The Sun.
London, England, 1848-06-12 00:00:00

ALLEGED MURDER.

During the last fortnight Mr. W. Carter, the coroner
for West Surrey, has been engaged investigating, at the
Old King's Inn, Bebbington Corner, situate between
Mitcham and Carshalton, a most remarkable case of al-
leged secret poisoning, by which the lives of no fewer
than seven persons were placed in imminent peril, and
one of whom has since died. The unfortunate person
was a lady named Mrs. Elizabeth Johnson, aged 62, who
resided with a Mrs. Cook on Bebbington Common, She
appears to have possessed property : but of this or her
relatives not the least tidings could be elicited. Mrs.
Cook, who is the widow of an officer, took the house in
question last Michaelmas ; the deceased lived with her,
also Mrs. Cook's daughter, two female servants, and a
footboy. A young man named George Chamberlain
frequently visited the house as a suitor to Miss Cook,
greatly to the annoyance of the mother, who disapproved
of his visits. On the 12th of this month some angry
words arose between Chamberlain and Mrs.
Cook, in consequence of his proposing to take her
daughter to Brighton. The journey was persisted in,
and the young man went to Brighton with Miss Cook
and one of the female servants. During their absence
Mrs. Cook, the deceased, and the remaining servants
ate their dinner, which included some apple pudding,
and they afterwards drank tea, the sugar for which was
taken from a basin on the table. They were then taken
violently ill. A surgeon was sent for, and he was un-
able to account for the cause of illness, and the deceased
died a few days afterwards. When Miss Cook returned
home, she and the maid servant were similarly attacked
after drinking something sweetened from the same sugar
basin. An inquiry was then instituted, and it was dis-
covered that the sugar and basin had disappeared;
whether they had been intentionally destroyed it was
impossible to say. A post mor tem examination of the
deceased took place, but no trace of poison could be
found. The coroner and jury had but one opinion as to
the cause of death, but in the absence of direct testimony,
an open verdict
was returned. The police were instructed
to continue their investigations. Some of the sufferers
have not yet recovered.

SUPPOSED MURDER, at BRISTOL.
On Filday the coroner's inquest was resumed on the
la Hill, who, with two of her children, had
died under of fa
nndercirculustances that gave rise to suspicions of
poison having beef; administered to them by the hus-
band and father, with A view of obtaining a large sum
of money for which he had effected an insurance upon
his wife's life, and the premiums upon which it was be-
lieved ho was not in a condition to pay. The suspected
person subsequently put an end to his own existence,
and an account of the inquest upon his body was pub-
lished in The Sun.

Mr. W. Herapatb, the celebrated analytical chemist,
after noticing the state of preservation of the viscera,
&c., and detailing the caution with which ho had made
his chemical analysis, and narrating a variety of experi-
ments he had made on different parts of the viscera,
without success for some time, said that at length he
took about a pound of the intestines of Maria Hill and
dissolved them in hydro-chloric acid, boiling, and con-
cen:yated the whole of it down to about two or three
ounces; 11e then introduced a slip of bright metallic copper,
and kept it ;;piling some ;imel and believed be discovered
metallic arsenic upon it. He then dissolved the whole
of the remaining intestines in the
same way, and treated
it with the same test—polished cocner. He then „
ob-
tained undoubted traces of metallic arsenal , Mr. Hera-
path
,
tr
path produced to the jury a slip of copper eo eateu
immersed in water to preserve it, as arsenic did not
oxydise in water. After the above experiment ho treated
another piece of copper the same way, scraped the sun-
faeeei and heated the scrapings in a small crooked tube,
when he found white crystals of arsenious acid sublimed.
Those were dilved in a small quantity of pure water
boiling, and tested, first with ammoniacal sulphate of
copper, which gave Scheele's green; and then with sul-
phuretted hydrogen, which gave him sulphnrate of
arsenic. The quantity was exceedingly minute: not
more than the hundredth part of a grain was taken from
several pounds. As to the cause of death, he could
only say that, from the inflammation and from the pre-
sence of arsenic, he had no doubt that arsenic was the
cause of death, but that the principal part of the poison
had been removed by sickness or evacuation. It
should be understood the arsenic was detected in the
integuments themselves not amongst the food, but
in the substance of the intestines. The body of Maria
Hill presented two of the appearances which followed
taking arsenic, viz., inflammation of the surface and pre-
servation of the viscera. Mr. Herapath then gave a
description of solutions of arsenics, which, he said,
ho had known disappear in twenty-four hours, ex-
cept in the liver. In the solid form it remained longer,
in proportion to the activity of the operation; but it was
considered by the first foreien practitioners, that where
a person lived fourteen or fifteen days after swallowing
Anenig, all traces would have left the system. The

