The Sun.
London, England, 1863-02-21 00:00:00

Henrietta Green, of No. 5, Holton-square, who
said the deceased was her father, and he was in good
health the day before his death, when he left the
City. There had been a little difference in the family,
and she did not visit him. The deceased had mar-
ried witness's cousin, which she objected to. The
deceased was her father by the second wife, and he
had had three children by the first wife ; but they
were dead. There had been also two children by
the last wife. The first one died, but the other
child was living, and in charge of the witness,
who had not visited the deceased at his house
since Christmas, 1862. Witness's husband worked
for deceased in Basinghall-street, City. The de-
ceased had insured his life for 1800, but that sum
had been mortgaged. There had been three wills,
and the last one was executed six years ago. De-
ceased talked about leaving the child who is now
living 10s. per week for life. Since the deceased's
death her uncle (one of the executors) had called at
the house and taken the last will away. Deceased's
last wife wished to have £1 per week, but the
deceased objected to that amount. She never told
any one that the deceased had been poisoned, and it
was a false report. Had said that she would like
to have her father opened to see the cause of death,
as they could not get a certificate for the burial.
By the Coroner—l do not believe that the de-
ceased has been poisoned. Mr. Schoons, the
executor, had taken the last will away, but he had
done wrong. Mr. Sleigh, her solicitor, had informed
her that Mr. Schoons had acted illegally.
Mrs, Spurgeon, the first witness, was recalled,
and said, in reply to the Coroner, that what she
had said was what Mrs. Green had told her, and
she believed, from what Mrs. Green said, that the
deceased had come by his death unfairly,
Mrs. Green denied this, and said that she only
wished her father to be opened to satisfy her.
Various reports had been circulated round the dis-
trict of Tottenham, but they were all vague.
By the Coroner—After deceased's death I searched
the house, and found 115 in gold, three cheques,
£l5 in Bank of England notes, and some silver. I
have been living upon a small portion of the money
and supporting the child.
By Mr. Vann—l saw the last will, and the one
produced is the same. It was entirely in favour of
the child, and not of any other person.
The Deputy Coroner said that Mrs. Spurgeon
had better take charge of the house and property at
present.
Mr. Green said that she was the party who ought
to have possession, and Mr. Sleigh had told her so.
Mr. Vann said that since the death an attempt
had. been made to clear the house.
Mr. John Pennyfather, surgeon, said that he had
found the heart and lungs perfectly healthy. The
stomach and intestines were placed in a jar for
analysis. The brain was very vascular, and there
was blood effused on the surface. The effusion was
sufficient to account for death. Some poisons might
produce that effect.
Dr. Letheby, the chemical lecturer of the London
Hospital, said that he bad received a quart bottle
tied over and sealed. The bottle contained 23 oz,
of a pale sherry-coloured liquid ; no particular
odour, tut was very bitter, with a slight sediment,
which he examined with the microscope, and found
to be vegetable matter. He submitted it to various
tests, and had found about 19 grains of a poisonous
character, which he found to be the active pr7nciple
of bryony root, a substance sold by herbalists, but
it was not mandrake, as it was sold for. The sub-
stance was poisonous in its nature, and had caused
death on several occasions. It would cause great
sickness, and as a narcotic would act upon the brain.
Witness had examined the contents of the stomach
and intestines, and similar appearances were pre-
sented from the effects of the same root, which grew
wild in the hedges.
Mrs. Spurgeon said that the deceased had kept the
root in the house several years, and had bought it
of a hawker in the street.
Mrs. Green said, in reply to the deputy coroner,
that the wills were in the possessiou of Mr. Sleigh,
who would keep them for the present.
The jury returned a verdict, that the deceased
died from poison, called bryony root, taken acci-
dentally.