The Sun.
London, England, 1824-04-14 00:00:00

OXALIC ACID TAKEN FOIt SALTS.

On Monday an Inquisition was taken before
C. J. .IE3I3II:TT, Esq.„ at the Crown and Cushion public-
house, Bermondsey, on the body of Mr. John Bell, late a clerk
in the employment of Messrs. Barber, wharfingers, of Tooley.
street, who died on Thursday last, in consequence of taking
oxalic acid, in mistake for Epsom salts.

Mr. Thomas, of Page's-walk, Bermondsey, in whose house
the decased lodged for the last fourteen years, deposed that
on the night of the Bth instant the deceased came home about
half-past ten o'clock ; he asked witness's wife for some hot
water, which he said he 'wanted for the purpose of dissolv-
ing a dose of salts
he wiihed to take, and which he had pur-
chased that day. The water was given to him, and he re-
tired to his bed-roots, adjoining witness's. Soon after wit_
ness's wife heard the deceased groaning, and on entering his
room he appeared to be in dreadful agony, writhing about
the bed. Witness said, -NY God, Bell, what hale you been
taking ?" Deceased
replied, " Oh ! I shall diet what have
they given me ?" 'Witness inirnediately went for a s'ittgeon, but
the deceased was quite dead on his return.

Robert (raker, a hairdresser in that neighbourhood., deposed
that he had been acquainted with the deceased for the last 14
years. On the evening of the fith inst. the deceased came to his
shop, sat down, and got shaved. He then complained of bay-
ing a very violent stitch or cramp in his hide, and said that he
had taken rhubarb, but deriied no benefit, or alleviation of his
pain, from it ; that he was then going home early, for the pur-
pose of taking a dose of salts, which he said he had got in his
pocket. The deceased then went away.
One of the Jurymen asked witness, if he perceived any alter-
ation in the deceased's manner or behaviour on that night.—
Witness replied, that he did not, although the deceased ap-
peared to be labouring under very severe bodily pain ; yet his
mental faculties were not in the slightest degree affected.
Mr. Castle, the surgeon, deposed to his having examined the
body of the deceased, which presented the usual appearance of
persons who died in consequence of taking any active mineral
poison. In the room he (witness) observed a tumbler, that de-
posited a sediment, Which, on examination, he found was oxalic
acid. A small portion of that active poison also adhered to a
piece of paper which was on the drawers. Witness added, that
the deceased must have taken nearly an ounce of the poison.
The Jury here 'inquired, if the constable, or any of the wit-
nesses,, had ascertained-at what shop the unfortunate deceased
had received poison instead of salts.
W. Pairiter, the constable, said that every inquiry had been
set on foot by them.to ascertain that fact, but they were unsuc-
cessful.
_

vv
The Jury reprobated the conduct of apothecaries, through
whose negligence, in not properly distinguishing between salts
and poiaon, so many fatal accidents had happened.
A verdict of " Deceased, in consequence of taking oxalic
acid in mistake for Epsom salts," was then recorded.

INSURRECTION ACT—COUNTY OF KILKENNY.
—At the Extraordinary Sessions of the Peace,
held at our County Court-house, on Saturday,
pursitalit to requisition, the assembled Magis-
trates resolved on applying to his'Excelleney the
LORD Licutt:VANT, for the extension of the
Insutreetion Act to the entire county.--(Kil-
kenny Moderator.)

CHARGE OF CRUELTY.—A man and woman
of the name of Gaper, charged with cruel treat-
ment of three of the children of the latter by a
former husband, whilst on their way, yesterday,
to surrender themselves at Clerkenwell, were so
violently assailed by the populace, that they were
forced to take temporary refuge at the Mary-le
bone Office, from whence the 'Magistrate ordered,
them to he conveyed in a hackney coach, under,
protection of the police officers, to Clerkenwell,
Prison.

The number of prisoners confined in the house
of Correction at Cold Bath-Adds, and in the New Prison nt
Clerkenwell, since the last Sessions, exceed 1,000, ,viz. 602 in
the New Prison, and between 400 and 300 in the House of
Correction. greater number than t!ie present was never re-
cbllcctcd on any ptevious occasion.

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