The Sun.
London, England, 1835-12-03 00:00:00

t.K.CHEtitIER COURT.-(THIS DAY

WAINWRIGHT V. BLAND.
Mr. DILE (with whom was Mr. ANDERSON) stated that
this action -was brought to recover the sum of 3,000/. on a
DOlicy of icsvrance upon the life of a young lady named
Abercrombie. The case had already been before a Jury,
and therefore he Icnew the sort of defence that was likely
to be set up ; anci..he was bound to say that a more mon-
strous one he had novel- heard in a Court of Law. The
deceased was the daughter of an officer in the army, and
was left with a sister, as orphans. They had a half sister,
who was married to the plaini.;ff. In the year 1830 the two
sisters were on a visit at the house of the brother-in-law, at
Which time she came of age. She then wished to make a
Provision for her sister, and went to the office in question
141 order to insure her life for two years, by which time she
"Pected to be put in possession of certain property which
was under litigation in the Court of Chancery. After de-
tailing the facts as they appear in evidence, he said he
for
certain his Learned Friends would fail in their defence,
'°r the Jury could not find for the defendant, without de-
elaring the plaintiff, the half sister of the deceased, to have
formed a conspiracy for the purpose of defrauding these
'Aces by her own murder, to which she consented.
Samuel Ingman —On the 15th of October he saw Miss
Atercrombie, and took the premium from her for the Policy
now put in, which was signed by the Directors.
Cross-examined by the ATTORNEY-GENERAL—Had
been ..Actuary of the Imperial Office for seven or eight
Years. Saw Miss Abercrombie in company with a lady,
whom he- learned from the Secretary of the Globe was Mrs.
Wainwrigirt. It was always usual to ask what was the
motive for insuring. The premium for two years would be
!wo-thirds of ennual premium for a life. The lady said the
intention of the insurance was to secure a sum fOr her
sister in
case of her death within two years—she would then
be able to do so in another way. The lady who was with
her said she intended to insure 5,000/. altogether, but as
They took only 3,0001. they would propose 2,000/. in some
other office. He saw Miss Abercrombie on the 22d,
When lie said he had ascertained that she had effected an
insurance for 5,0001. in one office, and had proposed to ano-
ther which had been refused, the Directors were displeased
at her want of candour. Miss A. said she understood very
little of the matter herself, she acted as her friends directed.
§lie then signed the Policy. If the Directors bad known of
Itsurances to the amount of 11,000/. or 12,0001. on the
Same life, for short periods they would have made more in-
quiries into the motive for the insurance. They knew
nothing of Miss Abercrombie further than that the ladies
el7ile in a carriage.
• Re-examined—lt was a customary thing for parties to
insure in different offices. The referees were a Dr. Locock
and a Mrs: Everill. One of the directors said Dr. Lo-

cock was a very respectable man.
Mr. ERLE then put in the will of Miss Abercrombie, by
`'llieh her sister was made heir to all her property, and the
Plaintiff executor. He also put in the probate of the will
of her grandfather, John Weller, of Mortlake, by which
Miss Abercrombie and her sisters were left 301. i year each.
Mr. James Stewart, an auctioneer at Mortlake, received
Tents for Mrs. Abercrombie for a time, for some leasehold
and copybold property. The rents were 1001., and the
freehold sold for 2001.
Cross-examined—The property altogether was sold in
1829. There was now from 401. to 40/. owing to him for
111011ey advanced to Mrs. Abercrombie:
• Dr. Locock, of Hanover-square, was called upon to at-
tend K.ss Abercrombie on the 16th December. He bad
seen her before, and had known some part of her family for
many years. He found her labouring under a pressure on the
I.rair,.. On inquiry, he found that on the previous Monday she
tad gone to the play and supped on oysters andottled porter ;
that on Tuesday she again went to the play and got wet
feat, with which she sat throughout the night. On getting
lioine she at first refused to take any supper, but after-
14rds when pressed took a hearty supper of oysters and
porter. These, with other symptoms, accounted to him
for the pre.3sure on the brain. •He learned she had taken
a black draught. He gave her such medicine as he thought
necessary. -It did not abate the pressure, and he then
• `tipPed.. her. Her illness continued, and when she was
getting better she was attacked with convulsions, which
•eltded ia death. There Was nothing particular in her
disease. -He atiecded a post mortenr examination, and
found a serum on the brain, which accounted for the death.
-lie applied for the first exaininatioa, and the plaintiff did
all in his power to help it forward. Another examination
took place, and his first impression was not alt teed. He
signed a certificate as to the cause of death. The friends
Uf the young lady appeared to pay her every attention.
Cross-examined—Suffusion on the brain might be pro-
quced by violent vomiting, but he thought it would be
lltore likely to produce the bursting of a blood vessel.
Ile had not seen any stomach examined of persons who
had died of vegetable poison, which was most difficult to
detect. After her death be made some enquiry whether
there was no love affair. Did not prescribe any powders

for lier
Re-examined—The sickness. was caused by tbe supper,
ullieh had disagreed with her.
By the COURT—Had seen nothing to lead him to sus-
Pect that she had caused her own death, or had died from

Poison.
Edward Hanks was called in, when -Miss Abercrombie
was seized with convulsions. Her eyes were very much
dilated. He gave her some medicine, but Dr. Locock
(tame in soon after. Was with Dr. Locock at the exami-
nation of the head, and was satisfied then that they had
found the cause of death as be had seen it. He attended
the second examination, and found nothing in the state of
the stomach to cause a suspicion of foul play.
Cross-examined—From what be. heard he thought that
die brain was affected in consequence of the continual fever.
The origin of the disease was in the stomach.
Re-examined—The diseased stomach was the result of
eold and a supper which disagreed with hcr.
The ATTOIIN EY-GENERAL, Sir F. POLLOCK, Mr. THESI-
G", at, another Gentleman, appeared for the defence.
The Attorney-General had not concluded his opening of
~,the defence when our reporter left.
The cause is most likely to occupy the whole day.

On Sunday cycling last, Mary Hodges, wife of
Bodges, publ'ican, near Ledbury, retired to bed in
her usual good health, but her husband, on awaking in the
tnght and finding her very cold, discovered, to his astonish-
'tent, that she was a corpse.—Worcester Herald.
Several dogs in a rabid state have been recently
destroyed in the neighbourhood of Worcester. The
,
"ruyor or that city has directed that all dogs permitted to
gu unmuzzied in the streets shall be destroyed.