The Sun.
London, England, 1859-11-22 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL DEFENCES.

ABINGDON, Nov. 21.
The annual show of fat stock and roots at Abing-
don took place to-day, and was stated by competent
judges to be the best show, without exception, that
has been exhibited since the formation of the so-
ciety. The symmetry of the animals exhibited
was remarkable, and the sheep in particular elicited
the admiration of all the farmers present. The
competition for the silver cups never was keener.
The silver cup given by Mr. Norris, M.P:, and also
another silver cup, given by Mr. Thomas Parr, as
well as £5 by the society, were won by Mr. W.
Aldworth, of •Frilford, for a remarkably fine heifer
under four years old. The competition for the
prizes for shcep was greater than it has been for
several years. Tne principal prize was obtained by
Mr. Stevens, of Gatehampton, for the best pen of
three half-bred wethers. Mr. Stevens also obtained
the silver cup given by the High Sheriff for the
best pen of sheep exhibited in the yard. It was
stated by the farmers and judges Rho visited the
yard that for general symmetry the sheep shown
at this exhibition have, as a whole, never been
equalled.
In the afternoon about 120 of the gentry, farmers,
and inhabitants of Abingdon dined together at the
Town Hall under the presidency of Capt. Vernon,
M.P., who was supported by Mr. J. Walter, M.P.,
Mr. Norris, M.P., the Rev. Mr. Randolph, Mr.
Trendell, the Mayor of Abingdon, Mr. J. B. Barrett,
Mr. Alderman Hyde, Mr. E. H. Morland, &e.
Great praise was awarded to Mr. Lindars, of the
Queen's Head Hotel, for the excellence of die din-
ner and wines provided by him.
The CHAIRMAN having given the usual loyal
toasts,

