The Sun.
London, England, 1844-08-22 00:00:00

THE STEPNEY POISONING CASE.

CRIMINAL COURT.-(THIS DAY':

OLD COURT.
(Before Mr. Baron GURNEY and Mr. Justice Manilas)
The Learned Judges having taken their seats on tb°
bench shortly after ten o'clock,
James Cockburn Belaney was again placed at the lA.rci
The prisoner appeared far more dejected than he al

yesterday.
The following witnesses were then examined on the
part of the prisoner :
Mr. R. Hembleton—Was a surgeon residing in Nor
thumberland. The prisoner had consulted him with re'
spect to a disease of the heart under Which he it
labouring, and witness advised him to take prussic act
twice a-day, and an alterative pill at night. Wit!Z
also advised him to take opium and morphine. "1"
well acquainted with the prisoner and Mrs. Boland.
He was invariably kind to his wife, and she was 'el
affectionate to him. The general character of the Pry
soner was invariably kind.
Cross- examined by Mr. BODKIN—The prisoner Wei
practising as an apothecary, when he consulted win's!:
He thought the last time the prisoner consulted 1314
with respect to himself was in 1841. Witness Itne
the prisoner's late wife well before her marriage. ea
Re-examined--Did not know whether the prison
was practising as a regular practitioner.
Robert Swann was a druggist at Alnwick. TheLarr
soner had repeatedly bought prussic acid of him. m's,
known the prisoner for some time, and always GOO
dered him a kind and affectionate man.
Mrs. Robson lived in North Sunderland. Wagitie
quainted with the late Mrs. and Miss Skerrett. Be
lected the marriage of the prisoner and Miss Skerreo,
She was a very pretty and fascinating young w°l3isste
The prisoner and his wife appeared to be an affeeti°e7s.
and happy couple. At the time of Mrs. Belaney's °3.100
carriage the prisoner showed the greatest affectia
towards her, and Mrs. Belaney had spoken of they
soner to witness in the most affectionate manner. „j
Belaney spoke to witness about going to London, ".:(1
appeared to be most anxious to go there. Witness %
to her, " Are you not afraid of going to London in
state you are," to which she replied, that stopping a°
from Belaney would do her more harm than the journ_eii
Mrs. Wilson—Saw Mrs. Belaney after her Inis'r
of
riage. She said it arose in consequence of stepping a
a chair. The conduct of Mr. Belaney to his wife
most affectionate.
Andrew Gibson—Was a mason, living at North Spa,
derland. Had also a farm, and kept an inn there. a
ness asked the prisoner to go with him to the ChePsiri
ri
Hills, and he would not go without the consent of ..
Belaney. The prisoner appeared a most affections"
husband, and she appeared extremely fond of hint.
the
The Rev. Robert Belaney—Was the brother 0- is
prisoner. Had visited his brother and his late vine's
July, 1843, and they appeared to live most affectionate'
together. During the time he lived in North Stnnierer
land he had had a conversation about his will. The prig hid
was a very careless driver, and witness suggested to "la
that he might come suddenly to his death, and he oagrti
to make his will, especially where there was prope
belonging to his wife.
Robert Hall lived in North Sunderland. SAvirrhey
and Mrs. Belaney frequently after their marriage. -I.a•
appeared to live most affectionately together. In 5131-h1
ing of the journey to London the prisoner said
thought he should give it up, in consequence of the eta
in which Mrs. Belaney was. She laughed at that,
said she should go. Knew that the prisoner took poi"-
as a medicine, but should not know what it was.
Ellen Kerras—Had been sei vent to Mr. and A.
Belaney. Their conduct to each other was quite loll;
The prisoner was in the habit of continually taking
wife out with him, to see the house he was buildinla_ap.
John Hancock, an ironmonger, at Newcastle-uria
Tyne, had known the prisoner for eight or nine rad
Both witness and prisoner were fond of the stedit.tes
ornithology, falconry, and botany, and witness was °i
in his company. The prisoner was most affectionate
his conduct towards his late wife.
rase
George Hobson was a bookseller, residing in Crotre.
row, Commercial-road. Was examined before the
ner, and bound over to appear, on the part of the Cresa;
at this Court. Had known the prisoner for several Ye'rra,
he had published a work on falconry. Witness in
The
duced him and Mrs. Belaney to Mrs. Heppingstall. Tito
appeared to be very affectionate to each other. Islet
the house on the Saturday on which Mrs. Belaney $
Mr. Belaney was in great distress, and appeared She
distracted.
William D. Clarke—Was a master mariner, living,
King-street, Mile-end, Old Town. Had known the go
saner twelve months. Recollected his calling upon
on the 4th of June. Mrs. Belaney was with him. ",:t4
the prisoner and Mrs. Belaney frequently togetheralos
they appeared most affectionate to each other. 'sobs
Belaney was rather poorly on the Wednesday, hatss.
aeared cheerful. There was a great talk aboutnef.
Belaney going hawking in Holland, and Mrs. Bello
Bought Mrs. Belaney some work, which he,
said he should be a long time away if be stoPPeuctia-
-1 sb
finished it. Upon the death of Mrs. Belaney
tresent
soner appeared greatly distressed. Witness wasp said,
when she died. Mr. Belaney on that occasion
i%
My God, all this has been caused
my gross neglect." Every remedy that ne ea
be thought of was applied, and Mr. Belan4
assisted at it. All parties agreed as to the expedie,reite
of holding an inquest, and the prisoner agreed. lbe
woman who came to lay out the body, claimed
