The Sun.
London, England, 1858-09-24 00:00:00

THAMES.

EXTRAORDINARY CASE OF POISONING, AND PERSECU-
TION OF A WITNESS.—Mary Ann Hennegan, a squalid,
miserable-looking woman, about 35 years of age, was
brought before Mr. Yardley, charged with swallowing a
large quantity of aquafortis, with intent to commit self-
destiuction. The prisoner, who was in a state of great
suffering, was brought from Wapping Poor-house.
It appeared that the prisoner was living at No. 4, Burton-
court, White-horse-street, Stepney, and that she was bound
over to give evidence against three persons formerly living
•in Burton-court, and who were committed from this court
for committing a burglary and robbery of a serious character
in the house of Mr. Harman, outfitter, in Emmett-street,
Poplar, when property and foreign coins to the amount of
£2O was carried away. Since the committal of the prison-
ers, their friends, who are ruffians and prostitutes of the

lowest description, have persecuted the unfortunate woman
in a scandalous manner, and repeatedly threatened to take
her life and wash their hands in her blood. She has also
been struck, and, through fear, was a prisoner in her own

house for three days. To escape this unjust persecution
she sent a girl, named Matilda Martin, to the shop of Mr.
Goosey, chemist and druggist, near the World's-end public-
house, Stepney, for a pennyworth of aquafortis, and told
the girl to state that it was required for the purpose of
testing gold. Mr. Goosey sold the stuff to the girl, and
the prisoner swallowed it, and would have perished
but for the immediate arrival of Mr. Robinson, a
surgeon, who was then attending a coroner's in quest a
the board-room of Ratcliffe workhouse, close by. He ad-
ministered antidotes, and sent the wretched woman to
Wapping workhouse, where she has been under medical
treatment since Friday last, and has experienced the most
horrible sufferings.
George Pullen, 161 K, a police-constable, who has charge
of the case of burglary, said the prisoner had complained to
him of the threats and persecutions of the friends of the
three persons committed for trial, and he had promised to
protect her. The trial was postponed in consequence of
the absence of the prisoner until the next session of the
Central Criminal Court.
Roche, the gaoler of the court, said the prisoner was
locked up on a charge of riot and assault since the com-
mittal of the three persons for burglary, for the pur-
pose of keeping her out of the way. He explained the
affair to the magistrate, Mr. Selfe, and he discharged the

prisoner.
Mr. Yardley said the course of justice was not to be frus.
trated by threatening and persecuting a witness. The pri
Boner should, and must be protected, if 100 persons had
threatened her. He directed the prisoner to leave the
felon's dock and come into the witness-box.
The poor woman staggered, rather than walked, to the
witness-box, and mentioned the names of several persons
who had threatened to wash their hands in her blood if she
went to give evidence against the three prisoners in New-
gate.
Pullen—The poor woman came to me and said she was
afraid of being murdered.
Mr. Yardley asked the prisoner why she took so horrid
stuff as aquafortis ?
The prisoner—Oh, my life was wretched, sir.
been in horrible pain ever since.
Mr. Yardley—Why, I wonder you are alive. I never
heard of anything so shocking before. I wonder this horrid
stuff, a sample of which I have in this phial, did not burn
your inside out.
Craven, a police-constable, 236 K, who took the prisoner
into custody, said she had suffered very much. He was
with her six hours on Saturday, constantly administering
antidotes.
Mr. Yardiey said the unfortunate woman must be pro-
tected from the threats of others, and protected from her-
self. He granted warrants against the persons who had
threatened the prisoner, and directed that she should be
taken back to Wapping poor-house and properly treated.
He was sorry the poor creature had ever been removed
from the workhouse.
Inspector Griffin We have had police-constable con-
- stantly watching her since last Friday.
The prisoner was then removed from the court.

have

THE CONFESSIONAL IN FRANCE.—The Court of
Assizes of the Haut-Rhin, sitting at Colmar, has just tried
by default the Abbe Blauck, superior of the Convent of St.
Marc, near Gueberschwihr, for having, between the years
1853 and 1856, in several cases treated in a most disgraceful
manner young girls under 15 years of age, of whom he was
the confessor and spiritual director. The Abbe, who is in
flight, was condemned to hard labour for life.—Galignani's
areasenger.