Mr. WALTER, M.P., said—l have the permission
of the chairman to propose a toast which would
much better become him to propose than myself,
if it did not become him still better to respond to
it. The toast to which I allude is the health of the
gallant defenders of our country—the " Army and
Navy." You all know that it is to the gallant ser-
vice of those two noble professions that we are in-
debted for the security and quiet in which we are
enabled to attend to our respective duties and oc-
cupations when the external energies of the country
are employed in defending its honour and dignity,
and you need not be told by me that, in case any
circumstances should unfortunately arise to call
forth their services, they will be yielded with the
same hearty spirit in which those services have al-
ways been accustomed to be rendered by their pre-
decessors. But, sir, though this is a toast which is
at all times irceived with cordiality in an assembly
of Englishmen, I am sure there has been no period
of our history when it has called for more sympathy
than the present, because this is a period when
there appears to be exhibited a military ardour
which certainly has no parallel in my time, nor in
the time of those who have attained a much greater
age than myself. I 'iced not say that I allude to
the great movement now taking place in the for-
mation of volunteer corps throughout the country.
I sincerely trust that this movement will not be of
a transitory- character, but will becOme permanent,
and settle into one of the regular institutions of the
country. I express this hope, because lam con-
vinced that the system which is now being put
into operation is at once the most effective, as it
is the most purely-defensive, that can be adopted:
There is nothing in it which can produce any feel-
ing of annoyance or hostility upon the part of
any other country. It is directed purely to the
defence of our own country, and when we con-
sider the small regular army which we are
enabled constitutionally to maintain,—when
we consider the enormous changes that have taken
place by the improvement of steam navigation, by
which the Channel that separates us from the Con-
tinent has been, as it were, bridged over—we can-
not attach too much importance to that movement
which will make every Englishman of the present
day do that which our forefathers did 400 years ago,
viz., make them masters of their weapon, and able
to take their place among the armed defenders of
the country. (Cheers.) I hope that this county will
not be found wanting in this respect, and, for my-
self, I can only say that I shall never be satisfied
until I see at least 500 first-rate marksmen on the
rifle-roll of Berks. (Cheers.) I beg once more to pro-
pose the " Army and Navy," and to couple with the
toast the name of Capt. Vernon. (Cheers.)
Captain VERNON, M.P., said—l rise to return
thanks for the honour you have just conferred on
the army and navy and for the special favour yom
have extended to me in calling on me to respond to
this toast. It has been my good fortune so often to
perform this agreeable task in this room ard on op.
portunities like the present, that if the toast were
of any other:character, I might find a difficulty in
not repeating myself ; but the united services of
this great country, by their deedsZeither past, pre-
sent, or to come, ever put forward some new feature
to cause the interest or the admiration of " the gen-
tlemen of England who live at home at ease," and
who rest secure in the certainty that those of their
fellow citizens whom they ontrnct with arms in
their hands to defend their liberties, their laws, and
their country, will always be found prepared to do
their duty, and to uphold the honour and dignity
of England as best becomes a soldier. (Cheers.)
The Russian war, that of India, and now the war
in China, have followed each other in such quick
succession that the minds of men of peace have
scarcely realised the termination of the one before
the commencement of the other. (Hear, hear.) I
shall not touch upon the political question of the
China war. It has recommenced in disaster—dis-
aster, however, which still goes to prdve that the
fighting men of England are of no ordinary stamp.
(Hear, hear.) I regret that in repairing this disaster
we have not undertaken the war singlehanded. If I
had a voice in the question I would not allow a
Frenchman to pull a trigger in the quarrel. (Ap-
plause.) We are men enough to vindicate our arms
with our own resources, without the aid of
.any
foreigner; and we have thousands of well-disciplined
natives in India—not sepoys—who, baseed on our
indomitable resolution, would have been amply suf-
ficient for the purpose. (Hear, hear.) It diminishes
our prestige to admit the participation of France in
our wars. (Hear,hear.) Continental Powers assert
that we cannot do without such aid. This is a gross
mistake. (Hear, hear.) In the time of the first Na-
poleon England, almost without assistance—for
Portugal was little and Spain none—we, I say, pa-
ralysed all his efforts, though lie was backed by
almost all the nations of Europe, and commanded
armies of fabulous numerical strength. The army
he led to leave its bones in Russia, was 700,000
strong, speaking eight different languages. The
ante-chamber of his tent was crowded with kings
and princes; and foreign nations, obedient to his
nod, were swayed by imperial will. (Hear, hear.)
Is the present Napoleon a greater than his uncle,
the hero of a hundred fights ? History says " No"
to that. Are the French soldiers of this day superior
to the 30,000 Frenchmen who, opposed to 80,000
Austrians and Sardinians, in 15 days overran Italy,
fought six battles, and killed 25,000 men ? Magenta
and Solferino say " No" to that. Are we inferior
to the militiamen who destroyed the veteran con-
querors of Europe at Waterloo ? The Crimea and
India say "No" to that. I have just returned from
the Continent, where with a view to possible coming
haves to
standb u s ines s
opposedto extaemvirnaciitehee,
aervmenietss,thlamt iwill ntemx
Yt
hs
The French army I know by heart. I say that our

army and navy need fear no comparison with those
of any nation under the sun as to officers, to men, or
to the materials of war. (Cheers.) We heard much
of the Austrian Staff. Wonders were expected from
them, , They failed utterly. General Gyulai
seemed ignorant of the first principles of war, and
his successor Hess was no better. The strategy
of the French *as little superior. The battles in

