The Sun.
London, England, 1859-08-30 00:00:00

THE MU.

OPL AR.

Yesterday, George Frederick Royal, alias Rey-
nolds, alias Rignold, who stands charged on the
verdict of a coroner's jury with wilful murder, was
brought before Mr. Selfe, at the Thames Police-
court. He was charged with the wilful murder of

r
a woman named Zipporah Wright by poison
Royal is a little man, about 31 years of age, of
sallow complexion. When he absconded he wore

a moustache, and had long brown hair turned up
behind, and a tuft of hair under his chin. His hair,

when he was apprehended yesterday, was very
short, and he had got rid of his moustache. The
woman he is accused of poisoning had cohabited

with him for a considerable time and on the 4th
of June last she was delivered of a male child at

their dwelling-house, in Grove-street, Poplar.
About five weeks after her accouchement she was

seized with violent vomiting, and when her land-
lady went up stairs to her she said that Royal had
given her some coffee which had made her ill. Site
also complained of a burning sensation in her throat
and stomach, and became worse after he had given
her some milk. She continued to get worse, and
after three days' severe illness put an end to her suf-

ferings. A few hours before her death she ex- I
pressed her suspicious that Royal had administered
poison to her. An inquest was held on the body,
and Dr. Letheby proved that the deceased had
died from the administration of a quantity of can-
tharides. The jury returned a verdict of wilful
murder against Royal. After the lapse of several
weeks, some of the jury feeling dissatisfied that
no efforts had been made to capture the alleged
murderer, and no proclamation issued offering a
reward for his apprehension, wrote to the Home
Secretary on the subject. A correspondence
took place between Sir G. C. Lewis, the
Home Secretary, and Mr. John Humphreys, the
coroner. The result was that a proclamation was
issued nine days ago, giving a description of
Royal, and offering a reward of £lOO for his ap-
prehension. The prisoner took very little pains to
conceal himself after the verdict of the coroner's
jury, for he was twice seen near Limehouse Church
and once in Rotherhithe, and he has been workin g
at his trade of a shoemaker in Upper Syden-
ham ever since the jury returned a verdict of
wilful murder against him. He was once employed
by a practical chemist and must have been well ac-
quainted with the deadly qualities of cantharides.
After the evidence of police-sergeant Best, who
apprehended him, and to whom he refused to put
any questions,
Eleanor Stubbs, a respectable elderly woman,
deposed as follows—l am the wife of Johnson
Stubbs, and live with him at No. 19, New-street,
Poplar. I formerly lived in the house No. 10,
Grove-street, Poplar, where the prisoner and Zip.
porah Wright were dwelling. I knew the deceased
well. She gave birth to a child a few weeks be-
fore she died. She was getting quite strong and
well after her confinement.
Mr. Selfe—When did her death take place ?
Inspector Griffin—On the 4th of last June.
The witness continued—l used to go to the house
to see the deceased. She got over her confinement
very well indeed. At the latter end of May, I be-
lieve it was the last Tuesday in May, she was very
ill indeed. On Thursday the prisoner gave her
some milk. I saw him give it her, and she became
worse directly afterwards, and complained of burn-
ing pains in her throat and stomach.
Mr. Selfe—Can you tell me when the child we s
born ?

Witness—On the 27th of April. She got per-
fectly well over it. The first time I saw her ill was
on the Tuesday. She was suffering very much in-
deed. On Thursday morning she was better, but
after he gave her the milk she got worse, complained
of burning sensations in her throat and stomach,
and vomited a good deal. Sometimes he was pre-
sent when she vomited. He went out and came
back. It was eleven o'clock when he gave her the
milk, and he went out directly afterwards and came
back again at one. Nothing was then said to him
about her illness. The doctor who attended her
ordered turpentine over her stomach.
Mr. Selfe—ls the doctor here ?
Inspector Griffin—No, sir. I have only been able
to collect three witnesses. The others are from
home.

Mrs. Stubbs continued—The poor woman, after
enduring great sufferings, died on Saturday morn-
ing, the 4th of June. The prisoner left the house
on the morning of Friday, the 3d of June, and was
not seen again.. On that day Mr. Webb said the
deceased could not live 13 hours. On the Saturday
she expired.
Mr. Selfe said this was a case of great importance
and ought not to be taken piecemeal. He had heard
quite enough to justify him in remanding the pri-
soner, and at the next examination would take the
whole case, if it was possible to get through it in
one afternoon. He asked Inspector Griffin if the
contents of the deceased's stomach had been
analysed, and what was the result ?
Inspector Griffin—The contents of the stomach
were analysed by Dr. Letheby, and he found a
quantity of cantharides.
Mr. Selfe said he would remand the prisoner
until Tuesday, the 6th of September ; but he would
not re-commence the investigation until the after-
noon, when the ordinary business was disposed of.
He thought in a case of this serious nature an intel-
ligent officer should be employed to marshal the
witnesses and arrange the evidence.
Inspector Griffin—The superintendent of the K
Division will direct me, or the inspector at Poplar,
to make the necessary arrangements, if your wor-
ship desires it.
Mr. Selfe—l do request that a very intelligent
officer may be employed.
The prisoner was then formally remanded until
Tuesday afternoon next.

LORD CANNING AND LORD STANLEY.

The following minute of Lord Canning, transmit-
ting a report by Mr. Montgomery on the adminis-
tration of Oude, is in reply to the despatch of Lord
Stanley to Lord Canning, published some months
ago :

MINUTE BY TIIE RIGHT HON. TIIE GOVERNOR

GENERAL OF INDIA, DATED APRIL 22, 1859.
OUDE.

