The Sun.
London, England, 1865-08-15 00:00:00

HIE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVEAING, AUGUST 15, 1865.

The Holborn and Ramsgate Murders•

ADJOURNED INQUEST.—(THIS DAY.)
The Coroner's inquiry into the circumstances connected
with the deaths of William, Henry, and Alexander White,
whose bodies were found dead in the Star Coffee-house,
Red Lion-street, Holborn, was held this day.
Mr. Smith, from the firm of Messrs. Gold and Son,
attended to watch the case on the part of Stephen For-
vrood, otherwise Ernest Southey, who now stands com-
mitted to Maidstone Gaol for trial, on the charge of wilful
murder of Mrs. Forwood and her daughter, at Ramsgate,
on the 10th inst.

Dr. Anthony Roberts, of Lambs' Conduit-street, was the
first witness examined. It will be recollected that a por-
tion of this witness's evidence was taken on Friday last,
and this morning he continued his evidence by a descrip-
tion of the superficial appearance of the bodies of the three
children when he was called on the discovery of the
murders. Fourteen hours after death he commenced
his post mortem examination. The witness then gave a
technical description of the appearance of the intestines
of the deceased children. He sent portions of the tongue,
brain, heart, &c., of each of the three children to Dr. Harley
for analysis.
Dr. Harley, of 77, Harley-street, physician at University
College Hospital, and one of the professors at the college,
then read his report of analysis of the portions of the bodies
of three children he had received from the last witness. It
commenced by stating that, as it was said by Southey that
he had used nicotine to produce the death of the children,
that poison was sought for, but not discovered, but in all
the experiments made unmistakable evidence of prussic
acid was present in all three of the bodies, and no other
poison. How the poison was administered it was impos-
sible to say, as there was no trace of the poison in the chalk
mixture found in the bed-room of the eldest boy. With
respect to the pungent odour prevailing in the bed-rooms,
it arose from oil of copaiba having been intentionally, or
otherwise spilt in the room, perhaps with the intention
of counteracting and destroying the smell of the essential
oil of bitter almonds. He was of opinion that death arose
from the mortal effects of a dose of prussic acid in each
case, and the tests that had led him to that conclusion
were those known as the iron test, and the sulphur,
silver, and vapour tests. The witness then produced a
number of test tubes, each containing a portion of the
poisons taken from the bodies of the children.
The Coroner asked if it could be ascertained how touch
poison was administered to each victim ?
Dr. Harley said he could not say with certainty, but in
the bodies of the two youngest children he' found quite
sufficient to destroy three persons. He should say about
a dessert spoonful was administered to the two little boys,
and a table-spoonful to the eldest. He thought there had
been a second dose given to two, as he found a portion of
the poison unswallowed in the throats of Henry and Alex.
White.

The Coroner—l don't know that we can go any further
in this case. The prisoner is at present detained Jo custody
at Ramsgate, and I don't think we shall have him before
us until the proper authorities take steps to get him to
London, which I believe is intended. The inquiry can now
be closed or adjourned, whichev©r is thought desirable.

Inspector Thompson here informed the Coroner that a
female named Petty, who had the youngest of Mrs. White's
children with her (a little girl of about five years of age),
might be able to say something.
The witness was accordingly examined.
Sarah Petty, of 2, Cornelia-terrace, Battersea, then said
—Southey came to her house in July last. About three
weeks age she saw Mrs. White in the Edgware-road, when
she told her (witness) that she was going to Australia on
the 24th. When Mr. Southey came to her house, he said
to witness that if Mrs. White did not tell her whore she
was to be found some harm would come. He wished to
get possession of the little girl. Mrs. White told her not
to say anything about her to Southey, as, for the sake of
her children, she wished to lead a better life, as she had
quite done with him (Southey). The child was left with
me by Mrs. White in July last.

A Juror—Did he ask you to deliver up the child?
Witness—No. He wished the child to go with him to
buy some cakes.
A Juror—She appeared afraid of him then ?
Witness—Yes.
The little girl was here placed before the jury, but she
was deemed too young to give evidence.

Inspector Thompson, of the detective force, said the last
witness gave him a letter unopened, addressed to Mrs.
White. He opened it and read it. It urged Mrs. 'White
to return to the writer Southey, as if she did not, some-
thing more terrible than she ever imagined would
happen.
A Juror—We ought to have that letter.
Witness—lt can be produced, but not now, as I have
given all the papers to the Commissioners of Police.
Superintendent Searle, of the E division of police, said
he had made inquiries at the chemists in the neighbour-
hood of Holborn, and at bO9, kept by a Mr. Blaxall, he
was informed that a man answering the description of
Southey called on him on the Bth of August. lle said
he had a little boy who had been neglected, and
that ho had returned home with diarrhoea. He
led the chemist to believe that ho was a medi-

cal man, and asked him to make him up a chalk mix-
ture. While this was being done, the man asked the
wholesale price of Scheele's hydro-cyanic acid, but he did
not get any of tho poison from Mr. Blaxall's shop. It is,
however, supposed that Southey had had poison in his pos-
session for some time.
The Coroner said that was all that was known at pre-
sent. It would now be for the jury to decide whether they
would return an open verdict, or adjourn for a lengthened
period to see if it was possible to have the accused present.
They had heard the opinion of Dr. Harley, and there
could not be a doubt about the cause of death; but it was
for the jury to decide the course to pursue. _ _

. _
After a short discussion, theinquiry was adjourned for
a fortnight.

The Attempted Murder at Chatham.

Yesterday the prisoner John Currie, 36th company of
Royal Engineers, who stands charged with haring shot
Major Francis Horatio de Yore, with the intention of kill-
ing him, was brought up before the magistrates at the
Chatham Police-court for examination. The magistrates
on the bench were the Rey. J. J. Marsham, chairman, and
Mr. Thomas H. Baker.