Italy were fought by the men ; the hand-to-hand
fighting on either side was desperate and admirable.
" Send me help," cried the French General Niel,
"they are turning me !" 15,000 Zouavcs rushed to
the rescue, and 500 only came out unhurt from the
murderous struggle. Either, then, the Austrians
are much improved, or the French have fallen off
since the days of the First Napoleon. But, for ar-
gument's sake, let us admit that they are equal to
the heroes of Marengo and Austerlitz ; we should
not reckon them a rush—we were better men then,
and we are better men now. (Applause.) The
general military spirit of the country is increased.
(Renewed applause.) There is not a man through-
out the length and breadth of the land who is not
prepared, for the defence of his home, to cast in his
lot with those whose profession it is "to seek the
bubble .reputation, even in the cannon's mouth."
(Cheers.) The rifle movement is a great fact. It
has an important physical effect in England, be-
cause it in some sort increases our effective defences.
It has a great moral effect on the Continent, because
it shows England bristling with bayonets, and the
hardiest people in the world—the Anglo-Saxon
race—standing shoulder to shoulder to protect the
laud from invasion. (Loud cheers.) I believe that,
exclusive of volunteers, we could by means of our
railways place 100,000 men, regulars and militia,
artillery, horse, foot, and dragoons, on any part of
our land in 24 hours. (Hear, hear.) I believe that
three thousand in this quarrel—" for thrice is he
armed hath his quarrel just"—would equal double
the number of forei,srners. I believe ,that our fleet
and our sailors would never suffer a French sol-
dier's foot to touch the soil of England. I believe
that if we permitted the French army to land—
such is the military spirit pervading England—it
would be no war, it would be a crusade. The country
would rise as one man, and not a Frenchman would
live to see his native land again. (Hear, hear.) I
have no fear of France ; still we do well to be on
our guard. It does not befit a great people to be
taken unawares. That country is most certain of
peace which is best prepared for war. (Cheers)
Well, we are prepared. I have it from the highest
military and scientific authority in the land that
our coast defences are hourly becoming molt for-
midable. Our navy is the finest iu the world—our
artillery matchless. (Loud cheers.) Ido not be-
lieve Louis Napoleon has any direct intention of his
own mere motive against England, but the more I
study his political career, the more do I see that,
like an adventurer he is the sport of fortune, driven
hither and thither by the circumstances of the mo-
ment. Already he has lost half his power in his
country by the defection of the priesthood ; he now
depends entirely on :he ai my. War is necesseiy to
them. Turbulent, excitable, and vain-glorious, they
may compel Napoleon to take steps against his
better judgment. (Hear, hear.) They say they
have a Waterloo to invenge. We have no defeats
to revenge ; from Cressy to Waterloo we can con-
template our encounters with the French with great
complacency. It needs not the et of prophecy to
reason on past events, and I venture to pred4ct that
if the present generation attempts by invasion of
England to revenge Waterloo, they will bequeath
to their posterity the task of revenging a def -t
more complete, more disastrous, and more decisive.
(Loud cheers.)
Mr. PARRATT then proposed" The Health of Mr.
Walter and Captain Vernon' the county members."
The toast was received with loud cheering.
Mr. WALTER, M.P., who on rising was re-
ceived with loud cheers, responded to the toast.
After thanking the company for the cordial man-
ner in which they had received the toast, and
expressing his regret that his friend Mr. Bouverio
had been prevented by illness from attending,
the hon. member observed that it had been well
said that agriculture was a subject in which all
their representatives were equally interested. He
could only say for 'his part that whatever differ-
ences of public opinion existed between them,
yet in that respect at least they were all in the
same boat, and as that boat was now sailing rapidly
towards a portion of the year when they all ex-
pected to find good cheer and pleasure in society,
he was sure that they all felt deeply interested in
seeing it well provisioned. He thought the meet-
ing held to-day showed that, as far as fat cattle and
other productions of the eat th were concerned, they
were abundantly provided for, and therefore that
necessary duty had net been overlooked. It did
not become him, who was only an amateur farmer,
to venture to give advice, or make any presump-
tuous remarks on a subject on which they were .all
practical men of business, but this he would say,
that if the old adage were true, "that the proof of
the pudding was in the eating," the same remark
must apply to beef and mutton. They would agree
with him, who was a better judge of a sirloin of
beef on the table than of an ox in the stall, that the
best test of the success of all experiments was to be
found in the fact of Whether the animal eventue'ly
produced formed the best 1. :et' or mutton thatcould
be placed on the table. It was the more necessary,
to bear that in mind, because they would all recol-
lect that some years ago the cattle shown at Smith-
field were much fitter to go to the tallow chandler's
than it was for the butcher's shop. He merely men-
tioned this because it was a fault that any one might
fall into who looked merely at the weight and fat-
ness of the cattle, forgetting the more substantial
qualities which rendered it acceptable at table.
Whatever difficulties might have been formerly ex-
perienced in this country in respect to grain, it was
not likely that those difficulties would be experi-
enced in regard to cattle, for as the 'prosperity of
the country increased, we became year by year a
more cattle consuming people, and it was calculated
that since 1851 no less than 2,000,000 had been
added to the population. The conclusion to be
drawn was that it was more likely that there would
be a difficulty in keeping pace with the population
than that there would be_ a large production
of cattle and no consumption. It appeared to him,
however, that, comparing the production of cattle
with that of roots, the latter was perhaps the best
proof of good husbandry. Give him plenty of money
to do it with, and he would fatten a pig as well as
any one, but he should find it much more difficult
to produce a good crop of roots. He therefore pro-
posed on the next meeting, if they would allow him
that honour, to give a-prize of not less than £lO 10s.
to the tenant farmer who should produce the best
crop of roots of 10 acres. (Cheers.) He had named
a larger acreage than usual, and therefore he thought
that he oughtin fairness to name a larger prize.
In conclusion, he begged to propose " Success and
Prosperity to the Agriculture of Berkshire."
" The Health of the High Sheriff.' was next pro-
posed, and cordially received, after which
The CHAIRMAN proposed " The Health of the
Borough Members., '
Mr. NORRIS, M.P., responded. After thanking
the company for the kind manner in which they
had received his name, he said that after the re-
marks which had been made by Captain Vernon,
having reference to the belligerent disposition of
our friends on the Continent, he would say that if
the various reports which thoy heard indicated that
feeling accurately, the House of Commons would
have devolving ton it when it met not only that
question, but a lumber of others in which the des-
tinies of England and the peace of Europe were in-
volved. He need not say that both himself and the
two lion, gentlemen who had addressed them that
evening would be prepared whenever the interests of
their common country were at stake to forget their
political differences and party divisions in the House
of Commons. He was delighted to know that the
leader of the great party which was now out of power
had announced publicly in the most honourable man-
ner that, forgetting all party differences, he would
unite with those now in office for the purpose of
maintaining the interests and the honour of the
country, whoever might choose to assail it. He had,
however, a better opinion of the judgment of the
French Emperor than to believe that he would in-
vade this country or seek to disturb its material
interests. He had also a better opinion of the good
sense of our continental neighbours than to sup-
pose that they would force the Emperor to do so.
There were numerous commercial treaties between