1. A report by Mr. Montgomery, lately Chief=
Commissioner in Oude, of the administration of the
province during the eventful period for which he
held that office, is sent to-day to her Majesty's
Government.
2. I have had before me for some time the de-
spatch of the Secretary of State, dated Dec. 9, in
which, on June 17 and July 4, I had the honour to
address to the Court of Directors regarding the
policy pursued under my orders in Oude, and espe-
cially regarding the proclamation issued on the re-
covery of Lucknow.
3. I do not seek to prolong the discussion of these
topics, but there are some passages in the above-
mentioned despatch of his lordship upon which I
desire to write a few words. So far as those words
are my own, they shall be very few indeed.
4. The passages to which I refer are those in
which it is said that the policy indicated in the
proclamation as regards the claims of the Talook-
dars and other proprietors in Oude was not in
practice adopted by me ; that the sentence of con-
fiscation which the proclamation pronounced has
not been put in force, and that it would appear to
have been merely a menace ; and, lastly, that the
proclamation has been cancelled by myself.
5. In explanation on these points, and I trust
that I may without disrespect say, in correction ot
the misapprehensions which may probably arise
from the expressions to which I have referred, I
beg leave to cite the following extract from Mr.
Montgomery's Report.
After reviewing the land tenures in Oude, the
former position of the Talookdars, and the changes
under this head introduced by our Government upon
the annexation of the province, Mr. Montgomery
writes thus :

(342.) " But when the question of a resettlement
of the land revenues of the province on the reor-
ganisation of civil administration was brought under
the consideration of the Right Hon. the Governor-
General, wisdom dictated some change in the re-
venue policy of the Government.
(343.) " The events of the rebellion had tended to
show that the entire release from a condition of sub•
ordination to the Talookdars was not universally de-
sired by village proprietors. In Oude where release
was most recent, and where it might be presumed
that the vivid recollection of the thraldom to a
landlord would render the holders of villages all
the more averse to subject themselves again to the
evils they had just escaped, the Talookdars were
allowed to reassert their former rights and resume
their ancient position without any opposition.
This voluntary return to the status quo ante bellu»,
showed clearly what the feeling of the people was,
and on this ground, as well as because the Talook
dars, if they choose, could materially assist in the
re-establishment of authority and the restoration of
tranquillity, it was determined by the Right Hon
the Governor-General that the settlement of the
land revenue should be made with Talookdars.
(344.) " This settlement was to be formed so as
to secure the village occupants from extortion, awl
the tenures were to be contingent on a certain
specified service to be rendered, and the assessmen
was to be so moderate as to leave an ample margin
for all expenses incidental to the performance of
such service.
(345.) " The duties required of all Talookdars
were, the active co-operation in the preservation o:
peace and in the detection of crime, and rendering
aid to the Government when called upon by thT,
district officers.
(346.) " It would be, perhaps, indecorous in the

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Chief Commissioner to do more here than to
press his hearty concurrence in this measure, which ex-
emanated from the wisdom of the head of the Go-
vernment.
(347.) " To carry it out, however, some authori-
tative declaration, either of the failure of the vil-
lage system or of the imperative policy of a return
to the former tenures, was required. Under no
other circumstantes could the °hid Commissioner,
of his own accord, undertake to arrange a resettle-
ment of the revenues on any other than the origi-
nally announced principle of the Supreme Govern•
tnent.
(348.) " The authority thus sought was obtained
on the issue of the proclamation of the Governor-
General on the recapture of Lucknow, declar-
ing that the title of all landholders to estates in
Oude, with a few exceptions, were confiscated to
the State.
(349.) " This sentence having been recorded
against all estates in Oude, there was no longer
difficulty in returning to the tenure which pre-
vailed at the time of annexation, and, as far as pos-
sible, the status of parties in Feb., 1856, prior to
annexation, was restored.
(350.) "Exceptional cases have been made where
the titles of Talookdars were but of recent origin,
and their hostility had been marked and persistent.
Such * men were not completely reinstated in their
former position.
(351.) " A few have altogether forfeited all title l
to lands and claim to consideration ; but happiy
these are few." t
6. This statement of the late Chief Commissioner
shows that the proclamation has not, hi any sense,
been cancelled; that confiscation was not only
adopted, but put in force ; that the present tenure
of land in Oude, and the conditions attached there-
to, mainly rest upon it • and that the issuing of the
'
sentence of confiscation has not been merely a menace
where there has been persistence in hostility.
7. I have preferred in this matter to use the test
mony and words of Mr. Montgomery to any others
not only because the responsibility, of carrying out
the policy prescribed in Oude, and the great credit
of having done this with eminent success,belong to.
him alone, but because he has no share whatever in
the responsibility for the proclamation.
It was issued before his arrival in Oude, and if,
instead of a facility, he had found it to be a hind:
ranee to his work, most assuredly no undue repro'
for superior authority would have deterred hi°
from saying so.
8. I have nothing further to add, but I have de-
sired to say thus much, because, for reasons far.
higher than a consideration of the personal credit
for consistency of the Governor-General, I hold it to
p
be of the utmost importance that no misappracticaliehen:
sion should prevail as to the meaning,
effect, and validity of the proclamation.
April 22, 1859. (Signed) CANNING.

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* No complete return of these men has been received•
t Their number is 14 ; the revenue which their lands
paid to the State was about £lOO,OOO a-year.