The Sun.
London, England, 1860-01-11 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 11, 1860.

SINGULAR CASE OF DESECRATION

OF THE DEAD.

A singular case of desecrating the dead came
before the magistrates at Wolverhampton yester-
day, two engine tenders, named Roper and Elwell,
being charged as follows, the prosecution being
instituted by the members of the Jewish persuasion
in Wolverhampton :—On the 19th of August, 1858,
a young woman named Rhoda Wolf died, and was
buried in the Jews' burying-place in Green's-
lane, in that town, on the 23d of that month.
The burial-ground was secured by walls ten feet
high, and the corpse was properly buried.
There seemed to be a notion abroad, which in
this case at any rate was certainly false, that
the Jews in burying their dead are in the
habit of burying with them jewels and trinkets,
and in some cases coins; and it was with the
hopes of securing these valuables that the two de-
fendants committed the offence charged. On the
morning after the interment it was discovered that
the ground beneath the doors leading into the
graveyard had been dug away and access gained,
that the grave had been opened, the coffin-lid
broken into three several parts, and the corpse dis•
turbed. The cap upon the head had been taken
off and thrown on one side, and the head had been
turned round, showing that there had been a dis•
tinct and careful examination of the ears to discover
ear-rings. The hands too had been taken up,turned
over, and laid across the body, indicating plainly
that the parties had searched for rings. And there
was also evidence of further searching in the coffin
for valuables. If the men had done that which the
commonest decency would suggest, namely, fill
in the grave again, no more would probably
have been heard of it, but instead of doing this
they left the grave open, the lid off the coffin, and
the corpse exposed to the view of any one who
might enter the graveyard. Every effort to trace
the perpetrators of this revolting act were at the
time, and had been till now, fruitless. The case
rested upon the evidence of one witness only. Upon
the night of the day of burial the prisoners were
in company with that witness (John Newey) at a
public-house, situated in the neighbourhood of
the burial-ground, and they both asked if he
would join them in getting up the body of the
Jewess who had been buried that day, for they
had no doubt that they should find some valu-
ables, which they would take to Birmingham and
sell. Newey, however, after being twice solicited
to join them, refused, and told them they had
better not do se. They parted about midnight,
and Newey went into his own house. About an
hour afterwards, however, he happened to have
occasion to go into his garden, and he then saw the
defendants go with pickaxe and shovels in the
direction of the Jews' cemetery, observed them dig
a hole beneath the door and enter the ground ;
after wards heard a noise inside as of digging, and
subsequently saw them come out with their tools.
The prisoners worked at the same colliery with
Newey. When he went to work on the following
morning a conversation took place touching the
matter of the previous night, and there was a clear
admission on their part that they had found n?-
thing. The witness was threatened with death if
he divulged the matter ; and these threats having
lately become too much for him he gave information
to the police, and the affair was thus brought to
light. The magistrates, after hearing the evidence,
committed the defendants for trial, but agreed to
accept bail.

EXTRAORDINARY CASE OF POISON-
ING IN WEST SUSSEX.

