The Sun.
London, England, 1846-09-07 00:00:00

THE POISONING IN ESSEX.

CLAVERING, FRIDAY EVENING.—The inquiry con-
cerning the deaths of Joseph and James Chesham, aged
ten and twelve years, who died from the effects of
arsenic. supposed to be wilfully administered, was re-
sumed this morning at the Fox and Hounds Inn, in this
village, before Mr. C. C. Lewis.
The mother of the deceased children, it may be re-
membered, is at present in Chelmsford Gaol, awaiting
trial for an alleged attempt to poison an infant. The
investigation had been twice adjourned for the purpose
of receiving the proper testimony in respect to the ana-
lysation of the contents of their stomachs and other im-
portant facts.
The Rev. Mr. Brooks, the vicar of the parish, and a
number of the gentry of the district were amongst the
auditory in the inquest-room.
The jury being called over, the Coroner called Sarah
Chesham, the grandmother of deceased children, who
repeated the testimony she had previously given. The
children died in January, 1845. The eldest was taken ill
on a Sunday, and expired the same night. The other
died on the Tuesday following, and they were buried in
one coffin on the succeeding Sunday.
Mr. Henry Brooks, surgeon, of Newport, deposed to
opening the bodies of the deceased, and transmitting the
contents of the stomach to Professor Graham of Univer-
sity College Hospital, for analysation.
Mr. Alfred Shaine Taylor, of Cambridge-place,
Regent's-park, lecturer at Guy's Hospital, deposed that
on Thursday the 29th of August, he received from Pro-
fessor Graham the portions of human remains sent by
the last witness. On the following day he proceeded to
make an analysis of them. The result showed the pre-
sence in both the bodies of a large quantity of yellow
arsenic, which might be estimated at from 20 to 30
grains, sufficient to destroy the lives of from 3 to 6
adult persons. The arsenic so found had been intro.
duced during life, and he was of opinion, for many rea-
sons, it was taken in the form of yellow arsenic.
Mr. Stephen Hawks, surgeon, residing at Clavering,
was next called. The first tiling ho heard of the de-
ceased children being ill was on the Sunday evening
that Joseph died. The father came to his house and in-
formed him, when he gave him some medicine, princi-
pally composed of calomel. The following morning the
father again came to his house, and said that his son
James was taken seriously ill. He returned with him
to his residence, and saw the child. At that period he
heard that Joseph was dead, and he afterwards saw the
body, he was informed that James complained of sick-
ness. He forwarded him some aperient medicine, as his
case much resembled cholera; it was composed of calo
mel and jalap. At twelve o'clock he again saw the
child, and found no improvement. The medicine was
again altered, a little opium being mixed with the calo-
mel, and at seven o'clock, bearing he was worse, witness
again visited him. He appeared fast sinking, and com-
plained of a pain in his bowels, and a nauseous taste in
his mouth. The next day he heard that the child was
dead.

By the CORONER—He saw the mother two or three
times in the course of the day, and on the Monday even-
ing after the death of Joseph, he remarked to her that
it was a very unusual period of the year for cases of
cholera, and expressed a wish to open his body. She
gave him no answer. He attributed the death of James
more to cholera than anything else. He thought he
mentioned the cause of death in a casual way to the
registrar. He had not since had any conversation with
the mother respecting the children.
Thomas Deats, a labouring man, said he lived under
the same roof as the father of the deceased. He last saw
Joseph on Friday evening, the 13th of January, 1845,
when he seemed very well. On the following morning
he saw his mother, who informed him that " Joe was
very bad." Ho asked her from what cause, and she an-
swered that she thought it was from a blow. During
the Sunday night he was awoke by Mrs. Chesham
knocking at the door, and begging of him to get up, as
her child was dying. He did so, and on following her
up stairs into her apartment saw her husband standing
with a light in his hand. James was lying upon the
same bed; the floor was very dirty, as if front vomiting.
Joseph had already died.
By the CORONER —Mrs. Chesham did not appear much
grieved; she cried a little.
Elizabeth Dents, wife of the last witness, next said—
On the Saturday evening before Joseph's death, she was
requested to go and see the deceased, as they were sick.
She did so, and confirmed her husband's statement as
to appearances. Recollected a surgeon going to Mrs.
Chesham's, who told her he had wished to examine the
boy's body. She refused, saying she would not allow it
for any money.
. John Chesham, a boy about fifteen years of age, and
brother of the deceased, was next called. He deposed
that in January, 1845, he lived with his brother at home.
He was at work when Joseph was taken ill. It was on
Saturday, and on going home he found him in bed with
his brother James,

By the CORONER'—CouId not recollect what they had
for supper that night, or the night before. Was posi-
tive his mother did not make any mess for him that
evening. Never knew of his mother making any mess
he could not eat. At the time his brother died ho was
taken ill. He felt pains in his head and stomach, but-he
soon recovered from it.

Margaret Mivart, a widow, living in the village, stated
that about a fortnight before the death of the deceased,
the mother asked her to buy a pennyworth of arsenic