The Sun.
London, England, 1856-08-12 00:00:00

THE POISONER, WILLIAM DOVE.

EXTRAORDINARY CONFESSION.

Before his execution at York, on Saturday, William
Dove made a long and most extraordinary confession to
his solicitor, Mr. J. M. Barret, which that gentleman
reduced to writing, but objected to furnish it to the re-
porters until after the execution. This confession is as
follows ; but it may be useful to explain that the man
Harrison spoken of is a fortune-teller, of Leeds, who
has for a long period exercised a most pernicious influ-
ence over the mind of Dove :
"I wish to repeat that the statement which I have
previously made to you respecting Harrison is strictly
true. Harrison has, during the time that I was at the
farm at Bramham, and also when I lived at Normantern,
and afterwards at Leeds, frequently told me that I should
never be happy until my wife was dead. This was
when I was pressing Harrison to put a spell upon her,
so that I might live happily with her. About the end
of last year, or the beginning of this, I was in Harrison's
warehouse, opposite his house, and he then told me
that belladona could not be found in the human body
after death, particularly if it was in a crystallised state,
and he then offered to make me some, but I did not
request him to do so. At that interview he stated
very positively that I should never be happy until
she was out of the way. I bad no desire at that time
to get rid of try wife. My belief was that Harrison
was possessed of some super natural power, and that he
could, through some influence, compel her to live happily
with me. He kept continually telling me that I should
not be happy until she was out of the way. I asked him
in the month of February if he could do anything to
get her out of the way, and he said be would lay her on
a sick bed, and she would never get better. The first
strychnia was got, as mentioned byone in my former
statement, on the 10th day of February last, and for the
purpose of killing cats. It was not got for any other
purpose, and at that time I never thought of poisoning
my wife. The whole of the strychnia obtained on the
10th day of Feb. was used for killing eats. The second
quantity of strychnia was got by me, I believe, on the
Thursday or Friday following, but I won't be sure as to
the day. The first and second quantities of strychnia
were kept in the raz it-case, which was placed on the
mantelpiece in my bedroom. I did not when I got the
second quantity of strychnia think of poisoning my wife.
I should not have got the second quantity of strychnia
but for the wish expressed by Mr. Morley's assistant to
have the skin of a cat for a tobacco pouch. I had before
I his given a book to Harrison, and on the day that
Elizabeth Fisher left our house I had considerable un-
pleasantness with my wife about Harrison having
that book. She bad a bad opinion of Harrison, and
I think feared him. I had told her when at Norrnanton
that he had predicted her death at the end of February.
On the Saturday after Elizabeth Fisher left I took the
paper containing the strychnine out of the razor case,
arid put it in my waistcoat pocket. I then went to my
mother's house. In the afternoon I had previously called
at Mr. Morley's for my wife's medicine. It was an effer-
vescing draught in two bottles. At my mother's that
evening I took the cork out of one of the bottles and
touched the wet end of it with the strychnia. I then put
the cork in the bottle vain and shook up the draught.
Before this I ought to have stated that I had during the
Saturday afternoon put a very small quantity of the
strychnia—perhaps half of a quarter of a grain—in some
jelly which my sister Jane brought from my mother's. My
wife took a spoonful, and made a remark about how
bitter it wag, and she then requested Mrs. Fisher to take
some. She did, and then remarked it was bitter as aloes.
I then took a spoonful, but did not taste the bitternees. I
then stated I did not find the bitterness, and requested
Mrs. Fisher to taste again, but she refused. I then
took a second spoonful and tasted the bitterness. I did
not swallow any. The remainder was thrown away at
that time. It was after this that I went to Mr. Morley's
and my mother's. On that Saturday evening my wife
took some of the draught in Mrs. Whitham's presence.
Mrs. Whitham tasted it, and stated that it was bitter.
The draught was not shaken that night before it was
taken. My wife did not suffer from the effects of it at
all. On the way from my mother's towards home on
that Saturday I threw the remainder of the strychnia
away. I cannot toll you the feelings of my mind when I
put the strychnia into the jelly and into the mixture. I
cannot describe them. I did not think at the moment when
I put it i❑ as to its effects or consequences. On the Sun-
day evening following, which was the 24th day of Feb.,
I went into Mr. Morley's surgery, and there being no
person in at the time I took perhaps ten grains of
strychnia and folded it in a paper. When I got home
I placed it in the stable. On the Monday morning I
gave my wife her draught (the effervescing mixture)
about half-past nine, and at ten o'clock she had
the attack as mentioned by Mrs. Fisher and Mrs. Wi-
tham. At the time my wife took that draught she com-
plained very much of the bitterness, and added that she
would tell Mr. Morley about it. There were three or
four doses left in the bottle after that draught was taken,
and I broke the bottle in my wife's presence, fearing that
Mr. Morley might taste it. The mixture was changed
on the Monday. The mixture then given was very bit-
ter. On the Tuesday night, or 'Wednesday morning, I
applied the wet end of the cork of the medicine bottle to
the strychnia, as before. I think there might be from
half a grain to a grain of strychnia on the cork when I
put it in the bottle. I shook the mixture up. There
was then only two or three doses in the bottle. Ido
not remember my wife having any attack on the Wed-
nesday. She took her mixture on that day. On the
Thursday I got another bottle of medicine from Mr.
Morley's, and I again applied the wet end of the cork to
the strychnia as before. About the same quantity of
strychnia adhered as on the former occasion. The
last dose of that mixture was taken o❑ Friday night, at
te❑ o'clock, and my wife was taken seriously ill in half
an hour, but she had no arching of the back on that oc-
Nion that I recollect. Mr.. Fisher is mistaken, I think,
on that point, but her statement in other respects is true,
I believe. On that Friday night I got another bottle of
medicine from Mr. Morley's. This mixture was directed
to be taken four times a day. I did not put any strych-
nia into that mixture or medicine, and I did not put qty
upon the cork of the bottle. Mrs. Witham gave a dose
out of that bottle on the afternoon of Saturday. The
strychnia was in the stable where I had first placed it,
and there was no strychnia in the razor case on that day,
nor during any part of the week. I was drinking at Sut-
cliffe's public-house on that Saturday, and I was more
or less affected by liquor all the afternoon and evening.
About 3 o'clock in the afternoon I went into the stable
and took out about a grain and a half of strychnia out
of the paper, and put it in another paper, which I
placed in my waistcoat pocket. I put that strychnia
into the wine glass which contained a little water—l
believe the water which was left in the glass by Mrs.
Witham, after giving my wife the third dose in the after-
noon; but I have no recollection as to the time when I
put the strychnia into the glass. I gave the mixture in
the evening in the presence of Mrs. Witham and Mrs.
Wood, as stated by them in their evidence. I poured the
mixture into that wine glass which contained the water
and strychnia. I did not put the strychnia into the wine
glass in the presence of Mrs. Witham and Mrs. Wood, or
either of them. I know that I put the strychnia in be-
fore, but I cannot remember how long, before giving the
medicine. I did not, when I gave the medicine on the
occasions mentioned, think of the consequences of giving
it; but when I saw my wife suffering from the attack on
the Saturday night, it flashed across my mind that I had
given her the strychnia, and that she would die from its
effects.

