The Sun.
London, England, 1869-07-10 00:00:00

NINE PERSONS POISONED.

An extraordinary case of poisoning, in which nine per-
sons have had a very narrow escape from death, is
reported from West Cornwall. Mr. Middy, farmer, of
Tredinnick, was first taken suddenly ill soon after be had
dressed Ilirnself in the morning. He appeared to be wan-
dering in his mind. The symptoms rapidly grew more
alarming, and Mr. Bennett, surgeon, of Tre;ony, was
sent for. By the time he arrived Miss Buddy was also
seized in a similar manner. Another sister, who was at
Tregony, went to wait upon her brother and sister, but
had not been long in the house when she also became ill,
and the same happened to a Mrs. Crago, who is also a
sister to Mr. Huddy. Mrs. Elliott, a neighbouring farmer's
wife, then came to the assistance of the prostrated family,
but soon shared the like fate, and the servant man and
three other persons who came to nurse the family,

making nine in all, were speedily seized in a similar
manner. From the rapidity of the attacks and
the symptoms manifested, Mr. Bennett considered
that it was an outbreak of Asiatic cholera, but on the
arrival of Dr. Barham, of Truro, that gentleman at once
pronounced it to be a decided case of poisoning. Upon
inquiry, it was found that all the sufferers had partaken
of a batch of bread baked on Thursday. Miss lluddy
herself made the bread, assisted by the servant Pill,
who brought her the flour, &c. The girl Pill was
under notice to leave. Dr. Barham, having satisfied
himself that his patients had been poisoned, sent
for the girl and told her to bring him the remaining loaf
of bread, but she returned and stated that she could not
find it. The loaf has entirely disappeared, the police,
who have been investigating the matter, being unable to
discover it. A striking circumstance connected with the

affair is that every person who partook of food in the
house, except the servant Pill, was seized with illness. It
was at first feared that some of them would succumb to
the effects of the poison, but all are now in a fair way of
recovery, and the friends of the family have been removed
to their homes.

TILE PORTADOWIN RIOTS.

--_--.-.,0.

At the inquest at Portadown, on Thursday, a witness
named Watson gave a minute account of the riots, and
the firing of the police which took place on the Ist of
July. He was standing at his own door when he saw a
body of police coming up the road from the direction of
Portadown, armed with rifles. He asked Sub-Inspector
Nunan what he was going to do with his men, and the
officer asked him had he not heard that the police had
been cut up, and added "It is a bad business." Mr.
Nunan requested him to look for Mr. Shillington, the
magistrate, and say that he was urgently wanted. He
could not find Mr. Shillington. Mr. Nunan expressed
regret, and said that he would have to act upon
his own responsibility. In a short time he heard the sub-
inspector order the crowd to lea;•e the road. Some one
replied, " We have as much right to be here as you." The
officer declared that he would compel them to leave, and
ordered them to leave in the Queen's name, or be would
fire on them. Several persons answered, " That is mere
than you dare do." He said he could, and was told to
" try his hand." He then commanded them three times,
in the Queen's name, to disperse. The people replied as
before, and he said, " Now, I'll fire." He said something
to his men which the witness did not hear, and they
then put the weapons to their shoulders. While they
were in this position Mr. Nunan requested the crowd to
go home. The witness spoke to him, and asked him if he
really meant to fire. He replied, "I do, and lam sorry;
fur see how many innocent people are about there, and
they'll be shot." He asked Mr. Nunan not to fire, as he
had received no sufficient provocation. He replied that
be must, as his men were being cutup. The witness said,
"No matter for that, don't do it." Stones were thrown,
and about half-a-dozen fell in front of the rolice, and others
struck them. The witirss saw the mounted
constable rubbing his right elbow, and be stated
that he was unable to hold his revolver in
consequence of having been struck on the hand.
Mr. Nunan was struck about three times, and he
remarked that they were giving him sufficient provocation
to warrant him in firing. While they were speaking
stones were thrown. He then said rather excitedly, " I
cannot stand this any longer ; my men are in danger."
The stone-throwing continued, but be did not see the
police struck. He again ordered the crowd to disperse in
the name of the Queen, repeating the command about six
times. The witness observed, " Mr. Nunan, you are
only doing what will tend to exasperate the
crowd." He replied, " Never yon mind, Mr. Watson ; I
know what lam about." The witness said, "If you fire
you are only getting yourself into trouble, as the pro-
vocation would not warrant you to do so." He
then gave an order to the constables, who put
themselves in a position to fire. The crowd, which
was about seven or eight yards distant, surveyed the
movement with calm indifference. He saw many of t'.em
standing with their bands in their pockets, and the sub-
inspector was told that be dared not fire. There were no
stones thrown at the frac. The witness again asked him
not to fire, but he was too absorbed or too excited to hear.
He suggested that it would be better to take the police
home, and they immediately marched in the direction of
Portadown. The crowd divided, let the police pass through,
and then closed after them. Therewere stones thrown then
at them by the crowd, but the persons around were in a;
much danger of being struck as the police were. He say
no one struck, although there might have been many,
When they came to the Prince of Wales Hotel they
wheeled and fired immediately. He was quite close to
them at the time. The people had said to him that
be might know very well the police dared not fire among
them. The constables again wheeled and marched
towards home. He followed, but they were lust to view.
owing to the intervening crowd. Shortly afterwards he
heard them fire again, and saw the people running. .Ile
did not consider his life in danger from anything the
crowd did. Twenty or thirty minutes elapsed from the
time of the first interview with Mr. Nunan and the second
firing. He heard no shouting, but the people chuckled
and laughed when the police got up from the first firin
position.

