The Sun.
London, England, 1836-09-07 00:00:00

GUILDHALL.

Yesterday William Blackburn was again brought before
Mr. Alderma❑ KELLY for re-examination, charged with ad-
ministering sonic tincture of cantharides to Hannah Mary,
the daughter of Mr. Turner, a notary.
At the previous hearing the father explained the nature
of the charge. The daughter, accompanied by her mother,
now attended to give evidence. She is a good-looking girl,
about 17 years of age.

She was apprenticed to Mrs. Blackburn, the prisoner's
wife, to learn the art of embroidering, about six weeks ago,
and she worked at her house in Fetter-lane. About a fort-
night after she had been there, the prisoner attempted to
kiss her. She immediately called to another apprentice,
and asked him how he dared to take such a liberty. He
desisted, saying she was as great a fool and spitfire as her
mistress. Since then he had several times tried to make
her mistress scold her for nothing by saying she was talk-
ing. After breakfast on Wednesday morning the pri-
soner brought a vial of liquid, and said he had some stuff
that would do her cough good. He poured out some into
a tea cup, which she drank, but it was so strong it took her
breath away, and she asked him to get her some water.
He gave her some and she drank plentifully. It soon pro-
duced on agony which continued all day, and which forced
her to tell some of the other girls, who mentioned it to her
mistress. She had asked him the name of the stuff, but
he refused to tell her, and made her hurry to wash out the
cup, bidding her not let her mistress know anything of it,
as she would think he was making too much of her. She
observed where he, placed the bottle, and when her mistress
heard of it, they searched his drawers, and found the bottle,
above half full of the liquid, secreted in a stocking. Her
mistress sent it to a chemist, to learn whet it was, and
received word that it was tincture of colchicum, though
labelled tincture of cantharides. When Mrs. Black-
burn taxed her husband with administering poison to
tvitness, he flew into a great rage, and attempted to
beat her, but a young woman interposed. Shortly
afterwards he renewed his attempt to beat his wife,
but witness threw herself between them, thinking it was of
little consequence whether she was killed by a blow or died
of the poison a few hours afterwards, which was the result
she anticipated.
Louisa Sherry, aged 17, said the prisoner took some slight
liberties with her when she first %vent to work for Mrs.

! Blackburn. Two or three days before the above affair oc-
curred she found some liquid having the same smell as the
contents of the bottle floating on the top of some treacle,
which the young ladies used at dinner time.
Richard Winpenny, of 27 Fetter-lane, accoucheur, had
attended Mrs. Blackburn for two years past, and knew the
prisoner. About a week ago he served the prisoner with
rather better than an ounce of tincture of cantharides.
Knowing him he should have served him with two ounces
of laudanum if he had asked for it. Supposed the cantha-
rides was for his own use, and merely directed that two tea-
spoonfuls was a dose for him, and that it must be taken in
water or tea. It is used medicinally, and he has several
patients taking doses of it three times a day. From his
knowledge of the prisoner's circumstances, he supposed he
might have occasion to use it. It is not a remedy for a cough,
and is sometimes used for improper purposes. Had thought
for the last nine months there was something odd in the
prisoner's manners. He talked incoherently.
Mr. Alderman KELLY expressed his surprise that with
this knowledge of the prisoner, he had spoken of trusting
ing him with large quantities of laudanum.
Mr. Winpenny begged to be understood as meaning that
the prisoner was in his right senses, but eccentric.
Mrs. Blackburn believed her husband had received some
injury on the head when at sea.
The prisoner was remanded till Friday.