" I was muddled before this, and didn't know what I
was doing. When the thoughts of her death crossed my
mind, I immediately regretted what I had done, and I
believe if Mr. Morley had came in that moment I should
have told him what I had given her, so that he might
have used means to restore her. I cannot disguise the
anguish I felt when I returned from Mr. Morley's and
found my wife dead.

" Palmer's case first called my attention to strychnia,
but I never should have thought of using that or any
other poison for the purpose of taking my poor wife's
life but for Harrison' who was continually telling me
that I should never have any happiness until my wife
was out of the way. I felt my situation immediately
after seeing my poor wife's corpse, and I then feared a
post-mortent examination taking place within 24 hours
after death, as I understood that Professor Taylor had
stated that strychnia could not be detected after that
number of hours had expired. Harrison had told me
that I should marry a lady for my second wife having
auburn hair, and light complexion, as I before stated to
you. I did think that when my wife should die that I
would make Mrs. Witham an offer of marriage at a
suitable time. I did not think that what I was doing
would cause my wife's death, and I did not give
the strychnia with a view to de-troying my wife to
get Mrs. Witham. Mrs. Witham always treated, me as
a neighbour, and no more, and I wish to add that I
believe her evidence against rae is strictly true.
" I have not the slightest recollection of my wife ever
abating that she wished her friends to have a post mortem
examination, as stated by Elizabeth Fisher, and I do
not believe that my wife ever made any such statement
to Elizabeth Fisher, or any other person. I once told my
wife when she was ill, some weeks before her deatb, that
if she died there should be a post-mortem examination. I
said this because she told me her friends would blame
me if anything happened to her. She immediately ob-
jected, and requested that I would never consent to such
an examination, and added, uncle Bishop will see
that you have not one.'
" I continued to believe in Harrison's power for some
weeks after I was committed to prison. I believed that
e had the power to save me until June or July. On
the day when I wrote the letter commencing 'Dear
Devil,' I was in a
flociewi despondingngl
during
and
that day
s thought
tate . I can-
not
of
committing
suicide.Enr The instrument which was found
describeupon me on the search made that day would have been
probably used for that purpose. In the evening of tha
day I wrote that letter, but I cannot tellryou my feel-
ings at that time. I did feel certain that the devil would
come to me that night according to my request. I wrote
that letter, but never intended it to be seen by any per-
son. When they commenced to search me for the in-
strument I tried to conceal the letter, hut the deputy
governor accidentally saw it and took it away. I did not
write that letter in consequence of any suggestion from
any person or persons, and never mentioned that letter,
er the search which had been made on that 24th April,
to Mr. Barret, my attorney, until within two or three
days of my trial, and then only because he stated that
he had received information on the subject on the Satur-
day before my trial. I have only to add that the verdict
of the jury was just and correct, and that I freely forgive
every person who has been concerned against me, as
hope to be forgiven. " WILLIAM DOVE.
"Condemned Cell, York Castle, Aug. 7,' 1830.:
" Signed in my presence.
"J, M. BABRZT. 3.30 p,m."

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