The Sun.
London, England, 1834-07-21 00:00:00

NORTHERN CIRCUIT.—YORK, JULY 19.
This morning the Lord Chief Baron proceeded to the
Guildhall of the city, for the purpose of finishing the cri-
minal business there.
" MORRISON'S PILLS.".-CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER.
George Webb, a respectable-looking man, was placed at
the bar' charged with the manslaughter of a young man
named Richard Robinson, by administering to him large
quantities of gamboge, aloes, colocynth, and other drugs,
the statement of which was varied by numerous counts in
the indictment.
Mr. Starkie, with Mr. Dundas, conducted the prosecu-
tion ; and Mr. Pollock, Mr. Serjeant Acherly, and Mr.
Alexander, the defence.
Mr. STARKIE, in stating the case to the jury, observed
upon the law, by which if death was occasioned, however
unintentionally, by gross ignorance and culpable negligence,
it would amount to manslaughter ; and quoted the opinions
of Mr. Baron Bayley and Mr. Baron Alderson, in cases
of a like kind. He then referred to the absurdity, when
there- were so many medical establishments. and regularly
educated practitioners all over the country, that persons
unskilled in medicine and diseases should undertake their
management.
The unfortunate deceased was a young man of about
twenty years of age, apprenticed to a Mr. Sowry, linen-
draper, of the pavemeet, in York. He was taken ill, and
the prisoner, who was an innkeeper in York and an agent
for the sale of the much-talked-of " Morrison's Pills," was
sent for to attend him, and gave him in the first instance
twenty pills. On Friday, the 20th of June, it, was disco-
vered that the small-pox had attacked the deceased. The
prisoner solely continued to attend him. In the course of
the illness he gave the deceased no less than three doses of
ten, fifteen, and twenty pills respectively. These pro-
duced very copious evacuations, but "'the pills" were still
administered, and the prisoner said medical aid was unne-
cessary. On the Thursday following his mother was sent
for, and sat up with him on Friday night. The prisoner
visited him and said he was doing well. On the Friday
morning he was evidently in a sinking state, the extremi-
ties were cold and clammy. Medical aid was then called
in, but it was too late, for he died that afternoon. An in-
quest was held upon the body, which was opened. The co-
roner's jury returned a verdict of " Manslaughter" against
the prisoner. The pills had been analysed, and found to
contain gamboge, aloes, colocynth, and cream of tartar,
which, in the opinion of the witnesses he should call before
the jury, produced, or at least accelerated, the death of the
deceased.
Samuel Robson, examined by Mr. DUNDAS—Is an ap-
prentice to Mr. Sowry. The deceased was in good health
previous to the 20th of Tune. On the Tuesday he was at-
tended by the prisoner. - Witness went and fetched five
packets'of the pills, either by the direction of Sowry or the
prisoner, who called several times between then and Friday,
but no medical man attended during that time. On Friday,
about 11 o'clock, Mr. Allen, surgeon, attended him.
Cross-examined by Mr. PoLLoce-i-The deceased slept
with Mr. Sowry till Monday, the 23d of June. Sowry al-
ways kept Morrison's pills in the house. He had taken
them for a year and three-quarters before then. The pri-
soner is brother-in-law to Sowry. He is a person of great
kindness, and sat up with the deceased all night. The pills
witness got were two boxes of Nos. 1 and 2.
Mary Brittain examined—ls servant to Sowry. On the
Monday night the deceased said he was very poorly. He
died on the Friday week following. On Tuesday pills were
given him. He continued ill, and desired to have the pri-
soner sent for. He lives in Feasgate-street, and keeps an inn
there. On the Tuesday morning deceased said a rash had
come out and gone in again. Witness never saw the pri-
soner give him any of the pills. Deceased vomited and
purged two or three times a-day, but did not complain of
pain. He had no appetite, and,:was thirsty. The prisoner
felt his pulse.
Cross-examined—On Tuesday he said he thought he
would take some of Morrison's pills. I said I did not know
what it would turn to. He had taken the pills on former
occasions ; so had Mr. Sowry and myself. The prisoner
was in the habit of coming to Sowry's. He was very anxious
after the deceased.
Joseph Hugal examined.—ls journeyman to Sowry, but
does not sleep in the house. Deceased had the small pox.