VERDICT OF WILFUL MURDER.
PETWORTH, MONDAY NIGHT.
An inquiry, occupying ten hours of to-day, and
two former days, has just terminated here, at the
Swan Hotel, and which, according to the evidence
of Dr. Taylor, of Guy's Hospital, is one of the most
extraordinary cases on record. The doctor arrived
by the afternoon train, and considering that the
issue rested with the result of the chemical analy-
sis he had made, great anxiety prevailed. The name
of the unfortunate person involved in this painful
case is Harriet Moore, certainly not more than 20
years old. She was an inmate of the Petworth
Union, and the question which the jury had to
decide before the coroner (Mr. Richard Blagden)
was, whether she had not destroyed her illegitimate
child by the administration of white precipitate.
It appears that the deceased had been ill for some
time past ; that Mr. Short, the medical officer, was
called to see it ; that he administered for his ma-
lady, and it eventually recovered. On the Sunday,
Monday, and Tuesday before its death, which took
place on the Thursday, it seemed quite well again.
On the Thursday evening, however, a person named.
Reimnan, who had been seen by the accused, was
, observed to give her a small parcel, which she put
behind her back, and this was proved to be white
precipitate, which had been purchased at the shop
of Mr. Morgan, a respectable chemist in the town
of Petworth. In a few hours after this the poor
child suffered the most intense pain.
Several witnesses having been examined,
Mr. Augustus Chas. Short was examined. After
describing deceased's former illness, he said—On
Wednesday I called at the workhouse about the
middle of the day. I was not sent for. I went
into the hospital ward with Miss Hobbs. I there
saw Harriet Moore and her child. It was lying on
a bed. I was surprised at the appearance of its
countenance. The countenance denoted most acute
pain, and I remarked upon it to Miss Hobbs. A
nurse then present said the child kept all the
women awake all night by its piercing screams. I
felt the child's pulse, which indicated that it was
sinking. When I touched its stomach it retched,
violently. All the muscles of the face became dis-
torted. It was remarkably pale, and its hands were
cold. Still I did not suspect anything wrong, and
thought the child was dying from a disordered
state of the bowels.
Then followed a long description of a post-
mortem examination by Mr. Morris, Mr. Short,
and Mr. Boxall.
Hannah Belton, an inmate of the workhouse, de-
posed—On the Saturday after the child's death,
Harriet Moore came into the laundry and asked me
for the shoe-brushes to clean her boots. I told her
she need not trouble herself, as her baby would not
be buried that day. She said, " Why ?" I replied,
" We are all put out by what you have done with
the precipitate powder." She said, " I put it all
into my head, dry as it was." I said, "No ; if you
did you would not stand there ; if you did it would
make your head so bad that you would go oat of
your mind." She next said, "I mixed it in a little
bit of butter, and used it." I said, " You can give
no account of what you did with it." She then
said, giving herself a short turn in a pet, " Well,
I've nono about me now."

Sdperintendent Kemmish, of the Petworth divi-
sion, then proved delivering three jars, a brown
paper parcel, and a phial, all properly labelled,
into the hands of Dr. Taylor, in Regent's-park.
Dr. Taylor said he would first proceed with the
examination of the jars. He found the viscera in
a good state of preservation. The lining membrane
was congested at the upper part, and covered with
mucous and extra food. There was no inflamma-
tion or ulceration about these parts, and the
windpipe was in a healthy condition. The stomach
had been opened and re•tied. He again opened it,
and found a thick curdy whitish brown substance
of the consistency of stiff paste ; there was about
enough to fill a large table spoon, and upon this was
a thin and dark coagulation of blood. He found
pasty matter closely adhering to the coats of the
stomach, and mixed with mucous. On removing
it, the greater part of the lining membrane of the
stomach appeared pale, and towards the spinal
opening there was a small patch arising from con-
gestion of the lungs. The duodenum was greatly,
inflamed, and ho observed a bright red colour. In-
flammation was in the mucous and linino, mem-
branes chiefly. The liver, kidneys, heart, and lungs
presented no appearance of disease. There was
nothing about any of these organs to account for
death. He then examined the different parts che-
mically, beginning at the upper and going down to
the lower end. He took the gullet, and found it to
contain a small quantity of a mercurial compound,
and with it some starchy matter, which might be
bread or arrowroot. On examining the contents of
the stomach he found a number of chalky particles,
which readily subsided when mixed with water.
They did not dissolve, and had the appearance of
mineral matter. He examined these contents
microscopically and chemically, and found the
greater part consisted of starchy matter (like gruel),
undigested food, and mucous. With these was an
insoluble compound of mercury, which had all the
powers of white precipitate. He next examined
the coats of the stomach after scraping away all the
contents, and he found a small quantity of mercury
in them. In the phial he did not discover any of
the white particles which he had found in the
stomach. He then proceeded to examine the
napkins which had been forwarded in the brown
paper parcel. Ho cut away a small portion
of them with the matter upon it, which was
It was found to con-
of a green colour.
rge
tain,
among other rnthiangse.on nmiputachoreautlnbldy laiyie: and
starchy
In
mquoarnetittyhaonf m
he ercurial •cur thatfioaalndeolpnound— was,u-
another portion of the naplitii , which was n
n examineded , h
foundon
one
tahraellt7
ofmatter,th eh
butear
heart; no
no mercury.
He
lmer-
curyiver a
wasnd fn
proesnd mercury
en t . He examined
tand h
a fifth
e afterwardspar t o of the
examined one of the kidneys, and separated mercury
from it. From his examination and analysis he
had drawn up certain conclusions which might be
embodied thus :—First, that a mercurial compound,

