The Sun.
London, England, 1846-07-04 00:00:00

•
POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
GUILDHALL.
Cii.titGE or Hocussixo.—Thursday a weaver, named Jo-
seph Fraser, but whose real name was Ferry, was charged
before Alderman Moon on suspicion of stealing 10/.
Thomas Newbury, a superannuated naval officer, residing
in Cannon-street-road, stated that on the previous afternoon
he was coming from the Admiralty, after receiving between
if,. and 171., when a tall, gentlemanly-looking man, rather
puck-marked, with black hair and small dark whiskers, trod
on his heel, and immediately begged his pardon. They
walked on together, the gentleman saying that he delighted
in the conversation of sailors, and asked him if he would
take a glass of ale, which witness declined. After walking
some distance further, his kind companion at last prevailed
on him to accept of a glass of rum, and a quartern was called
for. Atter that, witness, as his friend was so liberal, thought
it his turn to stand treat, and they had some more rum.
They then left the public-house, the gentlemanly-looking
individual being very attentive, and pressing Mr. Newbury
to come home with him to see his domicile, which kind offer
was declined. They proceeded along Chancery-lane, when
a similar offer was made to show him the various offices
there. Finding that this did not succeed, witness was pre-
veiled upon to go into a public-house and have some
gin at the stranger's expense, after which they proceeded
into Holborn, and parted. Complainant had scarcely been
left alone one minute when he was accosted by an elderly
person, who began conversing with him on religious sub-
jects, and eventually asked him if he would take a glass of
gin. He then began to suspect that some trick was in
tended, and declined taking anything. However, they were
joined by another man, and complainant did not know any-
thing more until he found himself being robbed in the par-
lour of the Golden Lion, King-street, Smithfield, by four
men. The prisoner was one of them.
Thomas Nauton, the potboy of the Golden Lion, deposed
to the prisoner coining in with four men, when they had a
pint of ale. Afterwards a quartern of rum was ordered; but
on returning with it he heard a scuffle, and found the door
fast. He knocked, and on its being opened the whole five
walked out of the room, the complainant having hold of the
prisoner by the coat, and accusing him of robbing him
(Newbury) of 101. They all walked towards the door. when
the prisoner slipped away and ran off, followed by witness,
who overtook him and gave him into custody. The others
escaped.

Tile landlord gave similar testimony.
Alderman Moos decided on remanding the prisoner, to
make further inquiries concerning him, as the case was a
very suspicious one.
WANDSWORTH.
EXTRAORDINAIX CASE OF POISONING.—Thursday, as
Mr. Clive was about to vacate the bench, Inspector Busain,
of the V division, brought into the Court, and placed in the
dock, Mary North, a sullen-looking girl, aged eighteen,
housemaid to Mr. Barker, coach proprietor; the charge, as
entered in the police-sheet, against the prisoner being that of
administering a quantity of vitriol to Mary Anne Barker,
aged four months, the infant daughter of Mr. Charles Barker,
Wandsworth, with intent to murder or do some grievous
bodily harm to it.
Mrs. Mary Barker, the wife of Mr. Charles Barker, omnibus
proprietor, living in North- street, Wandsworth, having been
sworn, said—The prisoner was in my service as a servant of
all work. I have a child, which will be four months old the
sth of this month, now lying ill.
Mr. CLlvE—When did you first observe anything mate-
rially the matter with your child ? Mrs. Barker—Last even-
ing, a few minutes to seven o'clock, the child was brought to
me by the prisoner foaming at the mouth. She was much
altered in appearance. She had been a little cross during the
day, and had.not slept much. She had been vaccinated re-
cently, and this might account for it. When the prisoner
came to me, she said, " 0 dear me, ma'am, what is the matter
with baby?" I did not make any reply, but immediately
sent her for Dr. Howell. The lips, tongue, and the whole
of the mouth were quite burnt. On the chin was a brown
spot, as if something had been spilt upon it. I had sent
the prisoner that morning for the ingredients necessary to
make blacking for the harness, and one of those ingredient
was four ounces, of oil of vitriol. I used about half of the
vitriol, and gave the bottle ccaitaining the remainder to the
prisoner to put on the top shelf in the kitchen, because
the children should not get at it. She knew that the liquid
contained iu the bottle was dangerous, because Mr. Leach,
who had served her with it, bad, according to her own
statement, told her that be would not have let her have it
had he not knwn who it was for. The bottle produced by
the inspector, labelled " Vitriol, poison," is the same the
prisoner fetched me. The prisoner can read, not only print-
ing, but writing.
Mr. George Tatham, surgeon, said he was sent for at
seven o'clock the previous evening, but not being at home
when the message arrived he did not see the child until half
past nine o'clock ; it was then sitting on the prisoner's lap.
with its head lolling upon its right shoulder. On seeing the
child, he immediately exclaimed, "This child has had
vitriol." There were then present the mother, the sister, the
servant, and Mr. Howell. He looked at the child's
mouth, and found portions of it excoriated. and the
gums, roof, and tongue were white, and showed marks of
an acrid or corrosive poison. Witness at once knew that
vitriol had been administered, having had a previous case
of poisoning by vitriol. He asked Mrs. Barker if she had
any vitriol in the house, and she admitted she had. The
cloth produced by the inspector (a child's napkin) he had
not examined until that morning; the light green marks on
it were produced by the child's vomiting; the brown marks
were such as would be produced by vitriol. They might have
been caused when wiping the child's mouth. It would be
difficult for him to say positively that the cloth was stained
by vitriol, but he believed it to be so.
Dirs. Barker said, there were so many napkins used when
the child vomited, and they were all put away together, that
she could not undertake to say that the one produced was
that with which the prisoner wiped the infant's mouth.
Mr. Tatham said, the child was at present in a very pre-
carious state. It was possible that she might live four or five
days longer, and she might recover.
Mr. CLIVE asked the prisoner if she desired to say any-
thing?
_

Tiie prisoner (in a firm voice) said, I never touched the
vitriol. I never went nigh it. I never put my hand on the
shelf, after mistress gave it to rue to put there.
Mr. CLIvE remanded the case for a week.