On Friday the inquest at Portadown was continued.
11r. Farrell, proprietor of the Portaclown, News, deposed
that Nunan called upon the police, in the Queen's name, to
fire. He saw five policemen bleeding. No stone was
thrown at the time the police fired, but stones were thrown
before a at. The proceedings were adjourned until the
L'rd of August.

Tun (ECUMENICAL COUNCIL.—The following are
said to be the subjects that will be discussed at the (Ecu-
menical Council:-1. Pantheism, Naturalism, and Abso-
lute Rationalism. 2. Modified Rationalism. 3. Indif-
ferentism and Tolerance. 4. Socialism, Communism,
t.iceret Societies, Bade Societies, and Clerical Liberal
Societic. Errors with respect to the Church and her
G. Errors with respect to Civil Society in itself,
and in its Relation to the Church. 7. Errors with respect
to Natural and Christian Morals, 8. With respect to
Christian Marriage. 9. With respect to the Sovereignty
of the Roman Pope. 10. With respect to Modern
Liberalism.

LOSSINI'S USE OF BRASS INSTRUMENTS.—It was
not for nothing that he and his father had played the
horn together when VIE. young Ros.,ini was gaining his
ear:i(st experience of orchestral effects. He was always
faithful to his tart instrument. "The art," says M.
Fki4, "of writing parts for the horn, with the develop
merit of all its resources, is quite a new art, which Rot
sini, in some sort, created." In looking over thl: score of
"Otello," with. Donizetti, Sigismondi, the librarian of tho
Conservatory at Naples, is said to have complained
of the prominence given to the clarinets, and to
have exclaimed with horror at the employment
of horns and trombones without number. " Third
and fourth horns !" he cried ; " what does the man wart:'
The greatest of our composers have always been content
with two. Shades of Pergolese, of Leo, of Jomelli ! How
they must shudder at the bare mention of such a thing !
Four horns ! Are we at a hunting party ? Four horns !
Enough to blow us to perdition !" The old professor was
still more shocked by " 10. 21, 30, tromboni," which,
according to an anecdote, the authenticity of which can
scarcely t,v guArtulteed, ljd mistook for " 123" trorabouca.
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