The Sun.
London, England, 1862-05-17 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, MAY 17, 1862.

I NIPE MAL PARLIA NIE NT.

HOUSE OF LORDS—YEsTEEDAY.
ROYAL COMMISSION.

The Royal assent was given by commission this after-
noon to the following bills
Exchequer Bonds (1,000,000).
Charitable Uses Act Amendment (1861).
Crown Suits (Isle of Man).
College of Physicians (Ireland).
Netley Hospital Estate.
Whipping.
Piers and Harbours Act Amendment.
Writs of Habeas Corpus into her Majesty's Possessions
Abroad.
Transfer of Stocks (Ireland).
Wycombe Railway.
Folkestone to Barham Downs Road.
London and Blackwall Railway.
London, Tilbury, and Southend Railway.
Wareham Roads.
Norwich Corporation.
Ross Turnpike Trust.
Farringdon Railway.
Winchester Road.
Coventry Poor Act Amendment.
Cirencester District Roads.
Much Wenlock and Severn Junction Railway.
Bridport Road (Second District).
Bradford Corporation Water.
Heckmondwike Gas
British Plate Glass Company.
Webb and Craig's Patent.
Their lordships then adjourned during pleasure.
The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack
at five o'clock.

leged to have been given, as to the prramount rights of the
Crown to those lands.

Sir G. LEWIS said that the letter in question was per-
fectly valid.

CHARITABLE DONATIONS, kc, (IRELAND)BILL.

The O'CONOR DON asked the hon. member for the
City of Waterford, whether it was his intention to proceed
this session with the Charitable Donations and Bequests
(Ireland) Biil.
Mr. HASSARD said he would proceed with this bill on
Monday week.

and allowances. The second received 20 soya out of the

stakes. One mile 7 furlongs. 36 subs.
Mr. Merry's Vest colt, 3 yrs, 6st 101 b . (H. Covey) 1
Count F. de Lagrange's Palestro, 4 yrs, Bst 81b (includ-
ing 51b extra) (11, Grimshaw) 2
Mr. Johnstone's Lady Ripon, 4 yrs, Bst 31b....(Arn01d) 3
Mr. Sopp's Jheldi, 4 yrs, 7st Gib (carried 7st 81b)
(Fordham) 4
Betting-5 to 4 agst the Vest colt, 6to 4 agst Palestro,
and 5 to 1 agst Lady Ripon.
Tho Vest colt jumped off with the lead, followed by
Jheldi, Palestro, and Lady Ripon ; but on rounding the
top turn Falestro went up, and at the railway arches got to
the favourite's girths. The pair ran thus along the side,
Lady Ripon going third—Jheldi, notwithstanding that he
was sharply spurred, dropping to the rear. On entering the
straight Covey slightly increased his lead, which he held
to the end, and won easily by a neck, which might have
been made lengths ; Lady Ripon was a bad third, and
Jheldi beaten off.

The Hooton Stakes of 10 sovs each, 5 ft, with 100 added,
for 2-yr-olds ; colts, Bst 121 b; fillies and geldings, Bst 91b;

winners extra. The second to receive 30 sous out of the

stake. Half-a-mile. 21 subs.
Mr. Merry's Escape, Bst 121 b (Challoner) 1
Mr. Smith's The Cobbler, Bst 121 b (J. Harrison) 2
Mr. Barber's Hugh Lupus, Bst 121 b (Smethurst) 3
Mr. Barber's Sails, Bst 91b
Betting-5 to lon Escape, who took up the running after
the first 300 yards, was never afterwards approached, and
won in a canter by three leßgths ; a bad third ; Sails beaten
off a long way.
Handicap Plate of 70 sovs. Winners extra. Half-a-mile.

