The Sun.
London, England, 1822-10-07 00:00:00

THE THEATRES.

HAYMARKET.—The Beggar's Opera, with the
attraction of Miss PATON'S Polly and Mr.
DAvis's illachealh, produced a numerous audi-
ence on Saturday.
ENGLISH 0 PERA.HOOSE.—The season con-
cluded at this Theatre on Saturday last with the
Opera of Gil Bias, the Farce of Gretna Green,
a Musical Interlude, and Love among the Roses.
On the conclusion of the Musical Interlude,
Mr. BARTLEY came forward " in customary suit
of solemn black," and delivered the following
Address to the audience With respectful firm-
ness :

" LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,—As the opening of a thea-
trical season brings with it hope, so the close as naturally pro
duces regret. We met you only three months ago with
buoyant spirits, and we now take our leave with unaffected
sorrow.—For the first time since this Theatre was erected, we
have had a fair, though a limited chance of attracting your
notice, by the closing of the patent Theatres for thirteen weeks :
we have thus been relieved from the oppressive burthen of the
extended seasons, of what of late years were absurdly called
THE WINTER THEATRES.' For this regulation, we (in
common with the Haymarket Theatre), have been indebted to
the liberal and upright interference of the present Lord Cham-
berlain, who has condescended to take so enlarged a view of the
subject of public amusements (making the public accommoda-
tion his first object), as compels us thus gratefully to acknow-
ledge the weighty obligation his interposition has conferred
also upon us. The Proprietor, Ladies and Gentlemen, proudly
feels that the exertions which have been used to excite your
notice, and merit your countenance, have, during the short
period this Theatre has been open, been crowned with as much
success, as the season of the year, and the remarkable heat of
a large portion of a remarkably fine summer, could allow him
to hope for. The novelties produced have been uniformly suc-
cessful, and many of them greatly attractive ; and it is with
feelings of heartfelt acknowledgment and sincere regret, that 1
am now compelled, in his name, in my own, and in that of all
the performers, to bid you farewell."
This address was heard with particular atten-
tion, and was much applauded at the close. In
justice to the Proprietor of this agreeable and
convenient Theatre, it must be admitted that he
had collected for the season a very respectable
and able company of Performers, among whore
were several whose talents would do honour to
any Stage, and his activity has been liberally ma-
nifested in the production and embellishment of
many dramatic novelties, which were attended
with attractive popularity.

Lusa THEATRICALS.—It was concluded on
Monday, in consequence of letters having been received in town
from our Patentee, Mr. Hmtnis, that the Theatre-Royal should
he opened on Monday week. Madame CATALAN', and an
Italian Opera Company, will commence the season.—Many
excellent alterations have been made during the recess, and se-
veral new engagements formed.—Mr. TALBOT, we understand,
intends making a tour through this country, and will not perform
next season in Dublin.—Mr. M'CAE.Twir, formerly of Crow-
street, a very lively and excellent performer in light Comedy,
will appear early in the season.—(Dublin Correspondent, Oct. 3.)

Mr. OWEN'S SYSTEM.—A meeting of several
gentlemen took place yesterday, at the European Life Insur.
ance Office, Eden-quay, to consider the preliminary steps to
be adopted for receiving Mr. Owen, who is daily expected to
arrive in Dublin, and also for the purpose of making arrange-
ments for a public meeting, in order to give that gentleman an
opportunity of explaining the details of his plan for promoting
the employment and relief of the poor in Ireland. 'The meet-
ing accordingly appointed a deputation to wait on the Lord
Mayor, to obtain his Lordship's acquiescence, and to obtain
consent to preside as chairman • and having waited upon him
at the Mansion-house, his Lordship' received them in the most
courteous manner, expressing his seal in the cause, and ready
consent to call a public meeting, and to preside thereat.—(Dub-
lin Morniqg Post.)
The KING has been graciously pleased to ap-
point GEORGE BALLINOALL, Esq., of Howe Street, Edin-
burgh, one of his MAJESTY'S Surgeons Extraordinary for
Scotland.

At the County Meeting, held on Tuesday,
the Earl of Roseberry gave notice of his intention to move, at a
subsequent meeting, that a Committee be appointed to take into
consideration the present mode of striking the fiars of grain, and
to communicate with any Committees which might be named
by other counties for the same purpose; as also with the Con-
vener of the Conimittee appointed by the General Asssemlily
of the Church of Scotland.—(Edinburgh Courant, Oct. 3.)
A Gentleman passing through one'of the Public
Offices was affronted by some Clerks, and was advised to com-
plain to the Principal, which he did thus :—" I have been
abused here by some of the rascals of this place, and I come to
acquaint you of it, as I understand you are the Principal."