. -
After some further evidence, the inquest was again
adjourned till to-morrow (Tuesday).

MURDEROUS ATTACK.
The valet of the Earl of Besborough, the Master of
the Buckhounds, was robbed and almost murdered, by a
gang of four ruffians (supposed to be connected with
the hordes of thimble-riggers attracted to Ascot for the
purposes of plunder), between nine and ten o'clock in
the evening of Thursday last. The Earl of Besborough
was staying at Martin's Herne, the residence of Lady
Mary Bulkeley, in the neighbourhood of the Heath,
during the races, with the Earl of Chesterfield and
other noblemen. On Thursday evening, while his Lord-
ship was dining with a large party,'the valet proceeded
to the Steward's Stand, on the course—a distance of
about two miles from Martin's Herne, for the purpose
of giving some instructions to the persons there re-
lating to the arrangements of his master for the following
day. On his return, when about half-way between the
stand and the mansion, he was beset by four ruffians, who
with dreadful imprecations, demanded his money or his
life, threatening to murder him if he made the least
noise, or attempted any resistance. Without however
giving him time to reply, they set upon him, knocked
him down, and struck him with their fists and thick
bludgeons over the head and face till he was insen-
sible. They then robbed him of his gold watch and
chain, four sovereigns, and some loose silver. Upon
his recovering his senses, after the lapse of some time,
he found himself covered with blood, flowing from
wounds on the head and face, his eyes nearly closed
fircoeoormtnuest,ohd:
vi
tbhll
ewh •
hiss
at he
last
aosht
rhaeds
managedrneecaeirvl
ye ditooa
rnnd
get
ohbffi
as
ohkbi bodya
ems
ke va
r. e
tri
nAe
,yus
bi nusttna no tt
rpauoressuoi tf
themwas were immediately
discovered.di te l y mde
Lordafte B
r theo,
br
ou rffi? ruffians,
,
left the course, at the conclusion of the races on
Friday,
for the Royal Hotel at Slough, and afterwards proceeded
to town by the railway.

---
SPORTING I
GOOD WOOD

TELLIGENCE.
'UP WEIGHTS.

at lb
The Hero, 5 yrs 10 0'
Footstool, 5 yrs 9 9
Sir Arthur, 6 yrs 9 7
Chanticleer, 5 yrs 9 4
Van Tromp, 4 yrs
Cossack, 4 yrs
War Eagle, 4 yrs 9 3
Vampyra, 4 yrs
Peep-o'-day Boy, 4 yrs 9 1
Sir Tatton Sykes,syrs 8 13,
Jonathan Wild, 5 yrs 8 13
Miss Sarah, 4 yrs 8 12
Rowena, aged
Red Hart, 4 yrs
Halo, 4 yrs
Planet, 4 yrs 8 10
Diomed, 5 yrs 8 7

!Saddle st lb
, 4 yrs 8 S
Projectile, 4 yrs 8 5
Best of Three, aged 8 3
Sutlej, 6 yrs 7 12
Fanny (h b), aged
Cymba, 3 yrs 7 7
The Spaniard, 3 yrs 7 4
Gardenia (Sister to
Hydrangea), 3 yrs
Fitz-Emilius, aged 6 12
Ellerslie, 3 yrs
Weathercock, 3 yrs 6 10
Slug, 3 yrs
Helter Skelter, 3 yrs 6 6
Miss Lydia, 3 yrs 6 6
Armin, 3 yrs 6 4

