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

THAMES; '

POISONOUS BERRIES.—John Hilliard was brought
before Mr. Ballantine for final examination, charged with
the wilful murder of Thomas Parker, late proprietor of
the Veteran beer-shop, in the Whitechapel-road, and
Samuel Jones, a child, aged three years, whose deaths
were caused by eating a pie in which berries of the
deadly nightshade were introduced. It will be recol-
lected that the coroner's jury returned a verdict of Man-
slaughter against the prisoner, who sold the berries of
the deadly nightshade en Saturday, the 15th of August,
on Blackfriars7bridgo and other places. Several per-
sons, including three post boys who purchased the ber-
ries, were seriously affected. Mrs. Parker, the landlady
of the Veteran beer-shop, who purchased a pint of the
berries on the same day, introduced them into a pie on
the Sunday following, of which she and her husband par-
took. The child Jones, who called at the house while
Mr. and Mrs. Parker were at dinner, also ate some of
the pie. Mr. Parker and the child died on the follow-
ing day.
On the prisoner being placed at the bar, a number of
persons were in attendance who had purchased the poi-
sonous berries of him on the 15th of August, and great
interest appeared to exist. Mrs. Parker, who was
attired in deep mourning, and who nearly lost ber life,
again attended. She has not yet recovered her health.
The first witness called was Mr. John Hiscox, who
said he was a druggist and medical botanist, and carried
on busineis in the Bethnal Green-road. He had known
the prisoner for five or six years or more as a herb
gather, and considered him one of the most astute herb
collectors iu England. The prisoner was most accurate
in collecting medical herbs.
Mr. BALLANTINE—IS he likely to be ignorant of the
deadly nightshade? Mr. Hiscox—l should really think,
from his very long experience,That he could not be igno-
rant of the poisonous nature of the berries of the deadly
nightshade. I consider him the best gatherer of herbs
and plants we have.
Mr. BALLANTINE put some further questions to Mr.
Hiscox, who said, if ho wanted an opinion upon herbs,
he should ask the prisoner's opinion in preference to
that of botanists, because his opinion would be practical
and theirs would be theoretical. He knew the plant
well. He bad seen the deadly nightshade growing in
shady places, and when a boy he used to avoid the
berries. They were generally understood to be poisonous.
Mr. BALLANTINE--Can you say the prisoner was
acquainted with the properties of plants? Mr. Hiscox
would not go so far as to say the prisoner was
acquainted with the medical properties of plants, or
their efficacy in curing particular diseases; but he was
of opinion the prisoner did know the berries of the
a i
clever
deadly nightshade were poisonous. The witness then
par-
ticularproceeded
localities. to at t tehat
believeddiffe hretnte
man in the selection of plants and herbs, and should
think he must know belladonna from any other plant.
plants prisoner had
wast her
Mr. BALLANTINE—If he knew the plant, could ho be
ignorant of the qualities of it? Mr. Hiscox—l should
think not.

Mr. BALLANTINE—Did you ever order him to gather
the plant of the deadly nightshade? Mr. Hiscox said
he had not. He had been in the habit of using the ex-
tract of the belladonna, which ho obtained of the drug-
gists who prepared the medicine.
Mr. BALLANTINE explained to the prisoner how the
evidence affeeted him, and asked him if he would put
any questions? The prisoner said he was quite ignorant
of the berry altogether. He understood roots and
plants, and knew what was good and what was bad, but
ho really knew nothing about berries. He never picked
berries for any herb shop in his life. He ate as many as
twelve of the berries on the day he sold a pint of them
to Mr. Parker. They were as sweet as sugar and as
nice as honey.
Mr. BALLANTINE—WAS that after the young men in
Whitochapel told you they WM', PionoLLlerxies ?