• CORONER'S INQUESTS.

MELANCHOLY CASE OF POISONING.

Saturday night, at eight o'clock, an Inquisition
was held before TitoMAS SHELTON, Esq. Coroner for the city
of London, on the body of Mr. Thomas Baker Goodwin, a re-
spectable jeweller. The jury were summoned to meet at the
late residence of the deceased, No. 1, Skinner-street, Snow-hill.
The Jury took a view of the body in the first instance. A re-
lative of the deceased wished that the wife of the deceased might
not have her feelings lacerated by being examined, but the jury
thought her evidence indispensable.
The first witness was a servant in the family : Hannah
Wickens being sworn, stated that her master, the deceased,
was a goldsmith and jeweller. On Friday night, between
nine and ten o'clock, her master came home. He had been
out during the whole of the day. He went out to breakfast in
the morning. After he came home at night, he took supper
with a gentleman, who had been waiting for him. After supper
he called to her to bring him some hot water, as he wished to
take some salts, which he thought would remove a violent pain
that he felt in his stomach. She brought him some water, and
she saw him mix some rum and water, which was very weak.
He used only part of the hot water for the rum and water, the
rest remained in the jug. She did not see him mix the salts:
After he had drank the rum and water, he went to bed. About
five o'clock next morning, she heard her mistress scream very
violently, and being alarmed, she ran up stairs to see what was
the matter, and saw her mistress wringing her hands, in the
greatest distress. She saw her master lying on the floor, at the
foot of the bed. She heard a kind of rattlinr in his throat ; he
sighed once or twice, and then expired. There were no ap-
pearances in the room of his having been sick or unwell. Her
mistress immediately sent for a medical gentleman.
Examined by Jurors—She saw that morning a paper con-
taining something resembling salts. She did not notice the
glass that was in her master's room. The hot water she took
to her master was for the purpose, as he said, of mixing salts.
Mr. Hurlock, the surgeon, came to her master; on his arrival,
he said that her master was quite dead ; and he took the paper
of oxalic acid away with him.
Mr. George Mason, surgeon, Skinner-street, stated, that he
was called at half-past five that morning to attend the de-
ceased, Mr. Goodwin. He found him dead. He had expired
some time. His hands and feet were cold. He had been lying
on the ground a quarter of an hour • and, from the statement'
of Mrs. G., he was of opinion that he died as soon as he fell on
the ground. He had not been sick. From the appearance of
the body at that time, helwitness) could-not say what was the.
cause of his death. In less than half an hour afterwards he
found, in the deceased's room, in a paper,,about an ounce of
oxalic acid. The paper had been opened and folded again, i
and he thought at first part of the acid had been taken out. On
looking at a glass in the room, an incrustation was found at the
bottom of it ; this was, at first, supposed by him to be sugar ;
and he thought that some person had been drinking spirits and
water, and had put more sugar in than had dissolved ; • but,
upon tasting the sediment, he found that it was strongly im-
pregnated with oxalic acid, and was very pungent. Besides
the incrustation, there was about a spoonful of liquid in the
The
and he was sure that it was a solution of oxalic acid.—.
The usual symptoms produced by taking oxalic acid is violent
sickness, and sometimes th.:4ernitting of blood. He could not
tell that the deceased had taken' oxalic acid from the appear-
ance of the lips, and he could not open the mouth, the teeth
were closed so tightly. The body had been subsequently
opened, and appeared in every respect healthy, except the
stomach, the inner coat of which was completely destroyed.—
'l'he appearances of the stomach were such as would be caused
by the taking of oxalic acid. The chemical agency of the
poison had continued its effect after death upon the stomach,
and reduced it to a black pulp ; in fact, oxalic acid was so
very subtle when swallowed, that its effects were the instant
destruction of human life. Oxalic acid so much resembles
salts, that it cannot be distinguished from it, without a close
inspection.
Examined by Jurors:—The paper containing the oxalic acid
would contain, he thought, another ounce) and in all probabi-
lity two ounces were purchased.
Juror--Then I should suppose that the deceased purchased
the oxalic acid for salts.

CORONER—Did the deceased wear boots with tops, as oxalic
acid is used for cleaning hoot tops ?
Brother of the deceased—My brother did not wear boots with
tops, and could have no use for oxalic acid.
CORONER—When such deleterious ingredients are sold, the
word " poison" ought to be stamped or written upon the paper
by the vender.
Foreman-_I believe that the deceased purchased the oxalic
acid for salts, by mistake.
CORONER—Does any person belonging to the deceased know
how he became possessed of the oxalic acid?.
Brother of the deceased—Not one of the family have any
knowledge upon the subject. It is not known where they were
purchased.