The prisoner, as already described, is a very young man,
his age, as given by himself, being 19. During his brief
examination and while before the magistrates he appeared
to treat the matter with the utmost indifference, and was,
apparently, the only unconcerned spectator in the court.Ho is about sft. Bin. in height,
and has a mild expression
of countenance.
Superintendent Everist said be charged the prisoner with
having, with malice aforethought, fired a loaded rifle at
Major Francis Horatio de Vero, at Brompton barracks, on
Fxiday afternoon last, with intent to kill and murder him.
Mr. Furrell, clerk to the magistrates, after reading over
the charge to the prisoner, asked him if he had anything to
say why ho should not be remanded.

Prisoner—No, sir, I have nothing to say.
Mr. Marsham—Then you are remanded until Wednes-
day next.
The prisoner was then immediately removed, the whole
proceedings occupying but two or three minutes.
Currie continues to display the same dogged demeanour
which he has exhibited over since the occurrence, and his
only regret, from his frequent remarks to that effect,
would appear to be that he did not succeed hi his in-
tention to take Major Do Yore's life, the ono topic on
which he continues to dilate being that officer's alleged
" tyranny" towards him. The prisoner has been Tiosited
by his father, who occupies a respectable position in the
neighbourhood of London, and in reply to his regrets to
find him guilty of such a crime, he only answered that
Major De Vere did not deserve to live.
From inquiries made yesterday afternoon it was stated
that Major De Vera was a trifle better, and from the fact
of his having lingered so long hopes are entertained of hie
ultimate recovery.

MARKETS--This Day.

HAY MARKETS

SMITHFIELD.—OId Meadovi hay, £5 Os Od to £5 15s Od;
new ditto, £4 15s to £5 lOs ; old clover, £6 Os to £6 15s ;
new ditto, £5 108 to £G Os ; and straw, £lBB to £1 13s per
load. Trade slow.

CUMBERLAND.—OId Meadow hay, £5 Os Od to £6 Os;
new ditto, £4 15s to £5 lOs ; old clover, £6 Os to £7 Os ;
new ditto, £5 lOs to £6 Gs; and straw, £1 103 to £llss por
load. A fair demand.
WHITECHAPEL.—OId Meadow hay, £5 Os Od to £6 Os Od;
new ditto, £4 15s to £5 10s; old clover, £6 Os to £6 15s ;
new ditto, £slos to £6 Os ; and straw, £1 8s to £1 13s per
load. Trade inactive.

The Cattle Plague•

KENT.

Several fresh cases of the murrain are reported
to have occurred in the vicinity of Canterbury. The
committee appointed at the meeting of East Kent
farmers on Saturday have drawn up and forwarded
to the Privy Council a memorial setting forth that
all importation of cattle without due inspection
being prohibited in the port of London, the county
of Kent is in especial danger from the landing of
diseased stock in the different ports throughout the
coast, and that the existing state of the law does not
give any power to stop the transit of diseased stock
on the public roads, nor to any public market,
whereby the disease is liable to be indefinitely spread,
and praying that the same system of inspection
be instituted at all ports on the Kentish seaboard ;
that steps be immediately taken to stop as far as
possible the progress of the disease, by prohibiting
the landing or transit of any diseased cattle ; and
that the committee be empowered, in co-operation
with the Government inspection, to take any means
they may consider desirable to stop the progress of
the disease where already commenced. They
have also appointed Messrs. Crowhurst, veterinary
surgeons, of Canterbury, inspectors of stock for East
Kent, but particularly the Canterbury district. Mr.
Lord, veterinary surgeon to the Cavalry Depot, at
the Canterbury Garrison, has suggested to the com-
mittee the propriety of establishing an hospital for
diseased cattle, and, in the event of one being formed,
is willing to render all the assistance in his power
gratuitously. The committee are disposed to enter-
tain the suggestion if funds can be obtained. Mr.
R. Furley, secretary to the Ashford Cattle-market,
has written to say that Mr. Fordham, veterinary
surgeon, has been appointed to examine the stock
sent for sale to that market.

from disease, and that they should keep them sepa-
rate from other cattle for some time.

The CHAIRMAN thought that the suggestions of Mr.
List were very valuable, and would prove of great
benefit to the- fanners. •

Mr. M'GALL suggested that a mutual assurance
society should be formed among the farmers for the
purpose of compensating those who might lose their
cattle through the plague ; but as a meeting had to
be held at Dunse on Tuesday it was thought better
not to discuss the question till then.
A great deal of conversation ensued as to the pro-
priety of taking immediate steps, and the conclusion
come to was that a deputation should attend the
meeting at Dunse on Tuesday, to confer with the
farmers who would there assemble ; and that the
chairman should write to the chairman of the Cham-
ber of Commerce at their meeting in Edinburgh,
suggesting to them the necessity of writing to the
Home Secretary, calling upon him either to prevent
the importation of foreign cattle into the country or
to put a quarantine upon all vessels coming into this
country with cattle. The motion was unanimously
agreed to, and the meeting shortly afterwards sepa-
rated.

There will be a very strong opposition in Newcastle
and the mining and manufacturing districts of
Northumberland and the North to any attempt to
prohibit foreign cattle from being imported into the
Tyne. Considerable numbers are brought in weekly,
and they have had a tendency to check the advance
of prices at the cattle market, which were rapidly
putting it out of the power of large sections of the
working classes of purchasing animal food. Very
great care is being taken by the municipal officers
and the Custom-house authorities that no diseased
cattle be landed, and down to the present time
'foreign cattle have been brought to the Tyne free
from disease and in good condition.