The Sun.
London, England, 1856-03-11 00:00:00

[PRICE 4D. STAMPED sr.

strychnia. The colour was different. It was a yel
lowish white tint. Tile sulphuric acid produced little
change, but on adding the bichromate of potash,
a purple colour changing to red was produced. I re-
ssrved my opinion in accordance with the rule laid
down by Professor Taylor. I resumed the analysis a
little before four o'clock on Monday afternoon. We
continued until very late that night, having only
a short interval for tea. We repeated the same
teats with the same results as in the morning, and we
then applied other tests. We applied ammonia, which
is a alight cloudy precipitate, and confirmatory of the
presence of strychnia. lam not sure whither that day
or the following, but I think that day we tried potash.
It produced confirmatory evidence of the presence of
strychnia. I did not make minutes of e, •rytbing that
occurred during the analysis, but we did of some thing.
They were not made step by step. The analysis was
recommenced on Wednesday between three and four
o'clock. I don't know that we added any test then.
We applied chloride of tin on Tuesday as a subsidiary
test, in order to see whether the red tint was produced
by strychnia, or some other substance. On Wednesday
we chiefly repeated the same tests, and more particularly
examined the intestines,• through the same process, and
with the aims results. My conviction became stronger
every day ; and on Wedneslay I wa= quite certain of
the presence of strychnia. We again examined on
Thins lay, and closed the analysis at five o'clock on Fri-
'ley morning. If I had been asked by any person to
whom I was bnind to give an opinion, I should have
answered on Wednesday evening that the cauc• of
death was strychnia ; otherwise, I should have observed
the rule to which I have referred. There was no other
cause to which death is referrable. I received from Mr.
Searle, my assistant, part of a bottle of medicine, which
had been brought trona the house of Mr. Dove. It con-
sisted of aloes, venerian, and gentian. I applied tests,
to see if it contained strychnia ; and it did net. That
medicine was in a bottle, labelled with my name. My
opinion, that strychnia was taken four times during the
week, is formed partly from my own observation, partly
from the evidence given to me, and the appearances.
Mr. Barret.— C im you tell use if there is any one eel.-
ta'n led for the disc every of strychnia in the human
body !

Witne.s.—There is one substance which alone will
determine the presence of strychnia. The best combina-
tion, in my (minion, is the potion of nitric acid, followed
by the Llcride of t n and I i Itiloride of iron.
_ _

Mr. Barrett.—ls that, in your opinion, a conclusive
teat of strychnia in the human body !
Witness. —lt, is considered a conclusive test. If I were
limited to those, I should say, using snob tests, that I
should be satisfied to give my opinion as a certainty. I
consider it will detect strychnia in its ordinary state. It
is not a sufficient test when not in its ordinary state.
Strychnia, in its ordinary state as sold by druggists, and
as used by medical men, contains a little brucia. The
red colour arising may be produced by brucia, and can-
not be relied upon as a certain test of strychnia, pure
and perfectly free from brucia. All ordinary strychnia
contains brucia, amid therefore is net free from red colour.
I think this combination a. a test conclusive evidence of
the presence of strychnia, but I should always look for
confirmatory evidence. lam not prepared to say that
there is a test fee the discovery of strychnia when with-
out the brucia. The same difficulty may exist in degree
in all vegetable poisons, lie earnestly entreated Ins to
let him know the result after I had suggested the acci-
dental poisoning. I suggested that it might have been
spilt. and taken in food by Mre. Dove. It was after
that he said, " If you find anything, what will the jury
say ?" lam quite positive that he said he had only got
strychnia from my surgery once. It lie tells m, that he
has got it twice, that ie untrue. As far as his statement
to me went, he said be had tried it once for the purpose
of killing cats, and it had failed, and he bad tried it
again for the same purpose. I did not ask him the time
that had occurred between the first and second experi-
ment. He told me that he had warned the servant not
to touch it, and that the poison had been put on the
cheese in the servant's bedroom. He called upon me on
the night of hie wife's death to ask me to bring Dr.
Robson with me to see her. I had a suspicion that he
was not altogether sober on that occasion, Flis mode of
conversation was not that of a perfectly sober man.
There was a change of tone from anxiety to lightnees.
I entered the bedroom before him. He sat on a chair a
short time, then rose and sat on the bed, as if in extreme
grief. I had him removed from the room. f yaw him
no more that night. I then made inquiries of Mrs.
Witham as to the symptoms that had taker' place. I
made no examination that night. I examined the body
externally nit Sunday, with a vie, to muscelar rigidity
and wounds. From what I saw I should have said
that the general appearances were those consequesit
upon tetanus. I only took one bottle from the house.
I had prescribed quinine for her about a fortnight, or
rather more, before her death. I had the o inversation
I have referred to last Thursday. I had et, I think.
mentioned to Mrs. Dove's mother that I thought her
dalighter had died from poison.
This being the c!one of Mr. Morley's case he handed
in the following list of medicines+ lie had supplied to the
deceaved:—"Feb. 15, 1855.—Mr-. Dove hail an effer-
vescing mixture, emesimeg of carbonate of soda and
syrup of lemon. The said mixture contains)] tartaric
acid, and at the same time was sent a liniment consist-
ing of compound soap liniment, compound canphor lini-
ment and opium. ISth Feb.—Compound rhubarb
pill and line pi I, 25th—Mixture containing compound
•pirits of still)) uric ether. ammoniated 'licit:re of vale-
liee, and tincture of henbane. Later in the stifle day,
another mixture containing compound spirits of sulphu•
rie ether, ainmenieted tincture of valerian, and c an•
pound decoction of nines, 26th—Saine mixture, with
infusion of gentian, at d seme pill as before. 2Sth—A
draught, consisting of Batley's solution of opium, and
ammoniated tincture of va'erian. 29th—The same kind
of mixture, and the same draught."

