The Sun.
London, England, 1836-04-07 00:00:00

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.

OLD COURT.
(Continued from The Sun of Yesterday.)
monarsoN's PILLS.-MANSLAUGHTER.
Ann Mackenzie examined—ls wife of John Mackenzie,
deceased: An inquest was held on him last February.
His age when he died was 32. He had never been ill.
She never heard him complain. Knows a woman called
Anne Lane: She was &ina needle-work at witness's
house. She rtientinned that s'ett vended pills: She recom-
mended some to the deceased. He was much averse to
them at first ; but Anne Lane brought sonic works, and at
last he consented to take some. He was in perfect health
at the time. He took them as an opening medicine, and
expressed himself light and well after them. The deceased
was afterwards attacked by a rheumatic affection of the
knee, and Anne Lane recommended the prisoner as a pro-
per person to consult. The prisoner said, on coming, that
he had been told by Miss Lane that Capt. Mackenzie was 111,
and he had come•accordingly. Witness told him that Miss
Lane ought not to have done so, as Capt. Mackenzie was well
enough, and could send for advice for himself, if necessary.
The knee got worse afterwards, and witness recom-
mended him to send for the prisoner. The deceased did not
complain of any ailment but that affecting his knee when
Mr. Salmon called. The deceased was ordered to take 20
pills at night. His own packet consisted of No. 2 pills.
Those called No. I were purchased from Miss Lane. The
deceased was to take 20 of No. 1 at night, and 20 of N.
2in the morning. Witness administered half the quantity
to him. The prisoner called next mcrning, and inquired if
the pills had been given, and On •the receiving an answer in
the affirmative, ordered an increase of five pills every dose.
The prisoner called day by day, until Mr. Cummins was
called in, The largest dose witness ever gave her husband
was 15 or 20. Sometimes she gave none, but whenever
she gave a dose at night, she gave another in the morning.
The prisoner recommended hot water and salt, to enable
him to get every thing off his stomach easily. He also said
that the fever would feed her husband without any victuals.
Witness replied that there was no fever, he was perfectly
cool. The deceased began at this time to he exceedingly
weak, so much so :that he could scarcely get out of bed ;
this was five days after the prisoner had prescribed the first
dose. Witness informed the prisoner of her husband's
state, but he said she was alarming herself unnecessarily, and
that if a sufficient quantity of pills was given he would be
well in a few days. On the Tuesday night the deceased
took a turn about one o'clock, he seemed to be quite
delirious. Witness sent for Mr. Greg, by her hus-
band's orders, on the Wednesday morning, to see what
that man, the prisoner, was doing with him. That gen-
tleman recommended that a medical man should be
called in. Mr. Cummins accordingly paid a visit. The pri-
soner came the same day. Witness did not inform him that
Mr. Cummins had been at the house. The deceased was
at that time quite delirious. The prisoner called again at
ten o'clock, and ordered 25 pills to compose him. The de-
ceased was much worse towards night. When the prisoner
came, she told him of the dangerous state of her husband,
and desired him to be on his guard as to the consequences.
The prisoner said it was all unnecessary alarm, and gave
himself to the deceased 25 pills in some jelly. He dis-
trusted witness, he said, and therefore gave the dose him-
self. He said at that time that he would not allow any
medical man to interfere. He would turn any such out of
the house. The prisoner came next day at two o'clock.
Witness's husband was much worse. She told the prisoner
of her husband's state. She had done so all along. He
ordered 35 pills to be given at three o'clock precisely.
Witness informed him that her husband could not take
them, as he was vomiting them up mixed with quantities of
blood. The prisoner said he would call on Miss Lane, and
order her to bring some pills. She came and brought a
packet. Witness paid for it 13s. 21d. Witness gave her
husband 25 pills and a box of powders that day, in place of
35 pills and the powders ordered by the prisoner. Miss Lane
ordered a glass of brandy and water.—(Sir F. Pollock here
objected to this evidence as implicating the prisoner, as Miss
Lane could not be considered as the prisoner's agent.) The
prisoner called next day, and inquired if anything had been
given to the deceased ? A negative answer was given. He
then took out two papers containing powders, and calling
for a cup, mixed them with cold water. The prisoner went
down stairs, and in a few minutes the deceased vomited up
the powders with a great quantity of blood. Witness sent
down for the prisoner, who said that there was always
straggling blood in a person's inside, and that there was no
occasion for alarm. The deceased said, "My dear, he has
poisoned me." Mr. Greg asked him if he was enrolled as
a surgeon, and he answered, yes. Mr. Greg then sent for
Mr. Cummins, and he attonded. Her husband was worse
and worse each hour. The prisoner came, again in the
evening, and asked for a glass of brandy and milk to give
her husband. Witness refused to give it. She told the
prisoner that a medical man had been there, and that a
physician would call again in the day. The prisoner ap-
peared very much disturbed. Many questions were asked
by Captain Allen and Mr. Greg of the prisoner. He
always said he was a medical man. He said, on going
away, that he would return in the morning and bring a
physician. This was on the Friday. Mr. Cummins came
next day, and brought a medical man. The prisoner came
also accompanied by Dr. Lynch. Witness refused them
admittance. The deceased got worse, and on the Satur-
nay night he got cold, and on the Monday morning, at
three o'clock, he ceased to live. No medicine whatever was
given him front the time the prisoner left. Some chicken
broth was given ; nothing more.
Mrs. Mackenzie was cross-examined at considerable
length, and she admitted that she had not followed the
directions given her by the prisoner in the administration of
the pills.

The evidence of the medical gentlemen, which appeared
at very great length at the time of the Coroner's inquest,
was then gone into.
This was the case for the prosecution.
The prisoner, in his defence, read a long statement, in
which he declared that the death of the deceased had been
occasioned by Mrs. Mackenzie neglecting to obey his di-
rections, by administering the proper quantity of pills.
Mrs. Beffin had been troubled with disorders from her
childhood, and consulted different medical men, but received
no relief, until she heard of Morrison's pills. She gradually
increased the doses, until she took 20 at night and 20 in the
morning. On some occasions she had taken 30 at night.
She found the greatest benefit from the largest doses. The
pills had done her an immense deal of good. Mr. Salmon
never charged her anything for his attendance.
Several other witnesses, whose evidence was similar to
that of Mrs. Beffin, appeared in favour of the prisoner.
The Learned Judge summed up the evidence to the
Jury, who retired, and at three returned into the Court, and
gave a verdict of Guilty.
The Jury recommended him to mercy, on the ground of
his being the vendor only of the pills.