The Sun.
London, England, 1862-12-26 00:00:00

ALLEGED POISONING,

A protracted inquiry into the cause of the death
of an infant has just been closed in the pretty and
romantic town of Tenby, Pembrokeshire, and a ver-
dict of wilful murder has been returned against Ann
Thomas, 70 years of age, and her daughter Jane, of
22 years. They lived together, with an old and
decrepid man—the husband of the one, father of
the other—named William Thomas, alias Canton,
in a couple of uncomfortable rooms in a four-
roomed house in a locality called Chim-
ney Park. They occupied the second floor,
the upper portion of the dwelling being
rented by a woman named Hannah John, alias
Davies, alias Diddle'em, and her family. The place
is horribly filthy—scarcely any conveniences there.
Two beds are huddled into one small, unventilated
room at the back; attached to the house is a pigsty.
The approaches to it are i❑ a shocking sanitary
condition. The child alleged to have been mur-
dered was the illegitimate offspring of Jane 1
Thomas, who was delivered of it some two or
three months ao. The child became unwell, and
it was attended by Mr. Chater, surgeon. On the
Ist of November it expired under circumstances
which called for a judicial investigation. The
contents of the child's stomach were sent
to Dr. Herapath, of Bristol, for analysis, and
he had given evidence that death had been caused
by strychnine. The coroner's jury, after hearing
his evidence, returned a verdict of wilful murder
against the two women, and they were remt,ved
to Haverfordwest to await their trial. Additional
interest and importance were attached to the in- I
quiry in consequence of the suspicious circum-
stances attending the death of three or four chil-
dren born of daughters of the Thomases during
past years. The whole family has lived immorally,
and it is feared that the parents have subsisted for
a quarter of a century on the profligacy of their
daughters. Two of the sons, are, however, re-
spectable working men.

A ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIES 7 CHARGED

WITH ASSAULI.

At the Ballinrobe Petty Sessions on the 16th in-
stant the Rev. Patrick Lavelle, Roman Catholic
clergyman of the parish of Partry, was charged
with assaulting John Horan, a parishioner, in his
own house at Derreenmore, on the 6th December.
There was also a cross summons, the defendant
having made a counter charge of assault against
the complainant.

According to the opening statement of Mr. Grif-
fin, the agent for the complainant, defendant had
on the morning of the day in question celebrated
mass at complainant's house, complainant making
confession and receiving the Sacrament, and being
on the best terms with the defendant. The rev.
gentleman, after the fatigue of his sacred duties in
the morning, regaled himself as he ought to do, by
taking breakfast after a long fast. He left the
poor man's house, leaving his benediction to them
all—but again returned in a few minutes after and
charged this man with writing a letter to his land-
lord, Sir Robert Blosse. He said "You have writ-
ten a letter to Sir Robert Blosse, and have intro-
duced my name." I wrote no letter said the man.
" You did," said his reverence. The defendant
then struck him on the head, and struck him a se-
cond time, and he would have fallen only for the
bed that was near him. Complainant's brother
said, "Do not let him strike you again." The com-
plainant, having been so assailed by the Rev. Mr.
Lavelle, took up the tongs to protect himself, and
the Rev. Mr. Lavelle, regaining his prudence, left
the house at the solicitation of the Rev. Mr.
Geraghty. The assault was not so serious in point
of injury to the man's health ; but it was a serious
injury to a man of this kind in his humble class in
life to be so degraded,and it was a breach of the law
which should be checked. The offence was farther
aggravated by the defendant's conduct on the follow-
ing Sunday. On that day,in the house ofGod,he caused
his subordinate clergyman, after the mass was
finished, then and there to name this man ; and then
and there this clergyman, acting under the orders
of his superior, called out this pool. humble man
from the altar—this clergy man denounced him, and
invoked the curse of God on him, and likewise in-
voked the interposition of the holy angels and saints
towards its attainment. Mr. Grifii❑ was here in-
terrupted, but proceeded—Look at the auditory the
defendant was in the habit of addressing. He said
to them that this poor humble man had attempted
to assassinate him the previous day. He cursed the
complainant, and called on the saints and angels to
invoke the curse of God on him. This was a nice
exhortation from the altar of God. Here Mr.
Griffin was again interrupted ; and it was ruled that
this matter was irrelevant to the case, which
then proceeded.

Complainant and his brothers gave evidence cor-
roboratory of the above statement.
Iu defence, and in support of the cross case, the
Rev. Mr. Geraghty, It. C. C. Partry, and the de-
fendant were called, and their account of the matter
was that they had been engaged in reconciling a
quarrel at complainant's house, and for that pur-
pose each party was stating his own case. The
Rev. Mr. Geraghty Raid—ln doing this Sohn Horan,
the complainant, became boisterous, and on one or
two occasions he went over as if to assault another
man, Michael Horan. Father Lavelle at this time
went over and separated them. He also separated
the wives of these parties. After this, John (com-
plainant) became more boisterous and violent.
" We are not deaf," says Father Lavelle, but John
Horan continued to speak in such a way that some
of the other parties could not be heard ; then Father
Lavelle went over and gave the man a slap. He
retired from Father Lavelle, and then he became a
good deal more boisterous and more violent. He
said at this time, " You do well to beat me in my
own house." Father Lavelle went over to him again
—I cannot say whether he struck him or not.
Horan stooped down for a weapon—it was the tongs.
He said Ile would not allow Father Lavelle to strike
him. I said to Father Lavelle, " Come away, that
man is mad, leave him there." James, his brother,
and Thomas, a cousin of his, stood up. I asked them
were they going to allow this man to strike the
priest. They stood by him. They showed a dis-
position to strike the priest. We went out. Thomas,
John, and James followed us. They continued to
speak in this violent manner. I called on them to
take John away. I knew he would strike the
priest.

The Rev. Mr. Lavelle, when asked if he had de-
nounced complainant from the altar, said he had
prayed to God to pardon him afterwards.
The decision of the magistrate WAS then announced
—viz., dismissing the cross case with 2s. 6d. costs,
and in the other case fining Mr. Lavelle 10s. and
costs. The fines were paid.

SIR GEORGE AND 711 E DRAGON.

(From Punch.)
Our patron saint in days of yore
Did maul a monster grim,
For which his mem'ry we adore,
May'st thou resemble him.

Thou, who instead of spear dolt wield
A pen with facile force,
With hanks of red tape for thy shield,
And such a hobby horse I

Unflinching, clip his felon claws,
And resolutely bind
The wretch that laughs at human laws,
And strikes at human kind.

Think not to melt by tender beef,
His heart of Portland stone,
Nor that regard as wholesome grief
Which weeps at sight of bone.
Vain will thy sweetest morceau be,
Thy anodynes and balms,
For one of his voracity
Whose conscience has no qualms.

If he for delicacies sigh,
notinonth
tyr stringent agp rpi
WithStalVndhen skilfulness the whip.
Some deem that spices have a charm
To soothe the savage beast ;
'Tis certain curries do no harm
When tanners give the feast.
Consult his moral appetite,
Feed him on thoughts like Pascal's ;
But let none ou thy 'scutcheon write
°rep—Fattener of Rascals.