The Sun.
London, England, 1857-07-17 00:00:00

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[PRIOR 4D. STAMPED 5D .]

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

WESTERN CIRCUIT.—WINCHESTER, JULY 15.
(Before Mr. Justice Crompton.).
CHARGE OF POISONING.
Harriet Passingham, 19, a domestic servant, was
indicted for feloniously administering four grains
of a preparation of mercury to Maria Read, her
mistress, with intent .to kill and murder her, at
South Stoneham, on the Gth of March last.
Mr. Poulden prosecuted ; the prisoner was un-
defended.
The evidence showed that she was a servant in
the house for the previous twelve month. On the
Gth of March Airs. Read hal some porter for her
dinner from a pint bottle, only a portion was
drunk, the remainder being removed from the
table by the prisoner. At supper time she was de-
sired to bring the remainder, which she did, and
placed it on the table. Mrs. Read poured out a
portion into a glass and drank of t ; but immedi-
at ey found that it tasted very disagreeable. The
prisoner was called, and asked what she had put
into the porter ? and,she said " Nothing." But on
Mrs. Read saying, "Y.. 0 must have put something,"
she said she had poured the b •ttom of another but-
te into ir. Mrs. Read at,k,-td her why she had
dono so, as she was not in the habit of doing it, end
the prisoner made no answer. She was told to
take it away, and asked to taste it. She appeared
to taste it, and then said it was very nasty. She
removed both the glass and bottle from the. room,
but Mrs. Read recollecting that there was some
porter left in the bottle, her daughter desired that
to be brought.in. The, prisoner brought it back
again, saying she had thrown what was in the
glass under the grate. Mrs. ,Read rapidly got
worse, and felt a great burning in her throat and
chest, with pain and sickness. Mr. Osborn, a
surgeon, was sent f and Mrs. Read was ill for a
long time. It was afterwards found that a bottle
containing bug mixture and labelled "Poison,"
had been left in Miss Read'sbedroom. This mixture
consisted of about 14 drachm of corrosiv snbli-
m de, with sufficient hydrochloric acid to dissolve
it, and water, but that it had been taken away,
and Mr. Osborn• asked the prisoner what she
had put in the porter, and she said "some
vitriol, which she h.td to clean the copper," and
being further qUestioned why she did it, she said
Mr=. Read was " so fidgetty and particular." When
before the magistrates, she said she was sorry she
had done and should not if she had not been
persuaded to do so.
The Judge having summed up, left it to the jury
to consider their verdict.
The Foreman asked if they were bound to return
a verdict of guilty or •to acquit the prisoner, or
whether they could qualify their verdict ?
His Lordship said they must either find her
guilty of administering with intent to murder or
acquit.
The jury then acquitted her,
His Lordship observing that there was a defect
in the law, which did note allow of a variation of
count as to the intention.