The Sun.
London, England, 1837-02-14 00:00:00

(:COURT OF COMMON PLEAS.

LIBEL.
MORRISON V. HARMER.
(Conll,llled from Tic Sun of )esterday.)
Mr. Sergeant WILDE replied upon the evidence pro-
duced by Mr. Kellj' to rebut that given by the defend-
ant, contending that his clients were not only justified,
but called upon in the performance of a public duty
to do what they had done ; and trusted that the
Jury would not be led away by the delusive evi-
dence which had been broeght forward on lehalf of the
plaintiff—evidence which, in many cases, had not been
thought of till the eleventh hour.
Mr. KELLY replied on the whole case on behalf of the
plaintiff, denying that the defendants bad proved the materials of
which the pills were composed, which was the whole essence
of their case. Every medical man thathad been called, admitted
that they had never taken or administered the medicine in ques-
tion. No doubt the medicine was an innovation and was calculated
to put out of practice many medical men ; it was therefore no
wonder that they should come forth and stigmatise the me-
dicine. He trusted the evidence would be received by the jury
with caution. Never since the world began had any new theory
been started that had not met with the greatest opposition ; for
instance, the discovery of the circulation of the blood, by the im-
mortal Harvey, and that of vaccination, by Dr. Senner ; both of
them met with the greatest opposition, but their good effects were
ultimately acknowledged. So, likewise, with respect to these
pills, the greatest prejudice prevailed, but still among MI the
faculty that had been called, not one bad produced a single
patient who had boon injured by them. On the part of his
client, however, many persons had been brought forward, who
stated that they had received the greatest benefits from taking
these pills. Under these circumstances, he trusted the ver-
dict of the Jury would be in fai-our of his client, and that they
would mark their sense of the libel by the amount of the
damages.
The LORD CHIEF .lE:met summed up the case. Upon the
second issue, the defendants having abandoned the plea, namely,
that which imputed insolvency to the plaintiffs, the jury would
find a verdict for the plaintiffs, giving them such reasonable
reparation as they thought proper. Undoubtedly .the
publica-
lion by the defendants of the article which had bean read, just
on the eve of the trial, was most improper and injn
The jury would say, however, what injury the plaintift;' had
sustained through the publication of that part of the libe; to
which the second plea referred. With respect to the moi.e
material part of the libel, namely—that which imputed to the
plaintiffs a wholesale system of poisoning, the jury would con-
sider how far the other plea justifying it was sustained by the
evidence. His Lordship here read over that part of the libel
and the plea which applied to it, and put it to the jury to say
whether the bills were calculated to lead the ignorant classes,
amongst whom these pills were most likely to be in use, to
suppose that they were applicable to all cases and under all
circumstances, and that they could not be taken in too large
quantities ; whereas they had the evidence of the eminent me-
dial gentlemen who had been examined to prove that gamboge
especially is a powerful medicine, which required to be cau-
tiously administered and narrowly watched. His Lordship
read over each part of the plea separately, and then pointed
out the evidence which applied to that part particularly both
on the one side and the other. He concluded by directing the
jury, if the plea was proved to their satisfaction, to find a ver-
dict for the defendants on the first issue ; if not, they would
find for the plaintiffs on both issues, with such temperate da-
mages as they thought the plaintiffs were fairly entitled to.
The jury retired at half-past six o'clock, and at a quarter to
eight they returned a verdict for the defendants on the filet
issue, namely, that which related to the dangerous character of
the medicine ; but added that they thought that the pills might
be taken if administered with proper care and discretion. On
the second issue, namely, that relating to the solvency of the
plaintiffs, they found a verdict for the plaintiffs. Damages 2001.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

TATTERSALL' S-YESTERDAY.
THE DERBY.

The Derby betting commenced about the usual time, and conti-
nued with considerable animation until half-past six—with what
effect the subjoined list of prices will show. Three or four parties
took 8 to 1 about Brother to Bay Middleton, in ponies or fifties,
and obtained for him the call of Jereed. whose friends were rather
shy. Bto 1 was offered against each at the close. Wintonian and
Mango declined to 20 to 1 (takers), and Flare-up to ten points
more. 30 to 1 was taken about Alahometan, to win 12 or 14,0001. ;
Troilus was backed at 32, 31, 30, and 28 to 1 in hundreds, and his
companion, Hybiscus, retrograding to 40 to 1. Defender was not
mentioned till near six o'clock, when two or three of his friends
" took heart," and laid out a few ponies at 20 and 22 to I, so that
his case is not altogether hopeless. No other material alterations
will be found. The following was the state of the betting at the
close of the room :-
6 to 1 agst Lord Jersey's lot—take 13 to 2
8 to I agst Lord Jersey's Bro. to Bay Middleton—offered
8 to 1 agst Colonel Anson's Jereed—offered
12 to 1 agst Captain Gardner's Phantasima colt—take 14 to 1
20 to 1 agst Lord Exeter's Dardanelles—offered
20 to 1 apt Mr. Wreford's Wintonian—taken
20 to 1 agst Mr. Greville's Mango—taken
22 to 1 agst Arr. Sadler's Defender—taken
28 to 1 agst Mr. Walker's Glider—offered
28 to 1 agst Lord Exeter's Troilus—taken
30 to 1 agst Mr. Osbaldeston's Alalionietan—taken
30 to 1 agst. Lord Lichfield's Cartoon—taken
30 to 1 agst Lord Stradbroke's Caravan—taken
33 to 1 agst Lord Chesterfield's Aliss Clifton colt—taken
35 to 1 agst Alr. Cookes's Norgrove taken
35 to 1 agst Mr. Savile's Brother to Elis—offered
40 to 1 agst Lord Exeter's Hybiscus—taken
45 to 1 agst Mr. Thornhill's Brother to Mouche—taken
2000 to 40 agst Mr. S. Stanley's Rattrap taken
66 to 1 agst Mr. Theobald's Tredville colt—offered
200 even between Jereed and Brother to Bay Middleton
1000 even between Caravan and Defender

THE OAKS.

8 to 1 offered agst Mr. Thornhill's Egeria
9 to I agst Lord Chesterfield's Vacuna (sister to Scrogging)
9 to 1 agst any other.

CORONER'S INQUEST.

SEDUCTION AND SLTlClDE.—Yesterday an inquest was held
at the Edinburgh Castle, near Stepney Church, before Mr.
Stirling, on the body of Caroline Thurlow, aged 17, who
drowned herself under very distressing circumstances.
It appeared from the evidence that between seven and eight
o'clock on Thursday evening last one, of the lock keepers of
the canal was passing over Ben Jonson s Bridge, near Rhodes's
Well-road, when ho discovered a bonnet and shawl. He im-
mediately procured the drags, and caused the canal to be drag-
ged, when the body of the deceased was found. Life was
quite extinct. On the following morning her parents, who
are creditable •persons, residing at Stepney, received by the
post a letter from their unfortunate misguided child, in which
she stated her intention of destroying herself, as she was tired
of life. She expressed her fears that a young man who had
kept her company, and had lately gone abroad, would never
return. She ended the letter by begging forgiveness of her
parents, and stating that her bonnet and shawl would be found
on the Ben •Jonson Bridge.
The Coroner observed there could be no doubt but that the
poor girl had a dread of becoming a mother.
The Jury returned a verdict of " Temporary Derangement.'

BURKE'S HISTORY OF THE LANDED GENTRY.

—This important and truly national work draws towards its.
conclusion. The Thirteenth Part is published, and arrange-
ments, we understand, have been made for the appearance of
the three concluding Parts during the present season. Sub-
scribers will do well, therefore, to order the completion of their
sets as soon as possible.