which he believed to be white precipitate mixed
with farinaceous and other matter, was found in
the contents of the stomach of the deceased infant ;
secondly, that a mercurial compound, also mixed
with starchy matter and mucus, was fonnd in the
discharge in the napkin ; thirdly, that a mercurial
compound and starchy matter were found in the
middle portion of the gullet, and in the lower por-
tion of the small intestines, and that mercury with-
out starch was found in the various parts of the
small and large intestines, as well as in the liver
and one of the kidneys; fourthly, that the appear-
ances presented by the viscera were redness in the
gullet, a patch of redness in the stomach, and great
redness with injections in the upper part of the
small intestines, less in the large intestines (the red-
ness of an inflammatory nature being what was
called acute inflammation)—it was seated in the
mucous or lining membrane, and such as might have
been produced either by the action of an irritant
substance, or else by the result of disease ; and,
fifthly and lastly, the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys,
and spleen, presented no appearance of disease, and
no appearance to account for death.
Dr. Taylor was then cross-examined at great
length by the Coroner and jury, and simplified his
evidence by further explanation, from which it ap-
peared that this was a most extraordinary case,
from the fact of white precipitate having been so
rarely administered internally. He knew of only
one case, and that was at Chelmsford Assizes twelve
years ago, in which he was engaged. The patient
had taken 25 grains, and recovered. The whole
point was this—whether the system possessed suffi-
cient strength to throw it off by vomiting. He
ought to add that portions of the jars sent to him
had been handed over to Dr. Miller, of King's
College.
The Coroner asked whether it was at all likely
that the result of Dr. Miller's examination 'would
be different to what he.(Dr. Taylor) had stated P
If it would, for the sake of the accused he would
again adjourn the inquiry.
Dr. Taylor replied that so far as Dr. Miller had
gone there was no substantial difference.
The Coroner then summed up, and the jury, after
consulting for about an hour, returned a unanimous
verdict
o of wilful
committedce murd eraglirnstLrilailtv'art the
i°tM °noel;
who was at t
Spring Assizes, to be held at Lewes.

anything; come into the publichouse ;" but be re-
fused, and took the prisoner by the collar, upon
which the prisoner said he would give him £lO,
but witness replied " £lO will not do for £22." The
prisoner then said he would give £l5, £2O, or £3O,
if he would go in a cab to King's-cross, but he re-
fused, and gave the prisoner into custody.
Police-constable Wilder, 261 N, said he searched
the prisoner, and found on him four playing cards
and bad coins representing sovereigns.
Mr. Corrie committed the prisoner for trial.

SOUTHWARK.—Two fine, tall, and healthy-
looking young men, much sunburnt, attended to
ask advice.

One of them, who acted as spokesman, informed
his worship that they had served in the East India
Company's Bombay Artillery, and were sent home
with other discharged soldiers in May last, arriving
at Gravesend in December. They were sent adrift
almost penniless, without characters, so that they
were unable to obtain employment. He and his
comrade had applied for admission in the Metro-
politan Police, and no doubt they would be ac-
cepted, but they had no characters. •
Mr. Burcham—What can I do for you under the
circumstances ?