this country and France, and so intimate were the
commercial relations between the two countries that
the ordinary pursuits of industry in France were,
as respected many branches, mainly dependent
upon the continuance of peace with England. We
were their best customers, and in all the relations
of life they had found that when they were dis-
puting with other countries we were their best
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would all have to be discussed, while the Italian
question would necessarily take up much of the
time of the French Emperor, and possibly again
find occupation for his army. With that 'great
question still unsettled, he thought that the Empe-
ror of the French. would find it most desirable to
maintain peace witls. this countr3r, especially when
he witnessed the spirit displayed in this country in
respect to that question ; but if not, and he were
to attempt anything against England, the cry of
our army would be, as it ever has been, "Ready,
aye, ready." (Cheers.)

POLICE INT'ELLIGE2VVE, Nov. 21.

MANSION-HOUSE.—.Tames Midgly Pease, a
Custom-hot:;e officer, \vas charged with being in
possession of various articles supposed to have been
stolen.

Mr. Beverley appeared for the Commissioners of
Customs, and said the prisoner had been stationed
at the Baggage-warehouse, Brewer's-quay, where
luggage was examined. -In consequence of an opera
glass being missed, suspicion fell on the p: isoner,
and as numerous articles were found at his lodgings,
which were supposed to have been stolen, the pri-
soner was given into custody.
John Moss, 235, said—ln consequence of infor-
mation which we received, I and Monger, a brother
officer, went with Mr. Chapman, of the Custom-
house, to •the floor of a bonded warehouse at
Brewer's-quay, where the prisoner was employed.
The prisoner was called into a private room,
where I told him that several things had been
missed front there lately, and that he was sus-
pected. He said it was very hard he should be
suspected more than anyone else; but I told
him there was good ground to suspect him, as he
had been detected in stealing a coat a fortnight
ago, and I asked him if he had any objection to our
searching his lodgings. He said, " No." He gave
up what he had about him, including a new meer-
schaum pipe, corresonding exactly with a box of
pipes which were then being examined. We then
went to his lodgings in Stepney and found in a box
there 17 pairs of kid gloves, two pieces of velvet
riband,one piece of worsted cord, one piece of braid,
a red velvet belt, a pair of lace sleeves, a lace collar,
a silk handkerchief, a pack of embossed cards, a
scent-bottle, three napkins marked "J. W., 12,"
nine small pieces of lace, a small scent bag, and a
bag containing 201 ancient coins. I asked him to
account for these things, and he said he could not ;
that he had taken the things two or three at a time
while examining baggage, and that he was very
sorry for it.