22 subs.
Mr. Redhead's My Mary, 3 yrs, Gst (Noble) 1
Mr. Bowles's Fig, 3 yrs, 6st 21b (Bradford) 2
Mr. T. S. Dawson's Tommy Jones, 3 yrs, sst 121 b
(Carroll) 3
Captain Chriztia'a Miss Julia, aged, 9st 10th 71b ex)
ordham 4
Mr. Moore's Eidolon, 5 yrs, 7st 101 b ( (FSpeight) ) 5
Betting-5 to 4 apt My Mary.

A good deal of delay was caused at the post by Miss
Julia. When the flag dropped My Mary got off with the
lead, made all the running, and won in a canter by six
length; Miss Julia was second to the distance, whore she
was pulled up, and Fig finished second, two lengths in ad-
vance of Tommy Jones.
The Dunham Massey Plate (handicap) of 5 sovs each, with

50 added. Winners 101 b extra. Half-a-mile. 9 subs.
Mr. Barber's'Abron, aged, 7st 81b (H. Grimshaw) 1
Mr. T. Hughes's Juliet, Est 101 b (Midgley) 2
Mr. Bowles's 'Jetty, 5 yrs, 7st
Mr. John Whittaker's David Ann, 4 yrs, Est 41b
(Wheatley) 4
The following also ran :—Lord of the Manor, Trust, and
Hare.

Betting.-7 to 4 agst Miss Juliet, sto 2 agst Lord of the
Manor, 4 to 1 agst Abron, and 6 to 1 agst any other.
Hetty made the running,followed by Juliet, David Ann,
and Abron to the distance, where they closed, and ran a
splendid race home, Abron winning by a head ; the same
distance separated the second and third.

BETTING ON THE COURSE.
GREAT NORTHERN HANDICAP.
sto 1 agst Ivanhoff (taken)
sto 1 agst Rapparee (taken)
ato 1 agst The Wizard (taken)
7to 1 agst Caractaeus (taken)
7to 1 agst Silkatone (taken)
THE DERBY.
4to 1 agst The Marquis (offzed)
6to 1 agst Buckstone (offered)
10 to 1 agst Stockwell colt (taken)
10 to 1 agst Caterer (taken)
12 to 1 agst Zetland (offered)
15 to 1 agst Neptunus (taken)
25 to 1 agst Spite (taken and offered)
40 to 1 agst Star of the West (wanted)
7to 1 agst Lord Glasgow's lot (taken)
1000 to 40 agst Parr's lot (taken)
DERBY, 1863.
5000 to 200 agst Escape (taken)

ALLEGED WIF7 POISONING BY

STRYCHNINE.

For the past aye days the coroner of the district, Mr.
John J. Shee, has been inquiring at Clogheen, county Tip-
perary, into the cause of the death of Mrs. Johanna Burke,
wife of the clerk of the Waterford Uni n, the result of
which is that Mr. Burke has been committed to the county
gaol, the verdict of the jury being that Mrs. Burke had
died on the 11th of April from the effects of strychnine ad-
ministered to her in medicine, which she had received from
her husband, Richard Burke, in Waterford. The particu--
lars of the case, as revealed in a very votuminous evidence,
extending over five days, appears to be af the most painful
character. A servant girl in the employment of the de-
ceased stated in the course of her evidence—" I asked the
deceased, the evening of her death, if I would go to the
well for water ; she said no—to go to the river ; I did so,
and returned to the house ; deceased got a cup, and put it
into the water ; she said that she wanted it for the medi-
cine ; she said there was a very bad taste on that physic ;

