The Sun.
London, England, 1850-02-04 00:00:00

OSED POISONING OF A

HUSBAND BY HIS WIFE,

For some days past considerable excitement has been
created in the eastern portion of Middlesex by the cir-
culation of a report that a man named James Merritt,
one of the turncocks iu the employ of the East-London
Waterworks Company, about thirty-four years of age,
living with his wife in Peartree-court, Lower Clapton,
bad been poisoned by the latter. On the report reaching
the ears of the parochial authorities they lost no time in
informing Mr. W. Baker, the coroner for the district,
who issued his warrant for an inquest to be held. On
Wednesday last the inquiry was opened at the Fountain
Tavern, Lower Clapton, but after an identification of
the body of the deceased, the inquest was adjourned
until Friday evening for a post mortem examination of
the body to be made, and the contents of the stomach to
be analysed.
Further evidence was then taken, and the inquest was
again adjourned till to morrow (Tuesday).
At the Worship-street Court, on Saturday, Ann Mer-
ritt, a woman about thirty-five years of age, was charged
before Mr. Arnold, on suspicion of having administered
a quantity of arsenic to her husband, which had caused
his death.
The first witness called was a married woman, named
Mary Gillett, who lives a few doors from the prisoner,

n reartrec-court, who proved that she had been in

mate with the prisoner and her husband for some time
past. Between ten and eleven o'clock on the morning
of the day cf his death, the prisoner requested her to let
her man get her (the prisoner) some outmesi to make
some gruel for her husbm.d, who was ill in bed. Wi:-
ness did so, and about two hours afterwards she saw the
prisoner mixing some of the oatmeal for gruel.
Mr. Toulmin, the surgeon, was the next witness
called, and, in addition to the evidence he gave at the
inquest, stated that on the night of the deceased's death
he saw the deceased, about ten o'clock, for the first
time. He found him in a stets of considerable collapse,
having very little pulse, and his skin much below the
natural temperature. He complained of great pain at
the pit of the stomach, for which witness prescribed the
requisite medicine, and left. On the following morning
ho called to see deceased, and found he was dead. Wit-
ness at the time suggested to the prisoner the propriety
of the body being opened, to ascertain the cause of
death ; but she objected to such a proceeding, as it was
contrary to the expressed wish of her late husband.
Dr. Letheby next repeated evidence he had given at
the inquest, as to finding arsenic in the stomach and its
contents. From the results t f his examination he felt
satisfied that the deceased had died from the effects cf
arsenic, which must have been administered more than
once, and but a short time previous to his death.
The following fresh evidence %as then gone into:—
Frederick William Brown, assistant to his father, who
carried on business as a chemist in Church-street, Hack-
ney, stated that about a fortnight since the prisoner en-
tered the shop and asked to be served with twopenny-
worth of arsenic, which she alleged that she wanted for
the purpose of destroying mice. He at first declined to
serve her with the article, but having assured him that
she had procured it on previous occasions from his
father, he at length supplied her with it, making it up at
her request in two separate packets, as site alleged that
one of them was intended for her sist,...r, who could not
obtain it in her own neighbourhood.
Mr. Inspector Coward, of the N division, stated that
shortly after ten o'clock that morning be proceeded to
the house of the prisoner, and having closely questioned
her as tl whether she had lately purchased any arsenic,
she positively denied I aving done so. On being con-
fronted with the last witness, however, she admitted
having bought twopennyworth of arsenic at his faber's
shop, with the intention of taking it herself. Witness
then took her into custody, and on their way to the sta-
tion-house she stated that her husband f,r some time
past had been so much troubled in his mind that he
did not know what to do with himself, and that he had
threatened more than once to throw himself into the
canal.

Policc-constable Clarke, N 223, stated that during the
temporary absence of the inspector, while the prisoner
vial under his charge, she observed to him, without any
previous observation having been made," I suppose that I
shall be hanged, as there are so many lies told about it."
To which she addei shortly afterwards, that she had
bought the poison for her husband.
After some further evidence of an immaterial charac-
ter, the prisoner, who maintained the utmost coolness
and self-possession, was ordered to be remanded, to await
the result of the adjourned inquest on Tuesday.

RUMOURED LAW CHANGES IN SCOTLAND..--AS
the lamented death cf Lord Jeffrey neces,,arily creates a
vacancy on the Bench, and which, in the ordinary course
of promotion, generally leads to subordinate changes,
there has naturally been considerable speculation in the
Parliament House on the subject. The first idea was,
that Mr. Maitland, the Solicitor-General, would be ele-
vated to the bench, and be succeeded as Solicitor- General
by James Moncrieff, Esq., advocate. Another rumour
has, however, since prevailed, and which receives more
credence, viz., that the Lord Advocate ,receives
will
be the now Judge, and Mr. Maitland the Lord Advocate,
Mr. Moncreiff, in either event, being appointed Solicitor-
General. What gives strength to the latter report is the
consineration, that Mr. Maitland is already in Parlia-
ment, sti representative of the Stewartry of Kirkcud-
bright, and his acceptance of the office of Lord Advocate
would not render a new election necessary. It is further
thought, that the fate which attended the more impor-
tant measuretrintroduced by the Lord Advocate last ses-
sion, and the little thanks he received fir his legislative
exertions, will not render him particularly anxious to
remain in his present office. However, it is also re-
ported, that in the event cf the Lord Advocate taking
the judicial appointment, the understanding will be, that
he might still aspire to higher honours, in the same
manner as if he continued Lord Advocate.—Caledonian
Mercury.

MARRIAGE Is HIGH LIFE.—The nuptials of Lady-
Olivia Montagu, only daughter of the Duke of Man-
chester, with Lord Ossulton, M.P., only son of the Earl
and Countess of Tankerville, were celebrated with much
festivity on Tuesday, at Kimbolton Castle, the ducal
seat in Huntingdonshire. The marriage solemnity was
petfurmed by the Rev. Thomas Ainsworth (the Vicar
of Kimbolton), in the private chapel of the castle, ele
whole of the guests at the ducal seat attending at the
ceremony. In the bridal train were six beautiful young
ladies, the bridesmaids, all in uniform costume. They
were—Lady Julia Lfay, the Misses Steele (two), the
the Misses Baillie (two), and the Honourable
Miss Wrott, slay. Shortly after the solemniza-
tion the noble bridegroom and his fair bride lilt the
castle, amidst the warm congratulations of their friends,
for the Marquis of Abercorn's s, a', the Priory, at Stan-
more. Middlesex, for the honeymoon.
Mr. J. Cooke, superintendent of pilots at this
port, and a practical ma❑ of great experience, attributes
the loss of the Hottinguer and other vessels on Black-
water Bank to the want of a light on Arklow 13ank.—
Liverpool Chronicle.