The Sun.
London, England, 1848-09-05 00:00:00

POISONINGS IN ESSEX.

THORPE, ESSEX, MONDAY EVENING.—This day at
noon the important inquiry concerning the murder
of Thomas Ham, who died from the effects of arsenic,
alleged to have been administered by his mile,
rlannah Southgate, was resumed at the School-
room, Tendring, before Mr. Codd, the coroner for
North Essex.
It has already been mentioned that the police
of the district have made such discoveries as to
leave little doubt that a horrible system of
poisoning has been going on in this district for
some time past. The convicted poisoner, Mary
May, who was executed at Chelmsford a few weeks
since, for poisoning her brother at Wix, is said to
have been implicated in the suspected cases, more or
less ; and it seems that the authorities are only wait-
ing the result of this investigation to direct the ne-
cessary judicial inquiries.
As on previous occasions, the greatest interest was
manifested to hear the evidence. The inquest-room
was densely crowded, and amongst those present were
Mr. Leake, one of the chairmen of the Essex Quarter
Sessions, several clergymen of the district, and a num-
ber of ladies of the neighbourhood.
The prisoner, Hannah Southgate, was present in
custody of the governor of Colchester gaol. She
appeared more reserved than on the previous occasion,
and watched the evidence with much earnestness.
Her husband was also present, and seemed consider-
ably affected by .the serious position of his wife. Mr.
Church, a solicitor, of Colchester, attended as her
legal adviser.
The CORONER having briefly re-opened the investi-
gation,
Phcebe Read, the servant of the deceased, was
recalled, and was asked some explanatory ques-
tions in reference to her previous evidence. She
said on the 25th of April, the day the deceased '
was taken seriously ill, he had some tea and toast
for breakfast at nine o'clock, and that shortly after
twelve o'clock he had some gruel. She now added
that he was sick a short time after his breakfast, and
before he had the gruel. It was a long time back to
recollect, but she was certain he was not sick before
breakfast. He continued sick up to the time of his
death. Nobody else was in the house but witness and
Mrs. Ham. When Mrs. Ham went her rounds on
the Monday morning, the 26th, did not know that
deceased had got out of bed. Knew, however, that
when she returned he was in his bedroom sitting on
a chair. Did not see the deceased eat any meat cn
the Sunday or Monday. (Professor Taylor spoke to
finding particles of partially digested food in the
stomach.) Knew that the wife of the deceased kept
money. it was skirl MAI ;,, 4:-._ h... h".
LW not know way she kept it there.
Mr. Charles Elrich, who was examined on the last
occasion, was next called.

The OorioriEu—Did you ever see the woman May
having any conversation with Mrs. Ham P—l have.
She called at Mrs. Ham's residence, and they had
some conversation about her quarrel with the de-
ceased, her husband.
The CORONER—What did Mrs. May say P—Mrs.
May, after hearing the particulars of the quarrel, re-
marked to Mrs. Ham, "If he was my husband I
would give him a pill."
Did Mrs. Ham make any reply P—She said, " I 11
be d—d if I don't give him a dose one of these days."
When did this conversation take place ? Long
before the deceased's death ?—As far as I can recol-
lect, it was some time before his death ; but I can't
recollect the date. I have heard Mrs. Ham say she
would poison her husband if he did not die soon. I
said, " You must be a fool to talk like that ; if I
could get my living like you I would leave him." She
replied, "Do you think I would leave him with m
bit of money ?" I have heard her say she liked John's
(Southgate's) little finger better than the deceased's
whole carcase.

