The Sun.
London, England, 1862-06-21 00:00:00

THE ALLEGED POISONING OF A LADY.

Yesterday morning, at 10 o'clock, Mr. John Humphreys,
the Middlesex coroner, resumed the investigation at the
Plough Tavern, Kensal-green, respecting tho death of
Mrs. Francis Phillips, aged 27, who was alleged to have
been poisoned in the month of February last under most
extraordinary circumstances. The body, it -will be re-
collected, was exhumed last week under the coroner's
warrant, which was issued upon the affidavits of certain of
the deceased's relations, and the inquiry was adjourned
until to-day to give time for a chemical analysis of the
stomach and viscera of the deceased to be performed by
Dr. Barley.

Mr. Potter appeared for Mr. Phillips, the husband of the
deceased, and Mr. Vernon Blukburne and Mr. Gould
attended OR behalf of the mother and other relatives of the
deceased.

The proceedings appeared to excite extraordinary interest.
Mr. Potter said that Serjeant Ballantine was to have
been present with a view to the cross-examination of the
scientific witnesses upon questions which he (Mr. Potter)
confessed himself unable to deal with, but the learned ser-
geant was detained in the Exchequer Court. He therefore
solicited an adjournment, as it would be for the advantage
of all parties that there should be no miscarriage of justice.
A long conversation then ensued, after which the coroner
said that he would allow Mr.Blaekburne, as representative
of the parties preferring the charge, to open the case, and
leave the cross-examination. to Sergeant Ballantine after-
wards, should he arrive before the rising of the court.
Mr. Potter then consulted his client, and said that Mr.
Phillips felt severely his ease being proceeded with in the
absence of Mz. Sergeant Ballantine, as the •charge against
him was most serious. He prayed for the adjournment
most m gently.
The Coroner said that scientific witnesses were also pre-
sent; but, however, an adjournment would be necessary,
because Professor Harley had communicated that he had
not yet finished the analysis. Ho should therefore pro-
pose to adjourn at once, on Mr. Potter's undertaking to
pay the costs of the witnesses from York that attended on
behalf of the wife's relation.
This proposal was assented to, and the court agaid ad-
journed until Friday next.

THE DISINTERMENTS AT SHEFFIELD:m.4II open-
ing the case yesterday Mr. Gould said he should proceed
upon the fresh warrant which had been issued against
Isaac Howard for disinterring various bodies unknown, for
exhuming the body of a child named Ward, and for having
unlawful possession of the dissected remains of a man
named Greatorox. Joseph Couldwell and Robert Elliott,
labourers employed by Howard, gave evidence as to the
mode in which, under the direction of the latter, the dis-
interments were conducted. Elliott said he had not seen
anything done at the Wardsend Cemetery that he had not
witnessed at other graveyards. He admitted, however,
that in the other graveyard to which he referred he had not
seen bodies taken out of a grave and put into a shed, and
then into a stable, and lastly into a pit. James Robert
Croft, inspector of the West Riding constabulary, described
what he saw on visiting the coach-house and pit. Evidence
was then adduced of the disinterment of the body of a boy
named Ward. The body was buried in February, 1858, and
the coffin, with the plate upon it, Was found in the pit.
The plate was clearly identified. After several other cases
of a similar nature had been inquired into, the hearing was
adjourned until Wednesday next. The bench at the same
time granted a summons, to be heard on Monday, against
the Rev. J. Livesey, charging him with making false en-
tries in the register, and giving a false
certificate of
the
intorroont of Oreatorez.