The Sun.
London, England, 1865-09-12 00:00:00

APPREHENSION OF TIER LOVER.

The city of Salisbury was thrown into a state of consider-
able excitement en Wednesday morning last by a rumour,
which was subsequently found to be true, that Miss Emily
Sophia Blake, only daughter of Mr. T. J. Blake, surgeon, of
Castle-street, had died during the night from the effects of
poison. The young lady was only 19 years of age, and of
an exceedingly attractive person, and her death occurred
under somewhat unusual and mysterious circumstances. Late
on Tuesday night Mr. and Mrs. Blake were alarmed by
hearing loud cries from Miss Blake's bedroom, and on pro-
ceeding thither found her in great agony, screaming loudly,
while her body was in a state of rigidity, and exhibiting
symptoms of the presence in the system of strychnine. Her
parents questioned her as to whether she had taken anything
likely to cause illness, but could not obtain a satisfactory
answer. They immediately sent for Dr. Roberts and Mr.
W. M. Coates, who shortly afterwards arrived, and applied
all the usual remedies in a case of this nature. On being
questioned whether she had taken any medicine, she denied
that she had done so ; but she was afterwards privately
questioned by Dr. Robertson, who told her she was dying,
when she admitted that she had taken three pills. Dr.
Roberts asked her who gave her the pills, and she replied,
" They were given to me by Mr. Storer, who said then_

-wort, te keep well." [Mr.. Storer was the late assistant
to Mr. Blake.] Dr. Roberts asked her if any of them were
left, and she replied, " There's a box in the dressing table
drawer." The box of pills was found, and on being asked
if that was the box from which she had taken the pills, she
said it was. Shortly after this she fell into convulsions
and died.

On Wednesday, at 1 o'clock, an inquest was hold at the
Council-house, before Mr. R. M. Wilson, coroner, when the
jury, having been sworn, proceeded to view the body, and
the inquest was adjourned until nine o'clock on Tuesday
(this day), for the purpose of having a post-mortem exami-
nation.

On Wednesday evening Dr. Roberts, Mr. W. M. Coates,
and Dr. H. P. Blackmore made a post-mortem examination
of the body, when they found the principal organs in a
healthy state, while the symptoms which appeared to have
occasioned death, were such as would result from poisoning
by strychnine. The stomach and its contents were accord-
ingly sealed up, and, together with the pills found in the
box, forwarded to Professor Taylor for analysis. The post-
mortem examination revealed the fact that the young lady
was not in the family-way.
It is evident from all the circumstances that Miss Blake
was not in such a state of mind as to induce the belief that
she took the pills with any intention of committing suicide,
as she had written a letter to one of her aunts respecting a
journey to London, and sho was in very good spirits a short
time before her death. She was out for a walk on the
Tuesday evening, and was met by various persons, who
observed nothing unusual in her appearance. She also
had a romp in the kitchen with the servants before she
went to bed.

Mr. Storer, the person who, according to Miss Blake's
statement gave her the pills, was for some time an assistant
to Mr. Blake. It is stated that he proposed to marry her,
but his suit was rejected by her father, and his conduct not
being satisfactory, he was dismissed. He left Salisbury for
Falmouth about three weeks ago. After he was gone Mrs.
Blake received a telegram from his sister, stating that he
was very ill, and was in a desperate state of mind respect-
ing the young lady. It is said that Mr. Blake had no
strychnine in his surgery ; and thus, if the pills which oc-
casioned Miss Blake's death ►ere prepared for her by Mr.
Storer, the poison must have been procured out of the
house, and must have been purchased for the purpose.
The following aro some additional facts respecting Mr.
Storer:—About two years since he entered the employ of
Mr. Read, chemist and druggist, Salisbury, when he re-
mained as assistant for about six months. Previously to
his engagement at Mr. Read's, Mr. Storer was employed
by Mr. Stone, chemist, of Marlborough. While in Mr.
Read's employment he conducted himself with great pro-
priety. Ho left Mr. Read's, and was for some time an
assistant in a chemist's chop at Cheltenham. He subse-
quently returned to Salisbury, representing himself as a
duly qualified medical practitioner, and was engaged by
Mr. Blake as his assistant, with whom he remained until
a few weeks ago.
A warrant for the apprehension of Mr. Storer was issued
on Wednesday, and it wee entrusted to Superintendent
Caldow, who started for Falmouth on Thursday evening, in
order to effect his capture. On Friday a telegram was re-
oeived announcing that Storer had been apprehended. He
was expected to arrive in Salisbury on Saturday afternoon.
—Sallsbury and Winchester Journal.

MARKETS—This Day.