Witness did not see him take the medicine, but saw the
prisoner there two or three times a day. When prisoner
returned from the deceased we inquired as he passed
the shop how deceased was ? Prisoner said, in a fair way
of recovery. After he was dead I conversed with Sowry
about the funeral ; he thought he ought to be interred on '
the Saturday morning early, on account of the small-pox.
The prisoner said it would be better to consult Dr. Allen
and Mrs. Whip, the deceased's mother. She was there.
George Robson, of Oswaldwick, farmer, saw deceased
very well on Sunday, the 15th of July. On the day of his
death witness talked with Sowry, and the next day talked
with the prisoner about Morrison's pills at Webb's. Wit-
ness said "We have come about holding an inquest."
Both Sowry and prisoner said Allen should be sent for, and
he would satisfy us. We mentioned the inquest to Mrs.
Whip. The prisoner said " Lord have mercy upon me,
do you mean to do that ?" I asked prisoner if deceased
had taken 10, 15, and 20 of the pills in one day ? Pri-
soner said he had. I received a letter from prisoner upon
the circumstance (produced). It stated that at six o'clock
on the Friday nothing could be done for the deceased. I
said that it was strange, that Sowry should say at ten o'clock
on Friday that deceased was getting better. The letter
was written in great agitation.
George Robson, jun. identified the letter. He met pri-
soner's son bringing it to his father, and took it.
Elizabeth Whip, the mother of the deceased, said that
the day before her son died she was sent for from Hetton,
and got to York about half-past 9on the Thursday evening.
She found him very ill. Prisoner and Sowry were there.
She wished to have medical help for her son. Prisoner said
there was no occasion for it, he was getting on, and would
be well in two or three days, and walking about York. She
sat up along with him that night. Prisoner stayed till mid-
night. The deceased was very restless, and did not get a
moment's sleep. He had no medicine, but was purged three
times. While the prisoner stayed the window was kept
open. It was then shut till about 4 o'clock, and then opened
again. The prisoner came about 6 o'clock, and witness
wished a doctor to be sent for. The deceased said, if any-
body, Mr. Allen. The prisoner said there was no occasion
for it, there was no danger. His hands, legs, and feet were
then in a cold clammy sweat, and he was extremely weak.
The prisoner then gave him some more pills, witness could
not say how many, but paid 15s. the next day for pills. Two
boxes were left. These were delivered to Mr. Allen. The
room in which deceased lay was small and close. Prisoner
said it should not have heen opened. About 12 o'clock on
Friday the deceased got up, but could not sit up five minutes.
I left him for awhile soon after, and at half-past 2 o'clock
the prisoner said he had just closed his eyes. Prisoner said
if he had sat up with him he would not have died. If the
window had not been set open in the morning he would have
got well.
Cross-examined—Prisoner was very attentive, and ap-
peared anxious about the deceased, and wished to sit up
with him. The deceased was always grateful for his at-
tentions.

John Wood, coroner for the city, held an inquest on the
body on Saturday, the 28th of June. He received two
boxes of the pills ; a few were taken out by the medical
men in attendance. The rest were given to Mr. Sinclair,
attorney for the prosecution. The prisoner came volun-
tarily to the inquest, and was examined, and signed his ex-
amination. After the verdict he surrendered himself. Mr.
Sinclair delivered the two boxes of pills to Mr. West, of
Leeds, chymist.
Mrs. Whip was recalled to identify the pills—Mr. West
received the two boxes of pills on Saturday, the .sth of
July, and now produced the boxes numbered 1 and 2. He
analyzed them by a series of not less than two hundred ex-
periments, the result of which was as follows :—The pills
No. 1 averaged 21 grains each pill, and were compos-
ed of aloes, and colocynth, together, one grain, but in
what proportions he could not ascertain, gamboge half a
grain, and cream of tartar three quarters of a grain. There
was also a small portion of ginger, but not sufficient to
affect the weight. The pills No. 2 averaged three grains
each, and contained of aloes and colcynth one grain, gam-
boge one grain and a-half, cream of tartar half a grain, and
ginger as before.
Cross-examined by Mr. PoLLocx—l examined about
15 pills. The analysis I most rely upon was one of two
pills each. I first dissolved them in alcohol, and obtained
a 'yellow colour, which I afterwards verified to be gamboge.