clothes as her perquisite, at which the prisoners
peared indignant, and said he would give her per
money rather than be deprived of them. The priress
left the management of the funeral entirely to siltaaei
and Mr. Robson. Mrs. Heppingstall said she hopis
the funeral would take place as soon as possible, astbs
was a painful thing to take place in her house. °!l„e,S
Monday night, in the Commercial-road, he said to wlt'reit
he had been the cause of his wife's death. Witneeshol
alarmed, and asked him, how ? He said sbe,4s
taken p icon. Witness said, " Good God, you
onis,o,
never poisoned your wife ?" to which he said,,, ge
thank God, that cannot be laid to my charge. kit's
said, further, that he had been in the habit of nil
prussic acid, that he had broken the bottle, and pfle,
it into a tumbler, and that she had taken it 1 Milner
Cross-examined by Mr. BODKIN—When the Psis the
said that his wife would not recover, be also said else
her poor mother had died of the same disease twrai
months ago. Witness was present at the post 'n°ri
examination. The prisoner was in the next pets
Witness noticed that the contents of the stomach s be
sealed up, and taken away. Witness believed thseos
stated to the prisoner what had taken place at the pie
mination. When the prisoner related to wanes. the
the matter had occurred, he said that he seized thi
tumbler from the hands of his wife, and euipti`-
contents into the chamber vessel. ,a die
Mrs. M'Geachy, examined by Mr. ERLE---1 Fri.
daughter of the last witness. I was introduced I°ool
soner and his wife on the 4th of June, and saw them
Saturday the Bth, from time to time. I learned 1,100
Mr. Belaney that she had miscarried last year ; allot
the Wednesday, when she was sick, he told tnebe
06
symptoms had occurred again. They appeared %lots
the most affectionate terms. I have seen herr, friar,
and she seemed perfectly happy in here 1115'-bo'
His conduct was always that of an affectionate hovias,
I was sent for on Saturday morning. lie was eh% she
and she was lying insensible on the bed. I thong" sad
had been getting up, for her night clothes were ollioist
her hair was down, as if she had taken off her eg Got'
up. Prisoner was much distressed. I fetched nte' stis
ratt. Mrs. Belaney had told me on the Friday f ther#
intended taking salts. I saw two tumblers ; one °iv re
was empty, the other had some fluid in it. I 01l
laney empty it after Mr. Garratt had left. Mr. •t „
bad in her presence spoke to me about her staYo4 tas
us while he went abroad. I was examined before_ air
Coroner, and bound over to appear as a witness for
prosecution. to
Mr. ERLE—And we hare consequently forb°lll--ne
examine you or your father. If they are not rite
plices it is the strangest conduct on the part of
secution I ever knew.; Wed"
Cross-examined by Mr. BODKIN—I saw her °li fila
nesday night, and she said she was better, and there ge as
no fear. Ho alluded to the probability of raiSeaar"ordal
something that had passed by. On the Sato
morning she to as lying on the bed on her back.
Peter M'Ardell was called, but did not answer.
_r the
Mr. CLARKSON said his name was on the back °'
bill, but he had not been called by the prosecutor• is,
Mr. Baron GURNEY—The usual way in such lasi ota
for the counsel for the prisoner to say to the prosec
I should like to see such or such a witness. Ain'
Mr. CLARKSON—I have applied over and ofer„,ster'
to the Solicitor-General on the subject. No"-r
call the other policeman. I Ws`
W. 11. Shaw, examined by Mr. Caaasesega Was
examined before the Magistrate and Coroner, en fore
bound over to appear, but I was not examine" utioa•
the grand jury, or by the attorney for the prose Sta
I was the sergeant at the Stepney station, whea as t°
Belaney was brought in. I gave him a catiti°",iglits
what he said. I visited him during tab:eh Werea
'He asked for pen, ink, and paper, wufked
furnished him by his friends. lie '"s
„stfirst
he might put a letter in the post. I said I orioak in
inspect it. He said, " Very well," and at six 0c to
the morning he gave me this letter, addresseLried it
Embleton. I slid not put it in the post, but I st;suarsaer•
to the magistrate's clerk, and afterwards to the L';',o3isis
I think it was produced to the clerk during the e
ation, bat I will not be sure.
,and
Peter M'Ardell—l took the prisoner into custodi;thica
attended before the Coroner to produce the thing ,htit
striate,
I had taken. I was present before the Magi re
vas not bound over. I reduced the bundle thnio'ilest
was questioned by the Magistrate. I was not quests
en
in a private room by the clerk. I took the priaOtie CO
Tuesday, 11th June. I was bound over before 10, wri
ran° J the
roner. I was in waiting to go before the
and sworn, but was not examined. I produce jos
morphine which I took from the prisoner. r oao
been opened and tested by a surgeon-
cry g.
found a box of tooth powder and a bottle of crra at
vinegar in his trunk at Captain Clarke's. In his o„aods,
!qrs. Ileppingstall's, I found some carbonate 01._',a-
-ru::-'-'6l)
ssrae tartaric acid, and a paper of Epsom saltdsl
room. The prisoner was rather in an excite , in ato
I took him. I told him what I charged him Wu!!! whet
Iresence of Mr. Hicks. He said Oh, my God Oh,
he saw his brother, who was crying, he 01_ inquiry
Archy, Archy, why do you take on so--this is
.11.11.'1'11w%
which must be instituted.i':
tone, " Oh, my angel, I
th
dered man."
jive
my brother, at the Berlin warehouse in Bern
Mary Gotobed examined by Mr. EaLE-_-i
aviefecaautsleedrwtahrisdf-slaaidu:Da ;ir

65e6
E,cutOts

with
wees.