Applicant—Assist us, sir, to get our characters.
We have been to the East India-house, and although
we have each borne exemplary characters while
with oar troops we cannot get our characters. They
are withheld from us.
_ _

Mr. Burcham—l suppose you obtained your dis-
charge iu the regular way ?
Applicant—Yes, sir. We accepted the general
order, and claimed our discharge with hundreds of
others.

Mr. Burcham—lt is usual to insert in the dis-
charges the character of the men.
Applicant—l believe such to be the case with the
army, but ours is simply a discharge, and nothing
whatever is said about our characters. We could
get into the police directly if we had that.
Mr. Bureham—How long had you been in the
service ?

Applicant—Three years, sir. Most of the older
soldiers preferred remaining in India, but we
olaimPcl nur cliceharge.
Mr. Burcham—You receives some money when
you were discharged ?
Applicant—Yes, sir, but a very small sum. That
is all gone, and now we are destitute.
Mr. Burcham—l cannot help you. You had
better apply at the India-house.
Applicant—We have, sir, but it is of no use.
They won't give us our characters, and without
them we cannot get into the police. The fact is,
the authorities are anxious for us to join the army
again, and they are trying to starve us into it, and
that's the reason they deprive us of our good cha-
racters.

Mr. Burcham—l cannot assist you in getting
your characters, neither can I advise you how to
act.

They thanked his worship for his courtesy and
left the court much disappointed.

THAMES.—Mr. John Bradford, the younger, a
pupil teacher, of No. 83, Cannon-street, Commer-
cial-road East, appeared upon an adjourned sum-
mons, charged that he did "maliciously, wilfully,
and of purpose molest, let, disturb, vex, disquiet,
and otherwise trouble the Rev. Charles Fume Low-
der, the curate of the parish of St. GeorgeNiddle-
sex, commonly called St. George-in-the-East, saying
the Divine service set forth and authorised by the
Queen's Majesty, by then and there reading in a
loud tone and disorderly manner."
Mr. King, solicitor, of College-hill, appeared for
the prosecution ; the defendant was not represented
by any professional man. Mr. Joseph Smith
attended to watch the case on behalf of a society
" opposed to Tractarian innovations and Romish
ceremonies in the Church of England."
The case was originally heard on the Ist of
December last, and the alleged offence was com-
mitted on Sunday, the 27th of November, during
one of those unseemly and disgraceful disturbances
for which the parish church of St. George kas be-
come famous, or rather infamous, in ecclesiatical
history. The defendant, an enthusiastic youth,
defended himself with ability when the case was
heard, and expressed his readiness if the Protestant
cause required it to become a martyr to his prin-
ciples and opinions, as his namesake, John Bradford,
had done before him. Mr. Selfe, however, had no
disposition to make a martyr of the defendant, and
in the hope that peace would be restored in the
parish, adjourned the summons and another against
a young man named Barnes for three weeks. A
second postponement took place at the request of the
defendant until yesterday. The only, persons con-
nected with the parish who were in attendance
were Mr. Thompson, the churchwarden, and Mr.
Herbert, a member of the elected vestry who has
distinguished himself by his stedfast opposition to
what are called "the Puseyite and Romish prac-
tices of the rector and his curate."
Mr. King said he represented the Rev. Mr.
Lowder, curate of St. George, and the magistrate
would recollect that after the whole of the case
had been gone into against Barnes, another defen-
dant, he signed a paper undertaking not to offend
again, and the summons was dismissed, and it
was intimated that if Mr. Bradford did the same
no further proceedings would be taken against him.
Mr. Selfe—You have no objection, Mr. Bradford,
to sign the same paper ?
The defendant said he had a very great objection
to do so, for he had not disturbed any congregation
whatever.
Mr. Selfe asked the solicitor for the prosecution
if he had any more witnesses ?
Mr. King said he had not. He finished his case
on the Ist December, when the curate had the honour
of being represented by Mr. Digby Seymour, M.P.
The defendant said he had numerous witnesses to
call to contradict the case set up by the Puseyites
of St. George.
Mr. Selfe—l thought you would come to reason
able terms.