I asked her which was the camomile or the physic the
worst; she said the physic was ; she then got up and went
to the' door ; she was not long when she called me three
times ; she said " Oh, take me, Nelly, Nelly, Nelly ; she
told me' to get some water for her; I put some in a cup
for her, but she was not able to hold it; she then said,
" Catch me, and lay me down, Nelly," and she fell on the
ground trying to discharge her stomach ; she said " Bad
cess to that blackguard medicine ; she said " Oh, Nelly,
Nelly, I am dying, I fear; I then went for her sister,Mrs.
Mooney, and when we came in she was working is con-
vulsions ; she told me there was more of the medicine in a
small box, with a loose cover on it, in the parlour, and said
she would show it to Dr. Walshe ; she also said that day
that she would take the medicine that night which her hus-
band had sent her from Waterford, From the testimony of
Mrs. Mooney, the sister of the dead woman, we gather that
the deceased had a "little property, which she had to mind.
Her husband lived in Waterford, but it was not from any
misunderstanding they did not live together. She was
subject to fits of epilepsy. On Monday, the 14th of April,
she took a cup of tea and some bread and butter in my
house, and left, to all appearance, in her usual good health.
About half-past eight I was called by her servant, who
called to me at the door, and said, Come out I come out I
herself wants you,' and on entering the house of the de-
ceased found her lying on her back on the kitchen floor.
She then said, Lift me up, lift me up.' I called for a pil-
low to raise her head, but she still said, ' Higher, higher ;
Oh lift me a little higher.' She then asked to be turned
on her side, which I did; she then said, ' Oh, Annie,
Annie, I believe lam dying.' 1 said it would be nothing,
that it was only an attack of a fit of epilepsy. She said,
' Oh, no no no; don't you see it is not.' She then raised
herself en her side, and threw up her limbs violently. She
again said, ' That is not an hysteric fit. No, no, my sister, I
am dying, and I would rather die in your arms than in any
one else's in the world.' She again said, ' God forgive
them that caused this.' About three weeks ago
the deceased came into my house with a parcel
of medicine in white paper, and a bottle con-
taining some liquid. She said she got it from her husband.
I knew him to send her medicine before on one occasion.
At the time deceased was showing me the medicine she said
it was not worth losing 8d by it. Some days after this she
said, I think I m ill take the medicine ho sent me.' 1 said,
'Do not mind it.' The deceased never told me she took
any medicine. On Sunday last (13th) deceased brought a
,etter into me, which she got from her husband, containing
two half notes. In the letter he alludes to the medicine,

and asks did she take any of it. There is another letter,
in which he tells her how to take the medicine. On the

._ .._
evening of the deceased's death the priest questioned the
servant what she had taken; she said she had taken medi-
cine she had got from Waterford. I started at this."
Hanna Mooney states—" Thole was a sideboard removed
from the house of the deceased the night of her death, in
order to make room to wake her. The head constable came
to me about 10 o'clock, and asked me to examine the
ith
a-
board for medicine. 1 also found a white
paper,
lw
powder in it, which I gave to Head ConstablelN'Aah on
next morning." That powder was
an
handed over to Head
Constable Hatton, who subsequently subm dit to Dr.
cork, fort analysis, d
Blythe, Professor, Queen's College,
in his evidence the learned Professor says :—" I recognise
Constable Hatton here. He caroo to me on the 24th of
April last, at my house in Cork, and handed me three
articles, one of which was a white paper parcel, on which
was written ' Dose of salts of 'magnesia, to be dissolved
in cold water, and taken at bed time,' The package
contained a white powder. The next was a brown
paper package securely tied and sealed with five
seals. On two of these seals were the letters
' It. ll.' in German or Saxon characters. This contained a
jar holding a small portion of intestine, a stomach which
was slit open so as to allow a portion of the contents to escape
into the jar, and the third was a bottle containing a fluid.
While is ety• possession no person could have interfered
with these in any way, either at my own house, or at my
laboratory at the college." Dr. Blythe then said, " The
result cf the analysis is, that the deadly poison strychnine
was found in the stomach of the deceased," The powder
was found, upon being placed under a powerful microscope,
to be of a mixed ery4alline nature ; the constituent parts
being about 78 parts of epsom salts to 11 parts of carbonate
of magnesia, and 11 parts the deadly poison strychnine. It
might be said to contain nearly 12 per cent. of strychnine.
Judging, therefore, from the symptoms shown previous to,
and the suddenness with which the death is reported to have
occurred, I am of opinion that the death of Johannah Burke
li was caused by the administration of the deadly poison strych-
nine. In concluding his address to the jury, the coroner thus
put the cardinal fact of the case :—" You have the powder
tound by the head-constable given to liattou, brought and