Joseph Summersly, clerk to Mr. Coleman, No. 7,
Idol-lane, importer of foreign goods, identified the
lace sleeves and collars produced as being part
of a ease imported by his employer, and examined
at Brewer's-quay on the 22d of October, the
prisoner being weigher at the time. The duty was
paid, and the care was removed to Mr. Coleman's
premises, where the articles produced were found to
be missing. They were worth Hs. 6d. Witness also
identified a portion of the gloves produced as being
the property of his employer. He added, that he had
every reason to believe that a small piece of serge
found upon the prisoner had been taken from a case
of gloves belonging to Mr. Coleman, which had been
exported by him to Melbourne, and he inferred that
gloves had been taken from the case so exported,
although he could not prove the fact without first
receiving information from Melbourne.
Monger, police-constable 564, who assisted Moss
in searching the prisoner's lodgings, said the pri-
soner told him that the bag of coins had been given
him by a person at the baggage warehouse, and that
he should have been a fool if he had not accepted it.
The prisoner, in reply to the usual question, said
—I can account for the possession of a part of the
articles. The velvet belt and the bag of coins were
given to me by a gentleman last January, while I
was on the Fresh-wharf examination. I asked the
gentleman if the coins were valuable ; and the gen-
tleman told me he had taken them out of some old
buildings in Greece, and that some people would
value them very much. I replied, " I should think
so ; I should if they were mine ;" and then he said I
might have them. ' That is all that transpired.
The prisoner was committed for trial.
George Clarke, a rather rough-lookinr, man, was
charged with violently assaulting Mr. J. B. Jayne,
landlord of the American Stores, Fenchurch-street,
by striking and kicking him in various parts of the
body.

