The Sun.
London, England, 1846-08-31 00:00:00

SONOUS BERRIES.

John Hilliard, the man charged with vending the poi-
sonous berries which caused the death of Thomas
Parker, and the child Jones, was again examined on
the charge of manslaughter, at the Thames Police-court.
Mrs. Parker repeated the testimony which she gave
on her previous examinations, and proved that the pri-
soner pressed the fruit upon her by the strongest recym-
mendations as to its agreeable flavour, as well as its
wholesome qtialities. He said he brought the berri+-s
from a long distance, and that they were just then Irk ry
scarce. In describing the effect which the poison pre-
duced, she said that soon after eating the berries her
fingers tingled, and her knees gave way, so as that she
fel: as if she was dropping down. Her tongue sweihd,
her throat became dry, and she lost the power of utter,
ante. She then became insensible, and was, as she un-
derstood, removed to the London Hospital ; but she re-
collected nothing more until she found herself in bed
there the next morning. Her husband was there also,
and died whilst she was with him.
Mr. William Prophet, surgeon, Church-lane, White-
chapel, repeated the evidence hich has already been
published, describing the various eff.xts which the action
of the poison produced.
George Birch, 105 B, apprehended the prisoner on
the 20th instant at Strutton-ground, Westminster, He
was selling blackberries at the time. Witness told him
that he suspected him to the person who had sold poi-
sonous berries in Whitechapel. Witness took him to
the station, where he denied all knowledge of the poi-
sonous berries, and said that he had not sold berries in
Whitechapel, adding that he had heard of Whitechapel,
but did nut know the way there. He further said that
he had gathered and sold herbs and berries for the last
twenty years, and ought therefore to know what was
fruit and what was not. At Whitechapel he showed
witness the way to the station, and admitted that he
knew every turning about the place.
John Williams, gas-titter, 2, Wellington-street, Black-
friars-road, and John Lambert, 24, Pear- tree street,
Waterloo-road, proved having also bought some berries
from the prisoner. When selling them he said they
were beautiful fruit, and fit to make pies and puddings.
They were both subsequently seriously affected
eating them.
Elizabeth Tappin, 5, tipper Somerford street, stated
that on Saturday week the man came up with his black-
berries and what he called dewberries. A young man
who lodged in the house came to the door and told the
prisoner that the berries were poison, cautioning the
witness not to buy them. He said to the prisoner, "Jr
you are a countryman at all, you ought to knew that
they are poison." He at the same time explained to the
prisoner what they were, tied in what places they grew.
prisoner said the' are ripe and sweet and fit to eat,
but the lodger again contradicted him, saying, Yes, I
know they are sweet, but they are rank poison." Wit-
ness declined purchasing them, and the prisoner went on
still crying out " berries."
Mr. Donegan, who had charge of the case, was pre-
pared with a host of supplementary evidence, but in the
then stage of the case it was not deemed desirable to en-
cumber the inquiry with any extraneous matter. He
was, however, directed to keep together all the substan-
tial evidence which he could collect, there being some
doubt as to whether the prisoner should be committed en
the charge of murder or manslaughter. '[he pri-ote r
was ultimately remanded until next Saturday. The in-
quiry, which occupied five hours, excited the most in-
tense interest, and the court was crowded with persons
anxious to hear the details of the evidence.