The Sun.
London, England, 1856-07-07 00:00:00

THE ALLEGED POISONING AT BOLTON.

In The Sun of Friday was reported a case'at Bolton,
in which a woman named Betsy M'Mullen was charged
with poisoning her husband with a medicine composed
of tartarised antimony and sold by druggists, under the
name of "quietness," to worsen who have drunken hus•
bands.

On Friday evening an inquest was held on the body
of James M'Mullen (who was a flour dealer in Bolton)
by Mr. Taylor, coroner.
Mary Ann Hutton,deEeaseil'h servant for the last nine
months, deposed that both her mistress and late master
were of intemperate habits. Deceased's wife, indeed,
scarcely ever went to bed sober. Her master had drink-
ing bouts, which lasted in each case three or four days.
Three weeks ago Mrs. M'Mullen was very drunk, and
followed her husband to the Archduke public house, in
Blackburn stree', awl witness accompanied her. At the
house they bad a fight, and Mrs. M'Mullen threw a
carving-knife and a rolling pin at the deceased, and, the
knifa cut his wrist. Deceased used to be unwell 'a day
or two after drinking. His last drinking bout began on
the 7th Jane, and he got well and attended to his busi-
ness until the 21st June, when he was so ill that he. lay
down on the sofa during the day, and went to bed at
half-past nine at night. The n,xt day (Sunday, the 221
June) Mr. D avian, surgeon, was called in in the after-
wain. Deceased bad occasionally vomited his meals all
the time witness was Qv-re, but much oftener than usual
within the last three months. He was sick when he bad
not been drinking. Occasionally be got a bottle of physic
from Mr. Dorrian to regulate his stomach, but it did
him no good. Witness had on several occasions seen
her mistress put a white powder into deceased's food,
and her mistress often sent her out .of the kitchen while
she was preparing the-dinner. On Thursday, June 26,
witness saw her mate34ess manner; "White powder with
water, and put it into tha physic. bottle of the de-
ceased, which Mr. Dorrian had sent hi.c. The deceased
finished the physic, and he was very sick. On Friday
last Mrs. M‘Mullen put some white powder in some
tea, and she then sent witness with it to the deceased.
The witness gave him part of it, and the remainder she
put into a bottle and sent to Mr. Dorrian. On the same
day she saw a glass of medicine in the pantry; and she
gave a portion of it to Mr. Dorrian. On the night when
they were at the Archduke publio.house the witness had
to andress her mistress and put her to bed, wnen she
found in her pocket a paper containing white powder,
some of which she afterwards gave to Mr. Dorrian's
mass.

Mr. J. Dorrian, Burgeon, stated that he had known the
deceased several years, and during that time had occa-
sionally prescribed for him. In April lest, and again
in May, deceased curnplained of being sick after eating,
and of a burning pain in his stomach. On Sunday, the
22d June, about six o'clock in the evening, the witness
was sent for to the house of the deceased, and he founl
him sitting in the kitchen. He appeared very weak,
and seemed to be suffering from indigestion. He com-
plained of being sick after eating ; and the witness pre-
scribed for him, and afterwards attende I him until Wed-
nesday morning last, when he died. The me-dicine the
witness prescribed had not the effect he intended. Every
morning the deceased complained of having been sick
during the night, but he never saw hith when he was
sick. He appeared to be wasting away. • The witness
then deposed to the appearances presented at the post
modem, examination, and added that there was no ap-
pearance of natural disease to account for death. The
symptoms and appearances were similar to those which
would be caused by the excessive and improper use of
tartarised antimony.
Mr. H. Watson, analytical chemist, stated that he
received two bottles containing medicine and tea, and
both *ere foundlo contain traces of antimony. On the
Ist of July-he received three bottieS from Mr. Dorrian,
containing urine, in which he found decided traces of
antimony. On the 2d of July he received from Mr.
Harris seven_ bottles and five jars. One of the bottles
was labelled " Urine' " and iu that be found strong
traces of antimony. The jars contained a portion of
the liver and kidney, and in each he found traces of
antimony—but the strongest in the liver.
Mr. James Rowland Simpson, druggist avid grocer,
Deansgate, stated that he' was in the habit of selling
emetic powders, composed of tartarised antimony
and cream of tartar. The powders contained four
or five grains of antimony. He
.kept them-ready
made up, and without any written or printed direc-
tions for use. When he sold any he usually told
the purchaser to be very careful of it, and to divide-
each powder into four or 'five doses. The powders
were . sold at id. each. He (witness) knew Mrs.
M'Mullen from being a customer at his shop. She pur-
chased groceries, but hedil not remember that he ever
served her himself. The emetic powders were called
"quietness." Women always came for the powders,
anti they usually said that their husbands had been
driu - net Teuitiintter ever setting One-of-these
powdeks to man. 13'
Mr. John Thorstonf lUcal -agent- for the Prince of
Wales Life Insurance CorOpany, stated that in January,
.1855, the deceased insured the joint lives of himself and
wifeiin that sffi, fai 1001.., to be payable to the eure
vivor on 'the death of either of them.
The Ooroner then summed up the case to the jury,
pOinting out the various bearings of the evidence.
-After retiticg,for:2s minutes, they returned into court
and delivered the following verdict We are unani-
mous yof opinion that the deceased Daniel Al`Mullen's
death has been occasioned or accelerated lay antimony
wilful'y administered
.by his wife, Betsey M'Malien ;
and we also express our di-approbation of the indiscri-
minate dispensing of such medicines." Mrs. M'Mullea
was-then committed, upon the coroner's warrant, for trial
at the assizes.