The prosecutor said—On Saturday night, about
half-past 11, the prisoner came into my house
and called for three glasses of gin, directly after
which he was joined by two other men, one of
whom Seemed to be a little in liquor, and the
prisoner became very noisy, reaching over the bar,
at the same time trying to catch hold of my bar-
Maid. I told him not to make so much noise,
when he said he was making no noise, and told
me I was a liar. He also said he wished he
had hold of me, and he would pitch me down
stairs. I said, " "What for ? I merely asked you
quietly and respectfully not to make so much noise."
One of the other men then said, "Don't say any-
thing to him, or else we'll slip into you." I said,
" No, you'll not ; I shall call in the assistance of the
police ; and I sent my servant to fetch a policeman.
I also came from the bar towards the door, upon
which the prisoner and one of the other men ntopped
me, the other man standing before me, while the
prisoner struck me two violent blows in the face
over his shoulders.. I was then seized by the hair of
the head, and dragged to the floor, and all three of
the men got about me, kicking me all over my head
and body. I was covered with blood; my lips were
cut through completely, my teeth loosened, my head
cut in nine places, my ear cut ; the skin is all off my
left arm, one of my fingers is broken, and my loins
are very much hurt. I called out " Murder !" and a
policeman, as well as a gentleman who had been
there before, came to my assistance. W© got the
prisoner and the other men into the street, and then
feeling myself f; .int I told the policeman to spring
his rattle, which he did, and another policeman
came up. I then Went indoors, and fainted imme-
diately. When I came to myself I was told the
police had refused to take the men into custody, and
I went outside and saw the men standing between
the policemen. Scarcely knowing what I did I
struck at the pi isoner, but as my finger was broken
I could not hurt him much. The police then refused
to take the three men, who walked away and laughed
at me. Afterwards I went to the station, and the
prisoner was taken into custody this morning. I
never, to the best of my knowledge, saw any of the
men before. I was quite sober at the time. I have
been in the trade 24 years, and I can safely swear
I was never intoxicated in my life.
A young man named Stainforth, who went into
the American Stores at the time for a glass of ale,:
corroborated this statement in every essential par-
ticular.
The prisoner put some questions to him in a very
impertinent way, and when warned by Mr. Good-
man (chief clerk) to demean himself with propriety
he said he wanted to be put up to the right way of
doing it. ..
Mr. Goodman—You don't require that. Let me
tell you that you stand in a very serious position.
Prisoner (flippantly)-oh, I can't stand in a -very
serious position. I never killed any one.
Windlay,ipolice-constable, 705, said ho heard a
great noise, and on going to the spot he found a
crowd collected in front of the American Stores.
Directly- after, he sprung his rattle for assistance,
and, forcing his way through the crowd, he got up
to the prisoner and two other men, who were stand-
ing there with a policemen, but immediately after
Mr. Jayne rushed out of his house, and, without a
word, struck the prisoner a :violent blow on the
face, upon seeing which witness refused to take the
men into custody.
Police-constable 554 said he went into the house,
where he found the prisoner and the prosecutor on
the floor together. Witness helped to pull the pri-
soner off Mr. Jayne, and to remove him into the
street, where witness waited for Mr. Jayne to go
with them to the ctatiuo to give the charge; but
when Mr. Jayne struck the prisoner, as described
by police-constable 705, witness refused to take the
prisoner, however, gave his
man into custody. The
name and address, and 'offered to leave his watch
and 10s. in money with witness as a guarantee for
the truth of his statement.

The prisoner, in defence, said he was a little
merry in prosecutor's house, but not very noisy, and
he indignantly denied the use of any bad language.
The truth was, he did make a little free with the
barmaid, for ho was a single man, and he thought,
and told her so, that she and he would make a nice
match. (Laughter.) He believed Mr. Jayne was
jealous about this, and that he was also drunk,
which caused him to speak in a very provoking
way.
, The prisoner called as witness a gentleman who
was in the house at the time, but who
fully sup-
ported the statement of the prosecutor, adding that
he had known him well for 15 years and had never
seen him intoxicated. The prisoner also called his
foreman, who gave him a good character for steadi-
ness and sobriety.
The Lord Mayor said the case was one of a very
serious character, and which, under ordinary cir-
cumstances, could only be properly dealt with in a
higher court. But for the assault indiscreetly com-
mitted by the proseoutor, after the intervention of
the police, the prisoner would have been committed
for trial. As it was, however, he must pay a fine
of 405., or be imprisoned for one month, and he (the
Lord Mayor) hoped it would operate upon the
prisoner and others as a warning to conduct them-
selves properly when at public-houses.

GUILDHALL.—Mr. Richarison, of London-
wall, was summoned for lls. 4d. for church-rates.
Alderman Humphery—Well, Mr. Richardson,
why do You not pay this rate ?
Defendant-1 dispute Lhe validity of the rate, on
the ground that it has been appropriated to other
purpocs than the repairs of the church.
Alderman Humphery—What is the amount of
the rate ?
The Churchwarden—We have made a 2d. rate,
amounting for the whole parish to £590, and it is
all collected except about £5.
Alderman ifmnplicry-12500 is a large amount
to be expended upon the repairs of the church.
How has that amount been disbursed ?
The Churchwarden—lt has been laid out in

variou3 ways, and the accounts have been audited
and passed, and a copy furnished to each ratepayer.
Defmlant—l have received a copy by which I
find that the organist is paid out of the money, and
there is a very large amount for sundries, besides
many items which render the rate illegal.
The Churchwarden—The church (St. Stephen's,
Coleman-street) is a very old one, and the repairs
one year amounted to £6OO.
Alderman liumphery—But you cannot require
£5OO every year for repairs.
Defendant—l protested against the rate at the
vestry about nine months ago, and, although all
present felt the rate was illegal, they allowed it to
pass.

