The Sun.
London, England, 1856-05-27 00:00:00

with impure matter it ought to have been discovered. '
Che next witness was Dr. Henry Lethehy, a bachelor of
medicine in the London Hospital. This gentleman
.tated tb'at ho had pail great attention to the action of
poison on living bodies ; and in his evidence he stated
that in the account he had heard of Cook's death, there
was nothing which differed from death by tetanus caused
by strychnia, ; and he further stated that the symptoms
of Cook's death were quite irreconcileable with anything
he had ever heard. The evidence of Dr. Letheby was then
read. At its conclusion his lordship said—Dr. Letheby
no doubt spoke sincerely. He was a skilful scientific and
honourable man, and he stated that where strychnine
had been administered he should expect to find it, and
it would be for the jury to say whether proper means
had been taken to discover the poison. Then Dr.
Gay was called, and he detailed a decided case of
tetanus. It was that of a labouring man. Ho stated it
was a case of idiopathic tetanus. The man was kept alive
till theltith day, when he died. [This evidence was read.]
It stated that an omnibus conductor was brought to the
witness suffering from catarrh. On the fourth day stiffness
of the jaw came on, and on the 14th day the man died.
He had been suffering from a sore throat.] His lordship
said—Here is a case of idiopathic tetanus, and it would
be for the jury to infer what analony.,., there was with the
case of Cook. The evidence that had been given, I
think, goes to show that the case of death was no more
idiopathic: tetanus than traumatic. Then they had the
evidence of Dr. Brown. [His lordship here read the
evidence, which went to show that the case spoken to
was one of tetanus in which there had been syphi-
lis, but there were wounds of old standing in dif-
ferent parts of the body.] It will be recollected
that there was none of these wounds, according to the
evidence for the prosecution, or. the body of Cook: At
the conclusion of the reading of the evidence of this wit-
ness, his lordship said—Here is a case of tetanus, but I
don't know why it is brought forward, but in this case it
will also be for you, gentlemen, to draw your own
inferences. There were wounds of old standing on
the body of this man, but this was not the case
with Cook; there were no wounds on his body, and
in this case the symptoms so nearly represented
those produced by strychnine that its presence was
actually suspected. They had the evidence of the house
surgeon in the same point, and then Mr. Rightson, a
pupil of Liebig. The evidence of this witness was then
read, and it stated that the witness had been employed
by the Crown to make several analyses. He was of
opinion' that strychniee ought to have been de-
tected, as he had himself discovered it both in
a pure and impure state. The witness also stated
that he had discovered the poison in the blood of both
cats and dogs that had been killed by the poison, and
he was of opinion that strychnine did not decompose in
the act of poisoning, or in the entering into the circula-
tion ; and in that opinion, he stated, he was decided.
The witness went on to say it might possibly change
into some substance, but he should still be able to detectit.
The most minute portions of strychnine, in the opinion
of this gentleman, ought to be found. At the conclusion
of the reading of the other portion of this gentleman's
evidence, his lordship said—This gentleman says that
strychnine does not undergo dec.iinposition, and he gave
his evidence in such a manner as to merit the highest
commendation from the Court ; at the same time it was

important to observe that when a full dose was taken
he could not tell if it was finally deposited in the blood
or tissues upon reaching the point at which it kills.
Toe evidence of Dr. Partridge, a gentleman of the high-
est ability, went to show that death was produced by an
attack of arachnitis. The evidence was read at length by
his lordship, who observed—lt appears to be the opinion of
this gentleman that Cook died in a spasm, but that spasm
did not arise from areichnitis. Dr. Gay was then ex-
amined. This gentleman detailed a case of tetanus
which he had under his care. It was of a boy, in
whom tetanus was caused by the smashing of the
second toe. [The evidence was here read.] I do
not think that this case bears the slightest analogy
to Cook's case. Dr. I'Donald was next examined.
[ The evidence given by this gentleman was then read;
it stated that lie had been called to acase, that of Cathe•
sine Watson, in one of the hospitals in Edinburgh, in
which strychnine had been taken by mistake. In that
case he found the body arched and rigid, but the
patient, however, ;recovered. lie also attributed
Cook's death to epileptic convulsions with tetanic
complications. He bad also, he sated in evidence, seen
two cases of idiopathic tetanus ; and, in answer to ques-
tions put to him, he said he never knew a person dying
of epilepsy retaining his consciousness till death actually
took place. He further states that it was within the range
of probability that mental or sensual excitement might
have caused Cook's death, or that the white spots spoken
to might have also caused death. He stated that he had
known cases of epilep y where the patient was welt the
next day, after an epileptic attack.] The reading of the
evidence ha,vingibeen finished,ihis lordship remarked—
you see, gentlemen of the jury, the length to which this
witness goes-=he adopts a new term of disease, epileptic
convulsions with tetanic complications, and, accord-
ing to his opinion, the disease might arise from
mental or sensual- excitement, and it will be for you,
gentlemen of the j ury, to say what amount of importance
you will attach to this part of the case. Dr. Gay was
next examined. The evidence was read at length ; and,
at its conclusion, his lordship remarked that, whether
the case was one of either traumatic or idiopathic teta-
nus, it bore not the least reference to the symptoms of Cook.
Dr. Robinson was then examined with a view of
showing that Cook's death might have arisen from epi-
lepsy ; but before the gentleman could give such an opi-
nion, he stated it would be necessary to ascertain the
absence of strychnine. Now, the symptoms in Cook's
case did not bear out the inference that he died from
epilepsy, as he retained his consciousness to the last.
Dr. Richardson was the last medical witness examined,
and this gentleman thought that death might have been
caused through angina pectoris, and he stated that in
the'cases he had seen they so resembled the symptoms
of strychnia, that had he spoken to this examination,
that, if at the time he had known as much about strych-
nia as he did now, he might have been led to sus-
pect strychnia being present in those instances. Now,
gentlemen, continued his lordship, if you should come to
the conclusion that strychnia was not given to Cook,
of course you will give a verdict in favour of the
prisoner, but if on the other hand you should be of a
contrary opinion, and you think that the deadly poison
was administered by the prisoner to the deceased, it
would become their bounden duty to return a verdict
accordingly. His lordship having alluded to the evidence
given by Dr. Pemberton, said, I have now gone through
the whole of the medical evidence, and think it will be
better if the Court at this point adjourn for a short time.

Upon the re-assembling of the Court, hislordship said
I have now gone through the whole of the medical evi-
dence for the defence, aril shall proceed to that portion
of it that relates to the other part of the defence, and
went through the evidence of the p dice• inspec+or as to
the time the train left London for Rugeley, and
also that of the publican, who spoke of Cook belong-
ing to a cricket club, and his hunting, which proved
deceased to have been in good health at that time.
The learned judge then went through the evidence of
the witness Sargeant, and asked-Ahem if they thought
that Cook was in bad health. He now came to a most im-
portant witness, that was Mr. Jeremiah Smith
—he was most material in determining• one
part of the case, and it would be for you to
say what faith can be placed in what he has said. His
lordship then went through the whole of the evidence,
which spoke of the pills, upon the Monday night, and
about the state of the deceased's throat when dressed by
Thurlby. Now they had heard the evidence this man gave,
and they would say whether atnan who had been mixed up
in such transactions was worthy of belief. His Lord-
ship had now gone through the whole of the case,
and the question for the jury would be to say if
the deceased had died from strychnia, and if that
had been administered by the prisoner.
Its lordship had just closed the case for the prosecu-
tion, and the jury retired when this edition went to press.