The Sun.
London, England, 1854-10-04 00:00:00

was a remedy that was used with great caution. The
symptoms which preceded Mrs: Watts' death were such
as might be supposed to follow rupture of the abdomen,
produced by prolonged constipation. In cross-examina-
tion, witness stated that in prolonged constipation, if
the patient were seized with faintness and prostration,
accompanied by continued convulsions, he should have
used a powerful injection, and if the symptoms con-
tinued to be aggravated, he should have sent for addi-
tional assistance. In the present case he should not
necessarily have concluded from the symptoms that
there had been administration of poison. He would not
have felt anxious for a post-mortem examination.
Mr. John Parke, surgeon, New Brighton, deposed
that the defendant, in course of conversation with him
en one occasion, had told him that his wife was subject
to constipation of the bowels, and asked him (witness)
several questions in reference to the complaint, and after-
wards said he would like to call witness in. After the
death, on the 6th of September, the defendant called at
his shop, and asked if he had any printed forms or certi-
ficates. Witness filled up a form of the cause of death
for the defendant, as he had a paralysed hand. From
the symptoms which he had heard, he should have
thought that the cause of death had been prolonged con-
stipation and effusion into the abdomen. In the conver-
sation with the defendant, the latter made no reservation
—his manner appeared perfectly innocent.
Miss Sophia Wade, granddaughter of the defendant,
was next examined, but her evidence was nearly
similar to that given by Esther Winu on the Thursday.
She stated that Mrs. Watts refused to see any other
medical man than the defendant, and to hearing of the
tobacco after she had been to the registrar's office with
Mr. Watts.

Mr. Conway here put in tie original will, executed at
Cheltenham on the 12th of June, 1854, and a copy of the
one made at New Brighton on the 31st of August, 1854.
They were nearly the same, and bequeathed the greater
portion of the property of the deceased, 14,0001., to the
defendant. The first will was attested by Esther Winn
and Mary Brian, servants to Mrs. Watts.
Mr. Albright, druggist, in bis examination, said that
on the day on which the deceased died Esther Winn
brought a prescription--a dose of croton oil—to his
shop. Witness remarked at the time that the patient
must be suffering under obstinate constipation. On a
previous occasion, Mr. Watts had called at 'witness's
shop for a mild aperient powder, and he manifested
great anxiety that it should be properly made up.
Mr. Conway—That is my defence.
Mr. Snowball replied at some length. He said that
the present was not a final investigation. It was merely
preliminary ; and the question for the magistrates to
consider was, not whether the defendant was guilty, but
whether there was Ireassnable ground of suspicion to
make it necessary that a further investigation should
take place before a judge and a jury of the country. He
then reviewed the evidence, pointing out the manner in
_ .

which the defendant had acted ticroughout the whole
affair, and concluded by saying that he would leave the
matter to the better feeling and judgment of the bench.
The magistrates retired to consult at half-past three
o'clock, and shortly before four they returned, when
Major-General Sir Edward Cust said that they bad
given a patient and, he thought the court would admit,
a most anxious consideration to the case before them.
It had occupied their minds not only then, but during
the whole course of the proceedings, with the anxious
desiie to come to a decision that would appear to the
public, as well as to every reflecting person, that they
had considered the matter in all its bearings. The de-
termination they had come to was, 'that there was not
sufficient evidence in support of the informations to
justify them in sending the case to trial ; because,

in their opinion, the grand jury would throw out
the Pill. But in taking this course they felt a
satisfaction, if they were in error in . the course they
had adopted, as it was still competent for the
friends of the deceased lady to enter an indictment
without their aid, before the grand jury. He was also
desirous that it should be known to the public that the
bench did not feel themselves precluded, in coming to
their present decision, from hereafter receiving any evi-
dence that might be forthcoming in a case which ap-
peared to have in its nature some grievous circumstances.
The proceedings of the court terminated, and the par.
ties retired.—Liverpool Mercury of Tuesday.