London, England, 1852-04-15 00:00:00

man himself, and partly by his unfortunate mother.
Wheeler protested that the man he had threatened was
about to rob him. .

"Ivaco, sir, your most obedient servant,
" A. ROBERTSON, Chief Constable of Herts.
" Hon. G. C. Norton, Sze."
The following was the letter referred to :
" Mr. Superintenth:nt Duan,—l am happy to inform
you I have arrived safe borne. My mother sends
her respects and thanks, as I do tliso, to Mr. Dural, jun.,
and ladies.—Your obedient servant,
" THOMAS. C. WHEELER."
In the same letter the following appears in the
handwriting of the deceased :
" Sir,—l feel truly grateful fur your kind attention to
my son, for whom I was very anxious.
" ELIZABETH WHEELER.
" Durham-place, Lambeth-road, Aug. 14."

ALLEGED DEATH BY POISON.
EXHUMATION OF THE BODY.
Yesterday an inquiry was commenced before Mr.
W. Carter, the coroner, at the White Lion Inn,
Streatham, as to the death of Mrs. Mary Ann Kirby,
aged forty-seven, the wife of an extensive carrier at
Balham-hill, whose body had been exhumed by order
of Mr. Carter, under the following singular circum-
stances.
The jury having viewed it in the churchyard of
Streatham, where it had been interred on the 19th
of February, on their return to the inquest-room,
the following evidence was given :
James Crichton, in the service of Mr. Lote, of Bal-
ham, the undertaker employed, identified the body
and coffin. The deceased died on the 12th, and was
buried on the 19th of February, in Streatham church-
yard.
Mrs. Sophia Fitcb, who resided in the house with
the deceased and her husband, was examined at
great length. The substance of her evidence was
that she was present at her death. Mr. Kirby was
in bed at the time, and apparently asleep. She had
been in bad health from asthma for some time, but
could get about until the 10th of February, when she
took to her bed. They were intemperate persons, and
she did not live comfortably with her husband. Oa
the 10th she was sick both before and after she went
to bed. The witness went on to state that a week
before Mrs. Kirby died Mr. Kirby introduced a Mrs.
Ann Barnes as a lodger, very much against the dee
ceased's wish, who was under the impression it was
done to annoy her, and she often refused to take tea
and other things that Mrs. Barnes hid made for her,
from, apparently, a great personal dislike. Mrs. Barnes
did not appear t o have come to control deceased, and
when she was ill assisted with witness, as from kind-
ness. Mr. 'Ward, of Balham- hill, surgeon, saw her
on the evening of the 11th February, and medicine
was administered by witness and Barnes. Witness
never saw the medicine tampered with, but when
Mrs. Barnes was out of the room Mrs. Kirby com-
plained of burning beat at the chest and throat. Mrs.
Barnes told Mr. Ward of it. On the morning of the
11th February deceased had left her bed and gone
into the kitchen. Upon witness going to her she
complained of great agony and burning thirst in her
throat and ehest ; the surface was very cold. She
said she had been there since three or four in the
morning, as Mr. Kirby had ill-treated her.
To the CORONER—It was tea that Mrs. Kirby
would not drink on the 11th because Mrs. Barnes
had brought it, but she had supped some of it, and
witness threw the remainder away. On the 10th
Mrs. 13rrne3 made some arrowroot, which deceased
took. Nothing pernicious had been found that
witness knew of, and she believed the deceased had
died a natural death. Mrs. Barnes had left for some
situation.

Mrs. Poore, an elegantly-drosed woman, was called
in, and explained that, under advice, she had directed
Dr. Letheby to examine the body, and make the ne-
cessary analysis, but he had been out of town, and
was unable to do it till the previous day.
The CORONER said, his note had been sent to her
last Saturday, and he was in hopes the inquiry would
have been concluded that day ; as it was, he could not
go on without the medical evidence. Had any in-
quiries been instituted ?
Mrs. Poore (apparently much surprised)—Where
am Ito make inquiries ? Ido not know where to
find arsenic or any thing else. I thought men were
employed for that purpose. My sister ought not to
have been buried without an inquiry.
Tho CoxoNEß—There will be one.
Mrs. Poore—Yes, now. She then withdrew
The CORONER said he would not infringe upon the
sanctity of the grave until he had received a written
certificate from Mrs. Poore that she believed the death
of her sister had been caused by unfair means, and he
had understood, if the investigation had been refused
by him, the Home Secretary would have been
applied to.
These extraordinary proceedings, which excite
great interest, were then adjourned until Dr. Letheby
has been able to make the analysis.