There were crystals formed. These proved to be cream of
tartar. The aloes I could discover by the taste and smell,
which it is impossible to disguise. I know no chemical test
to rely upon for the colocynth. I picked out fragments of
it from the pills, which I think no chemist could mistake.
I first ascertained the qualities, that is the ingredients, of
which the pills were composed, and next the quantities of
each ingredient. To ascertain the quantities, I first sepa-
rated the cream of tartar contained in two pills, by saturat-
ing them at a mean temperature, and having thus got rid

of the other ingredients, weighed it. The experiment
would show rather too little than too much, and I allowed
3-10ths of a grain for waste. I then obtained the gamboge
by making a precipitate with sulphate of copper, and am
confident there was above half a grain in a pill. There
might be three-quarters of a grain ; a quarter of a grain is
on the safe side. I believe there was more than a quarter
of a grain. There remained one grain for the aloes and
colocynth, which I could not separate.
The quantities in the pills No. 2 were ascertained by a
similar process.
The statement of the prisoner before the coroner, in
which he fully admitted having administered the pills, was
then put in, together with his letter to the witness Robson,
and read.

James Allen examined.—ls a surgeon in York. Was
sent for to attend the deceased on Friday morning, the 28th
of June. The prisoner was there. Deceased complained
of pains in his head and stomach, and was throwing his
arms about very restlessly. He was labouring under a se-
vere confident small-pox. His whole body was then in a
cold perspiration. He was in a very dangerous state. I
apprehended death almost immediately. I inquired into
the treatment, and the prisoner told me what had been
given him. I returned in two hours. He was then insen-
sible, and died in half an hour after that. Drs. Wake and
Balcombe, Mr. Matterson, and myself; afterwards opened
the body. We examined the stomach and bowels particu-
larly. They were much inflamed, the stomach approaching
to mortification in the cardiac. I believe he died of small-
pox, most' tirobably aggraiated by the treatment with dras-
tic purges which he received. There was appearance of
piles in the rectum, most probably produced by the same
cause. A great proportion of the cases of small-pox which
terminate fatally do so on the eighth day. I should not
have looked for death on that day in the present case, be-
cause the pox was then maturated, but if at all, during the
secondary fever between the 11th and 17th days. Drastic
purges are decidedly improper, because they lessen the
powers of life, already greatly reduced by the disease. The
most proper treatment must, in a measure, depend upon the
constitution of the patient, and the degree of excitement he
is under. Morrison's pills are improper, because they tend
to depress the powers of life, and to produce inflammation in
the stomach and bowels. Giving several doses would, in
his opinion, tend to accelerate death. The window being
opened on the Friday did no injury.
Cross-examined.—lt is not easy to detect small-pox. On
its first appearance, it is usual to cleanse the stomach and
bowels. The fifth day after the eruption is an important
day, the fever is the highest then. The term " confluent "
denotes the great number of the pustules, and their number
measures the degree of violence of the disease. With the
utmost care, inflammation will sometimes arise, and will
run its course, but inflammation of the stomach rarely hap-
pens in the small-pox.
Mr. Matterson, surgeon of York for 29 years, assisted
in examining the body, and described it as the last witness
had done. In small-pox purgatives are to be given with
great caution, and of the mildest kind. Gamboge and
aloes are not at all proper. The exhibition would be very
likely to accelerate death.
Cross-examined.—Drastic purges act upon the lower
bowels--saline ones upon the upper bowels. Can't tell if
there be a part of the colocynth that is inert ; inflamma-
tion may be communicated from one part of the body to
another, and often is so. There have been many case of
small-pox in York lately, several after vaccination, but
none of those after vaccination have been fatal. Drastic
medicines rather increase than diminish the inflammation
of the bowels. Death was probably accelerated in the pre-
sent case by the want of proper, and by the administration
of improper, treatment.
Dr. Balcombe—Has been 22 years a physician, and ten
years practising in York. The probable cause of the de-
ceased's death was the small-pox, heightened by the treat-
ment. Gamboge and colocynth might be taken in small
quantities, but he would not administer them at all, espe-
cially if fever was high. They would produce inflammation,
and might so accelerate death.
Cross-examined.—The probable cause of the death was
the small-pox. Of six cases which he had seen in his ex-
perience, they had died on the Bth or 9th days after the
eruption. The death of the deceased was just within the
natural range of the disease. He referred the inflammation
of the stomach to the pills.
