The Sun.
London, England, 1865-09-22 00:00:00

The Alleged Poisoning of a Young Lady
by her Lover.

(Conan :zed from the Sun of lad Eve,Znq.)

SALisaznY, Thursday.
Dr. Taylor wao cworn, and in answer to the coroner said
—That report (produced) contains a correct statement of
the result of the analysis of the stomach, the intestines, the
pills, the liver, and some blood which were delivered to me
by Mr. Collins, the clerk to the coroner, on the 7th of
September.
The report was as follows :
"On Thursday, Sept. 7, 1865, I received from Mr. Col-
lins, at my house, No. 15, St. James's-terrace, Regent's-
park—first, a jar containing, as it was alleged, portions of
the viscera of deceased; second, a small bottle; and, thirdly,
a box containing pills.
"I re-sealed these articles with the exception of the box
of pills, which was already distinctly sealed with the im-
pression of a cock, and delivered them on the following
morning, Friday, Sept. 8, to my assistant, Mr. Richard
Prior, to be placed in a private room in the laboratory,
Guy's Hospital, until the result of an application to the
Secretary of State was known.
" On Monday evening, Sept. 11, Ireceived an order from
the Secretary (Sir G. Grey) to make the requisite analysis
in this case.
"On Tuesday, Sept.:l2, I proceeded to examine these
articles in the chemical laboratory, Guy's Hospital. They
were re-delivered to me by Mr. Prior, my assistant, who
had kept them locked up in the interim. I then observed
that the seals were unbroken, and that the three packets
were precisely in the same condition as when I delivered
them to Mr. Prior on Friday morning.
" THE Box Or Pius.—This was contained in two
paper wrappers—the outer one of a pink colour, sealed with
the impression of a cock, and labelled in writing ink, 12
pills found in Miss Blake's drawer.' The innerpaper wrap-
per was white, soiled, and marked with ink stains—nothing
legible. It had a broken seal, with a lion rampant. The
box itself was an ordinary white pill-box, but without any
address upon it, or any writing to indicate how the pills
were to be taken. The 'pills in the box were 12 in num-
ber. The average weight of each was rather more than
four grains. They were of a brown colour, and had' an
aromatic smell. They were soft, as if made with treacle or
syrup. Under tho microscope they presented no unusual
appearance. No crystalline or mineralinatter' could be per-
ceived in them. They contained neither arsenic, antimony,
nor mercury ; but they contained a large proportion of
sugar with vegetable matter, similar to the aromatic con-
fection of the Pharmacopmia.

-
digestion or disorders itomdchNillit-i•ery "gin-far
doses in all cases. Had the deceased taken one pill she
might have died, but in a recent case within my know-
ledge the same quantity produced in a man all the symp-
toms of poisoning to an alarming extent. Assuming that
I had not heard anything of the pills I should not have
considered that the strychnia I found would have been
sufficient to account for death,

By the Coroner—On the 19th of September I received
from Superintendent Caldow a white crystallised sub-
stance weighing 11 grains. It is strychnia.
The Coroner then read over the evidence of Mr. Coates
and Dr. Blackmore.

Professor Taylor—Having hcard that evidence, my opi-
nion is that the symptoms described are consistent with
poisoning by strychnia, and not with any known disease,
and also such symptoms as I should expect to arise from
taking three of those pills, and to ba followed by death.
Mr. Blake was recalled and said—l have not had strych-
nine in my place for twelve months past.

By Mr. Kelsey—l kept in the surgery saccharated
cyanide of iron with strychnine in it, and any one could go
to it. I parted with Storer on apparently good terms, but I
did not invite him to come and see me if he•was passing
through Salisbury.

Professor Taylor, recalled by Mr. Whatman—Battle's
vermin killer contains flour coloured with soot or indigo,
which constitutes 58 parts out of 60 of it. If any person
wanted the strychnia out of it he must get it done by a
skilled hand.

Superintendent Caldow recalled, and proved that Storer
made a statement before the city illagistrates, and that in
that statement he said he never had any strychnine in his
possession.

Fanny Bevan, housemaid to Mr. Blake, proved that Miss
Blake called for a candle about half-past nine on the night
of her death and at once went up to bed. She had seen
the deceased all day, and she was quite cheerful the whole
day. Miss Blake did not appear to be distressed at Mr.
Storer's leaving. The box produced (the medicine chest)
witness recognised as Mr. Storer's. She had seen it in
his bed-room frequently on the table under the bookshelf.
He took it.away with him. Never heard him speak of it
as a medicine' chest. It was about half-past eleven when
deceased screamed out. Had waited on her, but never saw
her take medicine.

Mrs. Blake also identified the medicine chest as Mr.
Storer's.

The Coroner then summed up at considerable length,
and directed the attention of the jury to certain facts. He
said there could be no doubt chat Miss Blake had died
from an overdose of strychnine, and the statements of the
deceased showed that she had received the medicine from
Mr.' Storer. If he had administered it in ignorance, it
would be their duty to return a verdict of manslaughter,
but if the strychnine was maliciously given it would then
amount to wilful murder. He then referred to other
portions of the evidence, bearing upon the connection of
Storer with the strychnine and the pills, and pointed out
matters upon which they would have to find their verdict.
The jury retired at half-past five, and returned into
court with the following verdict :—" We find that the de-
ceased, Emily Sophia Blake, died from the effects of
strychnine, taken by her in three pills, given to her by
William John Storer; and we find a verdict of manslaugh-
ter against the said William John Storer."