The Churchwarden—There are other expenses
to meet. I have only done my duty to summon
the defendant, and obtain your decision, sir, upon
the claim.

Alderman Humphery—The defendant disputes
the rate because the money has been appropriated
to an illegal purpose ; you will, therefore, hive to
prosecute your claim in the Ecclesiastical Courts.
The Churchwarden—lf he drives us to it, of
course we must enforce the claim.
Defendant—l would not violate a single principle
of law wilfully. I would rather submit to perse-
cution, but my conscientious scruples with regard
to church-rates, as contrary to the spirit and text
of Scripture, induce me to dispute the rate when I
find it is invalid.

Alderman llumphery—Well Mr. Churchwarden
I can do nothing in the matter, after the objection
which has been taken to this rate.
The Churchwarden—l will consult the parish-
ioners, and if they think I ought to press the claim
I shall be prepared to do so.
The summons was then dismissed.

THE ALLEGED FATAL POISONING BY
SAUSAGES AT KINGSLAND.

Yesterday afternoon, the inquiry into the circum-
stances connected with the death of Wm. Eaton,
39 years of age, who was alleged to have eaten of
poisoned sausages, was resumed at the Fox public-
house, Back-road, Kingsland, before Mr. J. Hum-
phreys. coroner, and a select jury.
Mr. Beard represented the vendor of the sausages,
Mr. Valentine and Mr. Ellis the Hackney Board of
Health, and Inspectors Langdon and Stacey the
police authorities.
Mr. Sutton, the surgeon who first visited the
deceased and his family, having been examined, as
also Mr. James, the second medical gentleman who
attended, and whose evidence on this occasion was
a mere repetition of that already given,
Dr. Letheby, after being sworn, thus deposed—
On the 14th of November I received two jars and a
small bottle from Mr. James, for the purpose of
analysing their contents. One jar contained a heart
(cut open), spleen, two kidneys, and two ounces of
black blood, apparently coagulated. The second
jar contained a liver, stomach, and intestines. The
bottle contained a sausage. I first examined the
heart, which I found very healthy, as also were the
kidneys and spleen. I then tested the blood for
poisons, but found no show of any. On applying
myself to the second jar, I commenced upon the
liver, and on cutting it through I found it contained
an unusual quantity of bile which had escaped
from the tubes. The bile was remarkably thick.
The gall and bladder were quite empty. I cut off
about half a pound of the liver, and tested it for
poison, but without any result. I. then ex-
amined the stomach, producing a layer of gruel-
like substance, of yellowish-brown colour. There
was no poison in it, but it emitted an ammonia-
cal smell like that of decomposed animal matter.
Portions of the matter from the stomach I examined
under the miscroscope, which I found to consist of
mucous particles of food. The walls of the stomach
evinced no signs of poison. I then tested the
stomach for mineral and other poisons, but with a
negative result. On examining the intestines I
found them filled with matter somewhat faecal, and
stained with a deep yellowish brown colour. Somo
portions taken from various parts of the alimentary
canal I examined under the miscroscope, every-
where finding large quantities of bile which gave
an alkali similar to that in the intestines. It ap-
peared to me to be altered fat or crystals of putri-
fled fat. I noted an alteration from healthy intes-
tines, for these were largely inflamed and of a
purple colour. The lower end were like purple
velvet, and I regarded this as the cause of some
local irritation. I then analysed the tissues, but
without any effect beyond a large quantity of
greenish-yellow fat,' which I think might be pro-
duced by diseased or alterative bile. I then exa-
mined the sausage, taking portions carefully, but I
made nothing out of it beyond bread, meat, pepper,
and sage. I tested with alcohol, but the yield was
a quantity of ammonia, of offensive smell and putrid
extractive. I tested also by means of ether, the re-
sult being the return of a small quantity of ordi-
nary fat. The general result contained nothing
that I could discover beyond putrid matter. The
intestines showed marks of intense irritation, which
were quite sufficient to cause death. I received
samples of pepper, sage, and salt, but I found
nothin g in them.
The Coroner—Do you think there was any
putrid matter contained in the sausages ?
Dr. Letheby—My experience will not allow me
to think so. I can only say that by my aualysation
rit yielded a putrid smell. This was evidence to show
that there was diseased meat present, and which
might, in a peculiar state of putrefaction, be cap-
able of producing just the symptoms I have heard
this day described.
The Coroner—Do you think that if the sausages
made of meat, bread, pepper, salt, and sage would,
if eaten, cause death ?
Dr. Letheby—l should think not. If the sausages
were largely made of bread there could be no irri-
tation ; they would be the more readily digested.
Mr. Ellis—Do you not think, Dr. Letheby, that
an animal dying from an epizotie disease and after-
wards taken as food, that death might be the result
Dr. Letheby—My experience will not permit me
to say that such would be the result.
George Peachey, pork-butcher, of 22, High-street,
Kingsland, was next examined. He said—l cannot
say whether myself or wife served the boy Eaton
with the sausages. They were made by myself
and men from beef and pork fat, sage, pepper,
salt, and bread. I bought the meat at Newgate
Market of 'William Larter. I had two quarters
—one of 17 stone, and the other of 16 stone
71bs., for which I paid ls. 6d. per stone. The
price varies. I have paid for the same kind of
meat 2s. Bd. per stone. I bought it for the purpose
of making sausages. It was fresh and good, not
very fat nor very lean. I bought it on the Wed-
nesday morning, and the sausages said to be sold
to tho deceased's son wero purchased on the
Friday. I had some steak left from the Satur-
day before, but it was very fresh. No man in the
trade is more particular than I am. I make sau-
sages every day. I cannot say when the boy
fetched the sausages, but my four children have
eaten of saveloys made from the same meat, and
there was nothing the matter with them. I have
only had two persons complain to me, but I have
heard of several who have complained of being very
bad from the same cause.
By the Coroner—l am prepared to swear that
the meat I used was good,'and the fat fresh. I use
121 h. of beef to 41b. of pork fat, and buy my pork
at the dead meat market. Sometimes I buy from
thejobbers, and make the sausages by machine.
By. Mr. Beard—l have been four years in busi-
ness in Kingsland, and five years prior to that in
Stepney. I have heard of a great many who had
eaten of those sausages were not ill. My four
children, for instance.
By Mr. Ellis—l have been brought up to the
business, and know the difference between dead
meat and killed meat. When cut up I can test it
by the smell, and the difference of colour. The fat
would be different in appearance if the beast died.
I can tell a cow that has died from dry
looks bad. I cannot say how much of the old meat
I worked in the sausages.
By the Coroner—l cannot tell where the back
fat came frsm.

