The Sun.
London, England, 1849-01-29 00:00:00

AT BRISTOL.

On Thursday an examination of Henry Evans, who is
in custody upon a charge of attempting to poison his wife,
took place n presence of the sick woman. The wife was
sworn, and examined at some length, and, in addition to
confirming the statement made by the policeman at the
previous examination as to her husband having on Sun-
day last given her some pock over which a white powder
had been strewn, she detailed the following facts:—
About four or five months ago her husband came home
one night, and brought home some liquor in a tin can,
which he said was gin and beer, and asked her to par-
take of it. She sipped it, and finding it bad a very pe-
culiar taste, did not drink it. He poured some out in a
glass, and she observed that, although quite clear on the
top like water, it was at the bottom of a milky white.
The next morning she asked him what he had done with
it, and he said he had drunk some and thrown the rest
away. Either on the lath or 14th of December (a day
or two after her confinement) she wanted gruel in the
night, and he made her some. She did not `like the
taste of it, and told him it was not like what his mother
or Mrs. Winter made for her. She drunk about half a
pint of it, and in about two hours afterwards was seized
with violent vomiting and purging. She told him that
should die if he did not call assistance. He said, "Per.
haps you will be better by and bye." Mr. and Mrs.
Winter desired him to call a doctor, and he went and
got Dr. Parker, who gave her a draught which relieved
her. On Sunday the 14th of January he made her
some tea, anal after drinking a cup violent vomiting came
on. The witness was cress-examined for the prisoner.
and admitted that she was subject to bilious attacks, but
said that the sickness was not of so violent a kind. Sh•
also admitted that her husband and little boy drank tea
poured from the same teapot, and also that ho partook of
meat cut from the same joint as herself. He was further
remanded till Saturday.
On Saturday last the prisoner was again brought
up for final examination at the Council House, Bristol,
charged with administering poison to his wife Hannah
Evans, when some additional disclosures were made.
Mary Ann Winter said sbe was the wife of Police.
sergeant Winter, and she lived in the same house as the
prisoner. The prisoner worked for his father who made
coffins for the Clifton Union. Mrs. Evans had spoken in
confidence to witness several times of the suspicions
which she entertained of her husband. She mentioned
to her about something which ho brought home in a can.
She :aid she would not taste it till he did, and he only
took a very little, and it made him sick. On the 12th of
last December Mrs. Evans was confined, and witness at-
tended her. The next evening witness left her as late
as twelve o'clock, and she was quite well then, and in re-
markably good spirits. About two hours after the pri-
soner came into her room, and asked her to get up. She
asked what was the matter, and he made no reply. She
went to the prisoner's room and found his wife in a most
alarming state, with a violent sickness and purging. She
sent the prisoner fur Mr. Parker, the surgeon, and after
he was gone his wile again stated her suspicions, and
said he tad put something in the gruel which he gave
her between twelve and one o'clock. Mrs. Evans's
general health before htr confinement was good, but
soon after she began to complain of numbness in her
limbs, and then totally lost the use of them. When Mr.
Parker came he asked to see the contents of her stomach,
but they were thrown away. It was the prisoner who
threw them away, for she saw him returning with the
empty vessel.

George Winter, police-sergeant No. 77, took the plate
with the meat to Mr. Ilerepath, and from what he heard
Mr. llerapath say he took the prisoner into custody.
Witness searched him at the station-house, and found
the key of his workshop, which he then went and
searched, and in a hole over his workbench he found an
old cart saddle, and under this a paper parcel, which be
opened and found to contain a powder similar to that on
the plate with the meat. This parcel he tot kto Mr.
llerapsth, who said it was sugar of lead, a poison.
Mr. llerapath, analytical chemist, sworn, said—On
Tuesday morning the last witness brought me a plate.,
on which were some remains of coked pork and pota-
toes. There was some white powder on it, which must
have been added after the operation of cooking. On
analysing it I found it to be a corrosive salt of mercury.
This substance was usually sold under the name of white
precipitate ; it was an irritant poison, and but seldom
resorted to for purposes of secret poisoning. It was cal.
culated to ii.jure extensively, and, in sufficient quantity,
to destroy life.
Francis Blakewaide deposed that he was an apprentice
to Mr. John Bulltr Barge, druggist, No. 7, St. Angus.
tine's-parade. On Saturday morning last, about eleven
o'clock, the prisoner came to his employer's shop and
asked for a pennyworth of white " ciapity" powder. Ho
said "it was for the children's heads." Witness went to
the dispensary and weighed him out one scruple. He put
a printed label on it, on which was inscribed, " White
precipitate—poison."
The prisoner was committed for trial for feloniously
and wilfully administering poison to his wife. Through-
out the lengthened examination, he maintained an as-
pect of the most apathetic indifference.