I believe you were a witness at the:trial of the
woman May at Chelmsford. Just state what tran-
spired between you and Mrs Ham when you returned ?
On the Tuesday (the trial was on, the Monday) I
returned home, and Mr. and Mrs. Southgate came to
see me. We had some conversation about the trial.
Mrs. Southgate asked me if she (May) said any-
thing ? I said " No." Mrs. Southgate then said,
" I am sorry for her. I should not like her to he
hung, poor thing." John Southgate said, ‘g She
ought to be hung; it served her right." I said,
" You ought to talk small, John; it may not be all
over yet."
What induced you to make that remark ?—I don't
know, I'm sure ; it is what I thought.
tg:„Well, what further conversation had you ?—Mrs.
Southgate said, " Ah, Charlotte, mate, he don't
know all I know !" I said, "I suppose you do."
Several women have seen me in conversation with Mrs.
Southgate. I believe I did not mention this conversa-
tion until after the rumour was abroad that the }Joey
of the deceased was taken up, when I stated it to Mr.
Inspector Raison. But, long since, I have had my
suspicions that the deceased was poisoned. To my
knowledge, however, I do not recollect mentioning
my, belief to the neighbours.
By 7)4. Church—l am & temmt under John

Southgate's father. I have never said that I would
do her all the mischief that I could. Although I
entertained an opinion that the deceased was poi:.oned
I did not think fit to mention it to any one.
The prisoner evinced much uneasiness during this
witties's exAmination, and frequently
her on such parts of her testimony as mostly affated
her. contradicted

John Peck, parish constable of Wix, was next exa-
mined—Had known Mrs. Southgate and her former
husband, Thomas Ham, seven or eight years. They
lived very miserably together. Had heard the de-
ceased say to her, "If you go with Southgate, we
shall not be happy." She said, " I will go with
him—l will have him." This was a year or SO
before the deceased's death. While Ham was
alive he had seen Mrs. Ham leave John South-
gate's house late at night and early in the morn-
ing; sometimes as late as five o'clock. About
three weeks after Ham's death, John Southgate
had occasion to go to London, and she sent for
me and said,—"Do you know where I can find John
Southgate in London ?" He informed her, and when
she returned she said she had found him. Before
going, however, she asked witness whether he would
be likely to marry- her if she found him ? He replied
that it would be probable. On Tuesday, the 22d
ult., he was passing by Southgate's house, when Mr.
Southgate called him and asked him about carting
some wheat. Being about to leave, Mrs. Southgate
said, " Sit down, haven't you heard the
news ?" Witness said, " Yes, Tommy is 'to be
taken up to-morrow; they say he is poisoned." Mrs'
Southgate then remarked, " Let them take him up;
I know I used him as well as he did me; for be
strived to take my life once." Witness said, " How
so ?" She replied, "By disordering me when in the
family-way;" and added, "Before I would put up with,
him fbr what he has done to me I would be hung.'
John Southgate, who was present the whole time,
then said, " Hold your tongue. Hold your row, and
no one will hurt you." During this conversation she
appeared to be flurried.
Mrs. Sarah Gardener, sister of the accused, Said
she saw the deceased on the evening before he died.
He complained of great difficulty in swallowing.
Could not recollect whether he retched or was sick:.
She remained with him all night at the request 01
Mr. Manthorpe, the surgeon. On the following
morning, at half-past five o'clock, be died. She re'
gistered his death. On the Thursday following, her
sister (Mrs. Ham) sent her to the registrar, desiring
her to state to him, as the cause of death, rupture of
a bloodvessel.

By the Foreman of the Jury—l was with hica
before he died. Her sister, the wife, asked the de-
ceased if he had not a wish to die ? He said, "N°.°
Her sister never told her that she thought he was
likely to die. He was quite rational up to the time
of his death. While she was with him she did net
see that he took anything excepting a glass of water.
Mrs. Ham, the mother of the deceased, was re-
called. Her previous examination was read over to
her, and, in answer to Mr. Church, she said that
she had never observed that the deceased meditate,'
committing suicide. She could not say so, for be
wished to live.