Mr, John Elletson, pupil of Mr. Morley, was the ntxt
witness examine,d. He said—l hays known Mr. Dove,
the prisoner, since Mr. Morley h+s attended Mrs. Dove,
during her last illness. He ha, called at the Forgery
frequently. We have had conver,ations about pi icons.
Toe first conversation wos about a month ago. I don't
recollect the exact conversation that took p%tev. I
can't remember the exact words he used. The conver-
sation began about the case of Mr. Palmer. He said
that he believed strychnine could not be detected. That
was in the course of conversation about Palmer's case.
He said that it could not be detected after death. I
said it could be. I mentioned one or two of the tests
for it. He asked rue the effects of strychnia on man. I
told him it produced spasms and contraction of the
muscle.. He mentioned that the house wa,: infested
with cats that he wanted to kill. After that he asked
we for some strychnia, which I supplied him with, label-
ling it poison, and telling him to be cautious.
This witness was under examination when our parcel
was despatched. .

It ix i:i9t likely the case will terminate before to-day
or Wednesday.

Naval and Military Intelligence.

A court-martial commenced sitting yesterday morning
on board her Majesty's ship Victory, to try Commander
Warren for the loss of her Majesty's stearn-sloop Poly.
phemus, on the 29th of January, in the Baltic. Thecae
excited consi,lerahle interest from the rank and family
connexions of the prisoner and the fact of the master and
several of the crew having lost their lives by the catas-
trophe. A pledge was exacted from the reporters pre-
sent that no part of the evidence should be published
until the termination of the trial.

The steam•transport Alps, No. 82, Capt. Inglis, em-
barked at Portsmouth yesterday Lieut.-Colonel H. 0.
Bowles, Major F. Weiss, Captains G. de Kerponay, A.
Von Jessen, M. de Canstenser, I, de Ziemicki, and Philo
Schumann ; Lieuts. S. V. Schwartzenhorn, W. Von
Essen, G. Daly, Louis Rohrer, P. Von Suensson, and
C. Lemsey ; Ensigns A. Ritter, J. Barchett, and L.
Seski ; Paymaster L. R. Haslewood, Acting-Adjutant
John A. KyA, Surgeon F. Asehenfeldt, Assistant-sur-
geon C. Mel, 467 non-commissioned officers and men,
women, 4 children, and two horses of the 3d Jager corps
of the British German Legion, and left with them for
Plymouth.
A Danish corvette arrived at Spithead yesterday after-
noon.
The Resistance troop-ship, Master-Commander Hall,
was docked yesterday at Portsmouth, to be repaired.
• The A mphion, 34 guns, screw steam-frigate, Captain
Henry Chsds, left Sheerness at 11 a.m., on Sunday,
direct for Kiel.
The Devastation, 6 guns, paddle-wheel steam-sloop,
Commander Edward Marshall, arrived at Sheerness on
Saturday from Greenhithe, completed her stock of water
on Sunday, and left for Spithead the same day at 10
3.m.
The Pearl, 20 guns, screw steam-corvette, Captain
Edward S. Sotheby, from Greenhithe, arrived at Sheer•
ness on Sunday, and, after communicating with the
Cosamander-in-Chief, left at 4 p.m. for Spithead.
The Ht ratio, 5 guns, screw steam-ship, Captain the
Hon. Arthur A. Cochrane, C.D., took in powier, shell,
&c., to complete her ammunition stores, on Sunday, and
now is waiting at Sheerness Admiralty instructions for
destination.
The Vixen, 13 guns, screw steam despatch gun-boat, is
ordered to be completed at Sheerness with all possible
expedition.
The Locust, 3, paddle-wheel steam-vessel, Lieutenant-
Commander John Bytheses, was taken into the fitting
basin, Sheerness, on Saturday, and ordered to be refitted
immediately.