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Pier Majesty's
Theatre was, on Saturday evening, honoured by the
presence of her Royal Highness the Grand Duchess of
Saxe Weimar, the Princesses Anne and Amelia and
Prince Edward, who occupied her Majesty the Queen
Adelaide's box. The royal party was accompanied by
the Marquis and Marchioness of Douglas and the Mar-
quis and Marchioness of Ormonde. His Royal High-
ness Prince George also honoured the theatre with his
presence. We also observed his Grace the Duke of
Wellington, the Duke and Duchess of Leeds and Miss
Lane Fox, the Duke and Duchess of Leinster and
Lady Jane Fitzgerald, the Duke and Duchess of Beau-
fort,Aab nruadrrg ,Marquis
u, ha
i des tylha)eurand
Emilyrjc,f% eiaLqrdoouehui siißos
nuaNern
sgadshp ,ooMltfehaolerinc i jhi Marquis ha: ruer qoelu.s) rzi
sti nhooeeffe
ADSiCeao 11
Inralwenguar
jairsel t,azarteuhdat
io;
Marchioness of Sligo and the Ladies Browne, the
Marquis and Marchioness of Ailesbury, the Marquis of
Douro, the Earl of Mountoharles. the Earl of Howth,
the Earl of Falmouth, the Earl of Liverpool, the Earl
and Countess of Wilton, the Countess of Litchfield, the
Countess of Cadogan, the Earl Bective, his Excellency
the Russian Minister, Baroness Brunnow and Madlli.
Olga de Lechner, his Excellency the Hanoverian
Minister, his Excellency the Swedish Minister, the
Count D'Orsay, the Count de Alorney, the Count
(le Berke, Baron Nicolay, M. C. Koudriaffsky, his
Excellency the Brazilian Minister, the Count d'Alton,
the Countess of Blessington and the Misses Power, Lord
John Somerset, Lord Brougham, Lord Sandys, Lord A.
Fitzclarence, Lady Fitzroy Somerset and Miss Somer-
set, Lady Charles Wellesley, Lady Foulis, Lady
Warneford, Lord Ernest Bruce, Lord Fores-
ter, Loid Dinorben, Viscount Exmouth, Viscount
Anson, Viscount Clifden, Sir T. and Lady Palmer, Sir
Ralph Howard, Bart., and Lady Howard, Sir H. Webb,
Bart., Lady Tyrrell, Sir H. Meux, Hon. Cecil Forrester,
Count Arthur de Courcy, General the Hon. P. Upton,
General the Hon. H. Cavendish, Captain the Hon. James
Macdonald, Sir Thomas Gage, Bart., Lieutenant-General
Sir Alexander Woodford, Bart., Lady Gage, Sir G. Car-
roll, Bart., Lady Carroll and the Misses Carroll, Capt.,
Burton, Lady Rivers, Major Buckley, Major Baring,
Captain Seymour, Captain and the llon. Mrs. Ryder
Burton, Mr. C. W. Packe and Mrs. Packe Reading, Mr.
Ilobson, Mr. and Mrs. Grote, Mr. and Mrs. Phillips,
Mr. Frazer, Mrs. and Miss Holford, Mr. Ascue, Mr. and
Mrs. Hubert do Burgh, Mr. George Cornwall, Mr.
Broadley, M.P., Mr. Drummond, Mr. and Mrs. Tudor,
Mr. Barry Baldwin, M.P., Mrs. Duncombe Shafto, Mrs.
Howard, Mrs. Dennistoun, Mrs. Douglas, Mr. and Mrs.
Ewing, Mr. and Mrs. Mountjoy Martin, Mr. S. Scott,
Mr. Rolleston, M.P., and Mrs. Rolleston, &e., &c.
ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA, CovENT-GATIDER.=-
There were present at the Royal Italian Opera, on Sa-
turday evening, the Duke and Duchess of Cleveland, the
Duke of St. Albans and Mr. Gubbins, the Duke and
Duchess of Montrose, the Marquis of Titchfield, the
Earl and Countess of Huntingdon, the Earl and Countess
of Egmont, the Earl of Besborough, the Earl of Strath-