CORONER—Was any food remaining in the stomach ?
"Witness—None; unless it was dissolved by the acid with the
coat of the stomach. He had never opened the body of a per.
son before who had taken oxalic acid.

. _
Mr. George Hurlock, surgeon, St. Paul's Church-yard,
sworn.—His opinion accorded entirely with Mr. Mason's evi-
dence; he was present with him during the opening of the
body. He thought, at first, the deceasedhad died of apoplexy,
from his fullness of face ; but soon discovered the fatal cause
on finding the acid. The paper in which the oxalic was found
was not tied with a string. He should think that no respect-
able chemist in London sold oxalic acid (since the melancholy
affair in Gracechurch-street) without having the word on the
paper denoting its contents. He found no solution of oxalic
acid in the deceased's room, except a little in the glass. A
small quantity of weak oxalic acid Mrs. Goodwin had for her
own private use.
Co RONER—It would be very desirable to discover where the
oxalic acid was purchased by the deceased.
Surgeon—ln justice to the drug trade generally, he hoped
it would be found out. No druggist or apothecary now would
sell oxalic acid, or poisonous ingredients of any kind, without
" Poison" being written on the paper.
Brother of the deceased—The acid was purchased by my
brother while he was out; it was a casual purchase. He used
frequently to purchase salts when he was from home, as he
was constantly in the habit of taking them.
Surgeon—ln consequence of the fatal accidents that have
taken place by persons mistaking oxalic.acid for salts, the sale
of salts is greatly decreased, and if a person enters a druggist's
shop, now to purchase salts, he repeatedly enquires, " Are
you sure what you have given me is real salts; are you sure it
is not poison ?"
Mr. Merton, a Gentleman who had for some years been a
particular friend of the deceased, was examined as to the state
of mind the deceased, was in on Friday. Mr. Merton stated
that he was in his company in the morning, and in the even-
ing also for more than an hour. In the morninghe complained
of a pain in his stomach.
CORONER—That seems to account in a great measure for his
purchasing salts.
Witness.—He saw him in the evening, and he was then ap-
parently in good health, and . very cheerful. He thought the
deceased, at that time, appeared better and more lively than he
had been for some time before.

A Juror proposed that a member of Mr. Goodwin's family
should be examined, as to whether the deceased had been dis-
tressed in his mind, or was in a desponding state, when Mr.
Merton was not present to witness it ; such evidence would
elucidate the transaction. At present it appeared that the de-
ceased had taken the poison for salts.
The Jury, most of whom were respectable tradesmen in the
neighbourhood, and were personally acquainted with the de-
ceased, expressed their satisfaction at the evidence that had
been elicited, and they thought the evidence of Mrs. Goodwin,
who was overwhelmed with grief at the melancholy catastrophe
herself and family had sustained, might be entirely dispensed
with.

Juror.—Did the deceased, before he expired, say of whom
he purchased what he took to be salts ?
Surgeon Hurlock—Mrs. Goodwin informed him that she was
awoke by the groans of her husband in excessive pain, and that
before she had time to call for assistance, he was speechless
and dying ; therefore it was impossible that he could have in-
formed any one.
The ConoxE a. proceeded to sum up the evidence, and to com-
ment thereupon ; previously to which, he expressed his plea-
sure that the evidence of Mrs. Goodwin was not thought neces-
sary, for it was improper that the feelings of a distressed
person should be unnecessarily wounded. After the evidence
of the medical gentleman, no one present in his opinion could
doubt that the deceased's death was caused by his taking
oicalic acid ; and it was for the Jury to determine the question
whether he had taken it knowing it to be a poison, or in mis-
take for Epsom salts. From the state of mind that the deceased
was stated to be in on Friday night, it did not appear that he
at that time harboured in his bosom designs against his own
life; and his calling for hot water, and saying it was for the
purpose of mixing salts. was strong evidence to spew that he
really thought the oxalic acid was salts ; and he thought thsre
could be little doubt of his having purchased the noxious ingre.
dients for Epsom salts.
The Jury consulted for a short time, and returned a verdict—
" Died from taking oxalic acid in mistake for Epsom salts."
It was proposed to add to the verdict, " and which said ox-
alic acid was sold to the deceased by mistake for Epsom salts ;"
but the proposition was rejected, as no evidence that related to
the purchase of the article had been brought forward.