Win.
Larter, salesman, of Newgatc-market, was
next examined, and said—Mr Peachey bought two
fore-quarters of meat from me on the 2d of Novem-
ber. It was a beautiful cow, but I cannot say
whether it was killed. I paid a good price for it
to Mr. Weaver's foreman. The meat varied in

price ; sometimes the best Scotch meat could be
bought for 2s a stone.
By Mr. Beard—The meat was exposed in the
market from the Tuesday to the Wednesday ; and
there were two inspectors who saw all tho meat
that went out of the market.
Charles Fisher, meat inspector to the city of Lon-
don, said—l inspect the meat at Newgate•market.
There is a separate inspector and collector there,
who is now ill. I cannot call to mind the inspection
of the meat in question, but Mr. Weaver's foreman
said I did so. There was nothing that attracted
my attention. The beast had been consigned to
Mr. Weaver by a very respectable man:at the west-
end, who had a farm at Hendon. It was coming
dry, and was a large framed animal, and had no
physique, and he had it slaughtered.
By Mr. Beard—l saw the meat as usual. Chop•
ping meat is never fat. It is healthy and whole-
some, but might be poor.
The Coroner—lf such animals are pent up, and
getno foraging food, would they be fit to kill with-
out being subject to a different kind of food1)
Witncss-0 yes. They regulate the food with the
management.

The- Coroner—l suppose you know the difference
between killed and dead meat ?—Witness-0 yes,
but I cannot describe the appearnces.
By Mr. Ellis—lf a beast died from an epizotic