more, the Countess Dowager of Mansfield and the La-
tiles Morton, the Countess of Glengall, Viscountess
Mllon,Viscount Cantelupe, Viscount Templetown, Lady
Charlotte Denison, Lord and Lady Ernest Bruce, Vis-
count Dupplin, Lady Mary Howard and Lady Fanny
Howard, Mr. and Lady Caroline Sandford, Lady Harriet
Baring, Lord and Lady Shelburne, Lord and Lady Ca-
rington and the Hon. Miss Cotton, Lord Ogleby, Lord
Airely, Lord Aylmer, Lord and Lady Luke, Lord
George Manners, Lord Vivian, Lord Ailesbury, Lady
Joddrell, Lady Malet, Sir Compton and Lady Domvile
and the Misses Domvile, Sir George and Lady Armi-
tage, Sir Francis and Lady Lawley, Sir Jasper and Lady
Atkinson, Hon. Captain Elliot, Hon. Charles Neville,
Hon. Captain Duncombe, Hon. J. Fortescue, Hon. Dud-
ley Fortescue, Hon. F. Scarlet, Hon. Mr. Upton, Sir W.
P. De Bathe, Sir T. Hare, Sir C. Morgan, Sir Charles
Marshall, Mrs. Hayter, Mrs. Charles Mills and the
Misses Mills, the Misses Richards, Miss Burdett Coutts
and party, Colonel :Blanc, Colonel Wingfield, Major
Napier, Major Jones, Captain Cuddy, Captain Dalrymple
White, Captain Gambier, Captain Meynell, R.N., Capt.
Knox, Mr. J. B. Stanhope, Mr. Henry Esdaile, Mr.
Antrobus, Mr. F. Drummond, Hr. Henry Elwes, Mr.
Seymour Allen, Mr. Henry Pole, Colonel B. Knox,
M.P., &c.
MAIL COMMUNICATION WITH IRELAND.—There is
every probability that the proper authorities will take
immediate measures to improve the mail communication
between this country and the sister island, by causing
the bags to be transmitted from Dublin to London, vid
Holyhead, instead of, as at present, being sent through
Liverpool. This important arrangement, which it is ex-
nected will be carried into effect during the ensuing
c.
month of July, will cause the delivery of the Iris
papers and correspondence in the English metropolis
'if do-en or twelve hours after leaving Dub-
nirsi,:n improvement of great importance
smercial and manufacturing interests
and one that ought not to be delayed
loltlonger
hTe nit
than
aolcs nuo.
is abso.lutely necessary. The remaining por-
tt ihorno uog fh theho Crishl ea sntde
of and
Anglesey, olylle a i ds r I
ei na ed y o
ff 0
rr ailb we•
ianyg,
opened; and the extraordinary fast steam-vessels, just
Ibruiislht ocnhtahneneTihinamthree
rainlld-eawff-ehcatlfthhoeuprsa.ssarig,ehea
jcertotissesthine
the Holyhead harbour are ready for their reception, and
the very extensive national works there are progressing
satisfactorily. The traffic will be carried across the sus-
, pension bridge until the completion of the stupendous
tubular bridge over the Menai, the tubes for which are
being constructed on scaffolding erected on the shores of
the Menai Straits, and a large number of men aro con-
stantly engaged in the structure of the massive stone
piers and approaches. It is gratifying to state that the
second tubular bridge for the passage of the river Con-
way is being rapidly carried on, and will be completed
in a much less space of time than its predecessor. The
line has been opened for goods traffic, and there is every
probability of its business fast increasing. The distance
from Bangor to Chester, 60 miles, is now traversed in
two hours and five minutes,—Morning Chronicle.