Mrs. Jane Harvey, who was previously examined+
was again called—When visiting Mrs. Ham's hoes!
had seen her take arsenic from a piece of paper and
scrape it over bread and -butter for the purpeee',-,r
destroying rats and mice. She knew it to be arsenic+ •
as Mrs. Ham and her husband told her it was such.
She could not say how long this was done before the
deceased's death.
At six o'clock, the evidence having concluded, the
Coroner proceeded to address the jury on the painful
duty left to their charge, at the same time going
over the whole of the statements adduced by the
witnesses.

At the conclusion the inquest-room was cleared f°l
the jury to deliberate. In the course of half an bour
it was re-opened, when
The Foreman, addressing the Coroner, said—"lll
unanimous verdict of the jury is Wilful Mader.
against Hannah Southgate, the widow of the deceased
Thomas Ham."

The prisoner exclaimed—" I am innocent, gentle'
men, of the crime," and exhibited great compesulV3'
She was immediately removed, and conveyed by the
train to Chelmsford county gaol, where she was cots'
mitted on the Coroner's warrant to take her trial at th •
winter assizes.

The inquiry did not terminate till nine o'clock. n
was said that application was intended to be Wade
to Sir George Grey, the Secretary of State, for far'
ther exhumations of bodies of persons suspected to
have been poisoned in the neighbourhoods of Dover
court, Bradfield, Tendering, and Ramsey, as well as
the remains of the former husband of Mrs. May and
her children.

THE ARMY IN IRELAND.--The following is an.
official return of the troops in Ireland for the present
month, commencing on Sunday:—Cavalry, Ist Dra-
goon Guards, Cahir; 6th ditto, Dundalk; 2d Dragoongr
Athlone; 4th Light Dragoons, Newbridge; 6th (IMO,
Dublin; 7th Hussars, Dublin; Bth Hussars, New'
bridge; 12th Lancers, Cork; 13th Light Dragon:3g,
Longford; and 17th Lancers; thus making ten cavalryj
regiments. First Foot, 2d battalion, Personstown; 2d
Foot, Dublin; 3d Buffs, Piltown, Waterford; 6th Fo°4
2d battalion, Yougha; 9th Dublin ; 13th, Belfast
26th, Cork ; 31st, Athlone; 35th, Dublin; 40th, Gal"
way; 41st, Buttevant ; 43d, Templemore • 47th, Clop.
mel ; 48th, Dublin •, 49th, Dublin ; 55th, Dublin ; 571b1
Enniskillen ; 59th, Templemore ; 60th Rifles, 2d batta-
lien, Dublin ; 64th, Limerick ; 68th, Mullingar ; 70Ib'
Cork; 71st, Naas ; 74th, Thurles ; 75th, BallingarrY
83d, Kilkenny ; 85th, Thurles ; 89th, Parsonstown
and outposts ; 92d, Limerick.. The depot companiel
of the 7th Foot at Waterford ; the 19th at Ca!!
tlebar; the 34th at Nenagh; the 38th at Boyle;_ the 66"1
at Kinsale; the 73d at Fermoy; the 79th at Mullingari
the 88th at Tralee; and the 95th at Londonderry. 111
addition there are detachments of the Royal Artillerfo
Royal Marines, Royal Engineers, and armed police'
making a total of upwards of 50000 men. It as noR
evident, that unless some reduction' takes place in 0106.
military establishment considerable confusion must be
the result. The 12-hour signals from post to post are
stilt kept up. In consequence of the damage done tf,
the encampments during the late rains, the Ordinal':
have determined upon using none but waterproof cant',
in their construction for the future. Major-General
Macdonald will command the troops at Nenagh during
the ensuing special commission, and Major-General Na
pier at Limerick.
BARTHOLOMEW FAIR: S
Yesterday afternoon, r
two o'clock, the Lord Mayor, attended by the Sheriffee?;
London and Middlesex, went in state to Smithn
Market; the procession halted opposite the great gat'
leading into Cloth-fair, at which spot the proclatne,
Lion for the holding of Bartholomew Fair was made, tod
the ancient Court of Piepowder opened with due so:
lemnity at the Hand and Shears public-house adjacenst
This court hes absolute jurisdiction to determine_2;
plaints or causes of action arising within the fair. :11,
fair is to terminate on Wednesday; the booths and stall'
to close at tcn o'clock each evening, under heavy Peat.
ties. With tho exception ofhalf a dozen toy and gingcl,
bread stalls, there was no attempt at a fair in Smithfiel '
in the Britannia Fields, Islington, and at Bow, the ";
turnalia termed New Bartholomew Fairs were heldt
which there was an unlimited supply of the usual stin_t
tions.