By the COURT--I think his death was accelerated by
the pills, but I cannot say he would not have died if he had
not had them.
On the cross-examination some little discrepancies ap-
peared between the doctor's evidence and his deposition
taken before the coroner.
Dr. Baldwin Wake—Has been a physician 26 years.
Assisted in the post mortem examination of the body. Was
struck with the appearance of inflammation in the stomach,
so much so, that if he had not known the deceased had been
labouring under small-pox, he should without hesitation re-
fer the death to the inflammation alone. He called the at-
tention of the other gentlemen to it at the time. He should
have said the inflammation was caused by a virulent poison.
If previous inflammation existed, gamboge was of all things
most calculated to increase it. There is not much harm in
the aloes, but the pulp of the colocynth is an active vege-
table poison. Drastic purges are highly improper in small-
pox. He attributed the death to the inflammation of the
stomach and bowels, and to the strong drastic purges ad-
ministered the evening and morning before the death.
Cross-examined.—Never saw the deceased alive. It is
good practice to clear the stomach and bowels by a mild
aperient. In obstinate constitutions, recourse might be
had to drastic medicines. Years ago witness had been re-
commended to try gamboge in his practice ; but he found
it so intractable that he abandoned it, except in very parti-
cular cases. He had never analyzed " Morrison's pills ;"
but finding that some of his patients took them, he ha
examined them so far as to ascertain that they contained
gamboge, which induced him to caution his patients against
them.

Mutrs polrde.callHede—
.was 20 when he died.
The deceased was vaccinated at
Mr. West recalled.—There were about 40 pills in each
box he received. He could not tell how many a box usu-
ally contained.
This closed the case for the prosecution.
Mr. POLLOCK submitted that there was no case to go to
the Jury, and in a long and learned argument, in which he
referred to the opinions of Lord Coke, Lord Hale, Black-
stone,abo; y Meari
and Hawkins, as well as to some modern-reported
cases, particularly that of St. John Long, contended that
the charge of felony could not be supported, and that it
mattered not that the prisoner was no licensed practitioner,
for the law did not make that distinction to convict any
man of felony, or where there was not only the total ab-
sence of malice, but, as was admitted in this case, a most
humane and anxious desire to cure and to heal ; it could
not be that the prisoner should be committed for giving as
a friend, and at the request of the deceased, what he sin-
cerely believed would be beneficial.
Mr. Serjeant ATCHERLY and Mr. ALEXANDER followed
on the same side.

The LORD CHIEF BARON agreed that the statutes to
license medical and surgical practitioners did not and could
not make the distinction to permit one man to escape a
conviction for felony, and to convict another for the same
offence, but it applied to both, and if either acted igno-
rantly in administering strong and improper medicines, the
law would reach them both. He should leave it to the
Jury to say whether the death of the deceased was accele-
rated by the administering of these pills to him by the pri-
soner ; if they found so, he was guilty of manslaughter.
The prisoner being called upon for his defence, read from
a written paper a statement of the cure of his wife and one
of his children, when other aid had failed, by those pills,
and also receiving benefit from them himself, he was induced
to become an agent for the sale of them, and had been the
means of administering benefit to thousands. When the
cholera was in York, the deceased was attacked by it, and
was very shortly cured by the pills. On these grounds,
and from motives of regard to the deceased, he was induced
to administer them, and did not believe that they had caused
his death. He trusted the Jury would respect his motives,
and restore him with an unblemished character to his family
and to society.
The prisoner was several times much affected while read-
ing his address. On his concluding it,
Mr. POLLOCK proceeded to call the first witness.
John Lott, who stated that he lived at Derby, and that
his eldest boy having taken the small-pox, he administered
Morrison's pills to the boy with good effect.
The counsel for the prosecution here interrupted the ex-
amination, and contended that no proof was before them
that the pills alluded to by the witness and those which had
been given to the deceased were of the same description.
A clerk from the Stamp-office, London, was then called,
to prove that the stamps from Nos. 1 and 2 boxes were only
supplied by the Stamp-office to Mr. Morrison, and that the
boxes produced in Court have the only kind of stamp issued
for Mr. Morrison's pills.
Mr. John Morrison, of Gray's Inn, son to Mr. Morrison,
was- next called, but he could not speak from any direct
knowledge of the kind of pills that were issued. Ho said