The Sun.
London, England, 1865-03-24 00:00:00

Extraordinary Charge.

(From the North British Daily Mail of Wednesday)

Considerable sensation was caused in Glasgow yesterday
when it became known that Dr. Pritchard, a respectable
medical practitioner, had been taken into custody and re-
mitted to the sheriff in order to be examined as to the
sudden death of Mary Jane Taylor, his wife, in his house
at 131, Sauchiehall-street, on Saturday last. An event of
this nature of course gave rise to all sorts of rumours ; but
it is scarcely necessary to state that no reliance can be
placed on these. All that can be stated at present with any
certainty in connection with this singular case is that Mrs.
Pritchard had been in delicate health for some time, and
that while in this state her mother, Mrs. Taylor, wife of
Mr. Taylor, silk and lace merchant, Edinburgh, arrived
in Glasgow for the purpose of rendering to her daughter
those services which maternal affection can alone supply.
While residing in the house of Dr. Pritchard she was
taken suddenly unwell, and died about three weeks ago.
The cause of death was, we believe, ascribed to apoplexy.
Mks. Taylor belonged to Edinburgh, where her husband
had family burying-ground. Her remains were interred
in the Grange Cemetery, one of those beautiful burial
places which have sprung up in the precincts of that town
of late years. When we mention that Mrs. Taylor was
about 70 years of age, it will be seen that her death, oc-
curring in these circumstances, need not be looked upon
with any feelings of suspicion. The daughter, however,
speedily followed the aged mother—Mrs. Pritchard, who
was about 40 years of age, having died on Saturday last
Death in this case is alleged to have been caused by gastric
fever; but, according to another statement, no such entry
was made in the registration certificate. The usual ar-
rangements were made for the interment of Mrs. Pritchard
by her husband ; and with a natural feeling her remains
were to be consigned to the family place of sepulture in
Edinburgh. Suspicion seems to have arisen, but on whose
part we have not yet definitely learned. The body was
conveyed to Edinburgh on Monday, and Dr. Pritchard
accompanied it, and,we understand that the funeral was to
take place to-morrow. The police authorities were now
on the alert, and while Dr. Pritchard was in Edinburgh,
were making inquiries of different kinds. Their sus-
picions must have acquired greater strength, for while
Dr. Pritchard was on his way to Glasgow by the last
train from Edinburgh, wholly unconscious of what was
in reserve for him, Superintendent M'Call, along with
Sub-Inspector Audley Thomson, were in waiting at the ter-
minus of the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway here. The
train reached its destination at 10.20 ; and Dr. Pritchard
was in the act of stepping from it when he was arrested
by Mr. M'Call, who informed him that he was to be de-
tained in custody to undergo an examination as to the sud-
den death of his wife. Dr. Pritchard, when apprehended,
displayed all the surprise which we would expect to find
in one who was innocent of all crime in the matter. The
party walked to the Central Police-office, where the war-
rant for his apprehension was read over to Dr. Pritchard,
who was then removed, not to one of the ordinary cells,
but to an apartment adjoining the turnkeys' rooms,
and which is of a more comfortable character than the
usual places of confinement. Although he was remitted
to the sheriff yesterday without being, as is customary,
brought into court, he is still an inmate in the Central
Wilig a departure from the usual