ACCIDENT TO MR. ROBERT STEPHENSON, TES
ENGINEER.—An accident, which providentially was not
attended with any serious consequences, occurred en
Wednesday last to Mr. Stephenson, at the Conway aft
tion of the Chester and Holyhead Railway. It aPPesr.:
that on the arrival of the express train from Bangor
was deemed necessary to put on another first-class eer'
riage. The porters were in the act of pushing the car;
riage across the down line, when the express train fro 4
Chester was observed coming along at full speed ; sp.t
the men, to avoid the danger, left the carriage, and, esl:
afterwards appeared, before it was quite clear of 10.
line. Mr. Stephenson, in company with a friend, gr.
Lee, had previously seated himself in the „bide.
In a few minutes the Chester express train came sE
at a great speed; the engine caught the preieeti.l
corner of the carriage, throwing the whole about a Y'"
from the rails, and smashing the wheels, glass do01:01
and a portion of the framework in pieces. Immediatedif.
after the concussion Mr. Stephenson was seen dower:pr.
ing the steps, and was observed to fall on his back. .1-1"
was instantly taken up and supported to the station:
house by Mr. Lee and Mr. Swinburne. It was found
that be wasmuchstunned
and fall;
and b
rendered w
eare hp
sims:a; "cc's.
the h scious byto ass
that in a short time he was able to walk to the C5,„,9".:
Hotel. The next morning he left for Chester. 4"".
Lee escaped without injury, as, seeing the train sr
proach, he pressed his back and feet to the sides of the
cwahrerni a g
iteb,
eacnadmtehus
knownesca
thatr,ed.
11,,r. Greats Stephenson
nn so excitement
hadp had
narrow an escape from severe personal injury.
FREE BATHS AND WASIIHOUSES FOR THE 1)°".
Yesterday the third annual report of the association for
promoting cleanliness amongst the poor, of the free geld,
and washhouses in Glasshouse- yard, East Smith b..
was made by the committee. It stated that the esta.•_
lishment was highly valued by the poor, and during in;
past twelve months there were 33,655 bathers, each %
,'-
whom have an ample supply a warm water, Clsa
towel, and a piece of soap, 34,843 poor women who .
a plentiful supply of hot and cold water, and of s:ds
and soap, have washed and dried the clothing of the
selves and families, and
.12,610 had ironed, making
total of 81,108 persoieuring the year who have po„
ticipated in the bene ts of the establishment, without
one farthing cost to themselves. The institution o_l,
also gratuitously furnished many hundreds of the PI
in the crowded and wretched localities of East
field with whitewashes and the loans of pails and brusbeSs
to cleanse and purify their dwellings, and which toy*
great extent has prevented the spreading of fever p ir
vailing at several periods during the year. The
_ ,sibuoo er
scriptiuns for the year amounted to 2891. 125.• tegv.,
with a loan of 471. 18s., making a total of 3371• a
whilst the expenses amounted to 3671. ss. lid., being s
excess over income of nearly 301.
"
CHARTIST PROSECIITIONS.—The police ar.etnou'ircic,
search of Joseph Rooney, described as of Chriseh
Blackfriars, and of William Wilson, of St. Giles's-illtte:
Fields, and as they have both made themselves covert.
cuous in Chartist proceedings some importance at,
tached to their apprehension. True bills for w' seS,
uttered at the South London Hall, Webber-street, wni
OO' •
found against them at the last session of the C
crimieel Court, but neither surrendered'