PRICK
STAMPED ....sd.

allre:tnlly
o b
ue fortoge youth er to
withco nhsiedrer how
dying
delivered personally to Dr. Blythe, who tells you that no
person could have tampered or'interfered with it, and in
forgive them that caused this,' theuihary,
this he finds the deadly poison strychnine. This being a
plderetectple
ara
rsr
aatt
ioor yn ,
whichi n;Geuhoi
dry,
a
vi
this medicine came into her possession; and, taking the
question will be, would you be warranted in sending
Richard Burke to stand his trial for having sent her
that medicine, which, from all the evidence adduced. it is
clear she had taken, and from which her death ensued. The
first I shall read is the following :
Friday, Eleven o'clock.
My dear Wife,—l write to inform you that the little par-
cel containing the coffee has been forwarded by train this
day. If you like it I shall send more fresh roasted. I trust
the medicine will agree with you.
Mr. Harrington says
that by continuing to take it you will get rid of that odious
complaint under which you aro labouring so long. Put a
lozenge on your tongue and you will not feel
thetaste.--
Yours, &c., RICHARD BITRL.E.
In another letter he says :
My dear Wife,— Mr. Harrington is anxious to know if
you are taking the medicine. Be sure and let me know
everything in your next letter. Above all, if an attack of
epilepsy seizes you, be sure to take the medicine.—Yours,
&c., RT CHARD Bu LIKE.
Coroner—lt will be necessary to weigh the connection
between those letters and the taking of the medicine, and
how he recommends her to take it. There is another let-
ter dated Saturday :
My dear Wife,—l arrived here on Monday morning, and
have had no time to write since, being engaged attending a
trial, Carroll v. Peet, a paper containing which I send you.
I hoye you are better now than when I saw you. indeed,
your breathing and pulsation, resembling an old country
watch, was frightful. Lose no time in using the medicine
which I send up to you.—Yours, &c„

RICHARD BURKE.
There is a letter dated on Saturday, the 12th April, in
whioh he speaks of the salts, and on the pith she takes it,
and in half an hour after is a lifeless corpse. From all
these circumstances it will be now for you to consider, gen-

tlemen of the jury, if you are to exclude Mr, Burke from
any responsibility in this transaction. I believe I have laid
all the evidence necessary before you. You may now retire
to your room, and consider your verdict.
The jury retired, and in about twenty minutes after they
returned into court, when the verdict was handed to the
coroner. The verdict simply ran :—" That the deceased,
Johanna Burke, came by her death at Clogheen, on Mon-
day, the 14th April, from the effects of strychnine, in me-
dicine which she had received from her husband, Richard
Burke, in Waterford."
The Coroner, having read this aloud, asked if they had
all agreed to it, to which they all returned an affirmative.
The Coroner—ln that case, M. Burke, I must order 3 ou
into custody.
Mr. Burke—Very well, Sir.

The warrant was then made out, and Mr. Burke, accom-
panied by an escort of police, was brought from tho court
house to the barrack, preparatory to being sent forward to
Clonmel.

THE CIVIL WAR IN AMERICA.

QUEENSTOWN, MAY 16.

The Royal Mail Company's steamship Persia,
from New York on the 7th inst., arrived here at
2.30 p.m: to•day, with 234 passengers and 808,560
dole. in specie.
She landed 20 passengers, and 65 sacks of mails,
and proceeded for Liverpool at 3 p.m. ; all well.
The Persia has accomplished the passage from
New York to Queenstown in nine days.