The Cuckoo, 8, paddle-wheel steam-vessel, Lieutenant-
Commander A. G. E. Murray, is ordered to be ready
for her departure on the arrival of Admiralty orders for
her destination, which is reported to be the Baltic.
The Tartar, 20, screw steam-corvette, Captain Hugh
Dunlop, was taken into No, 3 dry Jock, Sheerness, on
Saturday, to make good damage received in the Baltic,
and will be put out of dock this day. She is taking in
provi-ions and stores, and is under orders to proceed
immediAtely for the Baltic.
The Wasp, 14, screw steam ship, has been taken into
the fitting basin, Sheerness, to have her defects made
good, and be ready for immediate service.
The Commander•in•Chief struck his flag at Sheerness
and proceeded to London yesterday.
The scllo mer Maria Eliza is about to sail from Wool-
wich, with shot, powder-cases, gene, and gun-carriages

1(-/

- G'

kr.Porternouth. TI a Mariner arrived Al Woolwich on
Sunday evening from. Liverpool, 11 ith a cargo of shell
from the contractors there, on discharging which use
will eelhark gun., gun-cartieges, and powder-eases for
Portsmouth. Tile Amity transport is completing her
cargo of military Mere,' for Malta and Constantinople,
and is filing up with casks and cases of harness and
saddlery, arid will be ready to-day to go down to Green-
hithe to he adjusted for yea.
On Saturday afternoon Messrs. Scott and Sons, of
Gr...enock, launched vary stircessfnlly another of the
mortar-boats which that firm is building for the Govern-
ment. L'ke the former, this vessel is constructed in
the most substantial and even ponderous manner. Si •
is 900 tons burden, and her magazines will contain 1,000
shells, with the requisite store of powder, &c.
The preparations for war continue at Woolwich 1113.
diminished. List week so great was the number of
Artillery (as enumerated in The Sun) which started
thence for the Crimea, that 12 special trains, indepen-
dently of the ordinary depot three, were despatched from
the Ar•nal station to Southampton direct. Two trains
were occupied with gun-carriages. and one train con-
veyed the baggage alone. The horses consisted of 580.
Captain Radcliffe's battery of Royal Artillery was to
leave Leeds yesterday for Liverpool, to embark for the
East ; and other i,atteries are under orders for the like
destination.
The Royal I.lfaii Company's steam-ship Great Westeiri,
No. 6, is under orders to receive at Southampton, for
transport to the East, 1 officer, 20 men, and 45 horses,
of the Royal Artillery ; 13 efficere of the Royal En-
gineers ; 300 Sappers and Miners, 10 servants, and 6
officers. Accommodation is aloo provided for Paymas-
ter Marriott, 54th Regiment, and family, to Gibraltar ;
Lieut. Simpson, R.N., and Lieut.-Commissary-General
Seel and wife, to Malta ; Aesietant-Surgeon Govett and
Mr. Blandford, of the 04inanli Irregular Cavalry, and
Mr. G. Perry, R.N., to Consitantinnole ; Lieut.-Colonel
Smith, Ensigns Carroll, Skey, Boyd, Mallett, and
Wright, &c., to the Crimea. A printing press and two
printers will also leave by this conveyanott for Scutari.
The following appointmeets were mar's yesterday at
the Admiralty :—Commander J. B. Willoughby and,
Commander J. N. Norman have been appointed Inspect-
ing Commanders of the Coast Guard ; Lieut. L. C. H.
Robinson, t) the command of the Blazer gun•boai ; Wm.
Innis, Master, to the Basilisk ; J. C. 13rownrigg, Act-
ing Mate, to the Pioneer ; EL J. Nash, Assistant. Clerk,
to the Royal George. •