The defendant—l thought the case was settled,
and I should hear no more of it. I was very much
surprised on reading, a day or two after the case
was heard, an insulting and most unchristianlike
letter concerning me in the Times, which was written
by the Rev. Mr. Lowder, the Puseyite curate.
Mr. Sclfe said he had nothing to do with the let-
ter is the Times, and had neither thepower nor the
inclination to control the public press. No one had
a right to make a disturbance in a place set apart
for the public worship of Almighty God in what-
ever way the services might be conducted, and he
would put it to the defendant's own good sense
whether he would not come to the same terms as
Mr. Barnes Chad done, and sign a paper that he
would not disturb the public worship in the parish
churck of St. George.
The defendant—l did not, sir.
Mr. Selfe—lf you are obstinate the law must
take its course. The summons is taken out by Mr.
Howie, superintendent of the K division, by direc-
tion of Sir Richard Mayne, under the statute of
Queen Mary, and that act is still in force and not
obsolete.

The defendant—l am not obstinate. Am I wrong
in giving the responses in an audible voice, as
directed by the Book of Common Prayer ?
Mr. Selfe said he wished to refrain from giving
judgment until he heard the case on both sides. A
prima facie case had been made out against the de-
pendant, which he might call witnesses to rebut,
but if he failed he would take the consequences, and
the hiw must be enforced. He wished, however, to
provide for the future, and not punish for the past.
In the document which Mr. Barnes had signed, and
which he asked the defendant to sign, he did not
say he was in the wrong. Mr. Selfe then read as
follows:

" Mr. Barnes undertakes that ho will not interrupt the
choral services in St. George's by saying the responses at
irregular times or in so loud a tone as to disturb the minis-
ter and choristers."

The defendant—l never did anything contrary
:o that.

Mr. Sclfc—l do not say you had. Do you wish
the case to proceed and have my judgment ?
The defendant--I have no objection to sign that.
The paper already signed by Mr. Barnes was put
before the defendant by Mr. Pyer, the chief clerk,
and he affixed his signature to it.
Mr. King—With that being signed I have no
objection to the summons being withdrawn.
Mr. Selfe—A happy end to a most unpleasant
proceeding. Pray let me hear no more of St.
George's-in-the-East.

GREENNVICH.—Mr. P. NPMalion, barrister,
attendedon behalf of the Commissioners of Woods
and Forests to prosecute a complaint made against
Mr. C. E. Harris, a person occupying a respectable
position in society, and whose address was 9, the
Paragon, Blackt.eath, for indecently assaulting
Marian Elizabeth Smith, a child 10 years of age, in
Greenwich Park, on Saturday, the 24th ult.

The case excited considerable interest in the
neighbourhood, the defendant failing to appear on
being sums: - oned to this court on Tuesday last, when
a warrant was granted for his apprehension, but
on an attempt bein,, made to execute it at his resi-
dence, it was stated that he had suddenly left and
gone abroad.
Some evidence having been given,
Mr, Socket said it was a most important case,
and he was glad to see the Commissioners of Woods
and Forests come forward to prosecute, and secure
to the public the benefits derived from visiting the
parks by the punishment of persons guilty of such
conduct as that complained of, and more particu-
larly towards young children. All had, been done
that could be done in the present case, the defendant
keeping out of the way, and an excuse being offered.

_ -
for his absence that he had gone abroad. The war-
rant, however, would remain in tue hands of the
police for the defendant's apprehension whenever
he might be met with.