(PER PERSIA, via QUEENSTOWN.)
NEW YORK, MAY 6 (Morning).
Jefferson Davis and other Confederate leaders are
reported to have arrived at Yorktown on the 30th
ult., and, after a consultation with the leading
Generals, all acquiesced that Yorktown would
prove untenable, and should be evacuated. General
Magruder alone was of opinion that it was not
advisable to evacuate the position.
General Johnstone issued the order for the evacua-
tion on the Ist inst:
The evacuation commenced on the 2d, and was
completed on the night of the 3d.
The Confederates left a large amount of guns and
camp equipage, which they could not remove for
fear of being seen.
As soon as the evacuation of Yorktown was
known the troops under the command of General
M'Clellan were put in motion to pursue the Con-
federates.
On the 4th, two miles from Williamsburg, they
came up with the Confederate rearguard, which
was found to be strong.
The Federals being in want of infantry, and
night coming on, the pursuit was postponed till the
morning of the sth.
Later telegrams will give further details of the
pursuit,
The Federal gunboats proceeded up York River
simultaneously with the land forces.
Deserters state that the Confederates at York-
town numbered 100,000 men.
General M'Clellan officially reports that all along
the lines the rebel works proved to have been most
formidable, and says, "I am now fully satisfied of
the correctness of the course I have pursued. The
success is brilliant. You may rest assured its effect
will be of the greatest importance."
General Halleck has telegraphed to the War De-
partment that important movements would take
place at Pittsburg Landing immediately.
The steamers Ella Warley, Bermuda, and Floreo
have been captured while endeavouring to run the
blockade.

Mr. Seward has officially notified to the Foreign
Ministers that Federal mails under military surveil-
lance will now be allowed to pass to New Orleans
and other ports lately occupied by the Confederates.
He also announces that a collector had been ap-
pointed to New Orleans, and that the necessary
preparations were making to modify the blockade so
far as to permit limited shipments to be made to or
from New Orleans and one or more other ports
which are now closed by blockade. The time, and
conditions will be notified by proclamation.
The Confederate General commanding at Savan-
nah has announced his determination to defend that
city to the last extremity.
it is reported that the steamer Nashville ran the
Wilmington blockade with a cargo of gunpowder
and army stores. She passed through the fleet of
seven vessels, all of which threw shells at her with-
out
inflicting any damage.
Refugees from Memphis report that the
n, Federals
and
occupied Baton Rouge without opposition,
that General Butler had landed his forces at New
Orleans, where large quantities of cotton had been
citizens of New Orleans have held a
ic
Union
town which enthusiastic demonstrations have
taken
secured. The
refugees state that there would be little
oppositionom e
to the passage of Federal gunboats up
meet
place.
Some ace.
the Mississippi.
Southern accounts generally represent that no
foreign flags
will be allowed to prevent the destruc-
tionof property where there is any chance of its
falling into the hands of the Federals.
The French Minister, M. Mercier, arrived at
Yorktown on the 4th. No solution has yet been
obtained of the reason of his movements.
A. Memphis despatch says that the stores in New
Orleans were being emptied of molasses and sugars,
which were being thrown into the river and streets.
The Hammonia has arrived out.

EVENING

General 111‘Clellan officially reports from the
Federal bivouac in front of Williamsburg on the
sth inst.:—

" I find Johnstone in front of me in strong force,
probably much greater than my own. Gen. Han-
cock has taken two redoubts, brilliantly repulsing
the rebels.
" I do not know our exact loss, but fear General
Hooker has lost considerably on our left. learn
from prisoners that the rebels intend di▪
sputing
every step to Richmond. I shall run the ri▪
sk of at
least holding in check while I resume my original
plan.
" My entire force is undoubtedly considerably
inferior to that of the rebsls, but I will do all I can
with the force at my command."
aatethaethCeon6ftehdeinrastte.
A despatch from Yorktown,
reports that the first indication of
rearguard having been reinfoxma Was the fact of