The Sun.
London, England, 1868-12-30 00:00:00

CHARGE OF POISONING.

A. singular case of poisoning has been investigated by Mr.
i3urcham, at the Southwark Police•court. George Lack,
17, was charged with swallowing a quantity of poison,
with intent to commit suicide.

Sergeant Yallop, 19 M, said the charge against the
prisoner was surrounded with mysterious circumstances.
About a quarter to eight in the evening, witness was
called to a house at Bankside, where the prisoner's
father resided, and on approaching the spot. he met the
latter being carried by two men, who told him that he
had swallowed poison and cut his throat ; also that he had
poisoned his son (the prisoner), who was still in the house.
Having given instructions to another constable to accom-
pany the father to the hospital, witness entered the house
and found the prisoner lying near the fireplace unconscious
and smelling strongly of rum and laudanum. Witness
instantly conveyed him to Guy's Hospital, where the
stomach-pump was used ; and as soon as he sufficiently
recovered he removed the prisoner to the station-house.
Witness added that on further examination of the room
where he found the prisoner he perceived a half-pint bottle
which bad contained rum and something else, but the heat
of the fire had dried up all the liquid.
Mr. Burcham asked if the father was dead,

Witness replied that when he called at the hospital in
the morning he was not dead. The poison had all
been extracted from his stomach, but there were three
cuts in the throat, either of which he considered to be
dangerous.
Mr. Burcham observed that he bad some recollection of
this family. Did not the prisoner's mother murder some
of her children some time ago ?

Sergeant Yallop replied that about three years ago last
August the unfortunate woman murdered two of her
children by cutting their throats in bed, and attempted to
murder a third child early in the morning. She was tried
at the Central Criminal Court, but the jury acquitted her
on the ground of insanity.
Mr. Butcham said he bad some recollection of the poor
woman. When brought before him at the. time she was
in a most deplorable condition. Her husband also appeared
almost distracted at finding his young children with their
throats cut. His worship then asked the prisoner what
explanation he had to make.
He said that his father brought in some rum, and, after
mixing some beer in a cup, handed it to him. As soon as
he drank a little he became insensible, and had no recol-
lection of anything that occurred afterwards, until he
found himself in the hospital.
Mr. Burcham thought it would be better to remand the
prisoner for a few days, to enable the police to make fur-
ther inquiries about this melancholy affair.
The prisoner was immediately removed to Horsemonger-
lane Gaol.

The consecration of the Very Rev. Henry Douglas
(late Dean of Capetown) to the bishopric of Bombay, will
take place at the Chapel Royal, Whitehall, on Sunday next.
The Kentish Gazette states that " Mr. Butler
Johnstone's health is such that his physician has ordered
him to the south of France."

Two men, named John Lawrence, a bricklayer,
and James Kelly, a labourer, wore lockyl up at Bow-street
on Tuesday, in default of finding sureties for keeping the
peace. Tho two prisoners were about to take part in a fight
for £2O.

Intelligence has been reeeived of a landslip which
has taken place on the Team Valley Railway, near Chester
Dene. One line of rails was stated to be stopped. Assis-
tance was despatched from Durham. The Team Valley
Railway was only opened for traffic on the Ist inst.

A young girl named Isabel Scales, not quite thir-
teen years of age, is in custody at Pickering in Lancashire
on the charge of poisoning the family in which she was
employed as a servant. Bever, persons were poisoned, but
all have recovered or are recovering. The girl has been
remanded till her mistress shall be well enouuh to give her
evidence.

THE SCHOOLMASTER GOING ABROAD.----An odd
misapplication of a well-known line was made at a meet-
ing held at Whitchurch for the purpose of presenting a
clock to a schoolmaster who was leaving the neighbour-
hood. The chairman wound up by expressing the hope
that the schoolmaster might enjoy health and happiness
in his new sphere of existence, and that in the end he
might not fail to reach " that bourne where the wicked
cease from troubling and the weary are at rest." The
fervent utterance of this hope that the schoolmaster might
not escape ultimate burial, evoked applause from his friends.
WHAT IS A BONA FIDE TRAVELLER ?—TIIC oft-
raised question," What is a bontifide traveller?" is about to
receive another solution. Mr. Davis, proprietor of the
Pegasus Tavern, Green-lanes, Stoke Newington, was
summoned for having his house open for the sale of beer,
&c., on Sundays, within the prohibited hours. The
tavern in question is within a pleasant walk
from the City, and thirsty souls are very much
in the habit of calling there, and, it the character of
travellers, refreshing themselves after a Sunday
morning's stroll. The police stated that from nine to one
a.m. on the Sunday forenoon in question, 168 persons
entered the house and partook of beer, spirits, &c. The
magistrate has given judgment in the case, and con-
victed the publican, putting upon him a nominal fine, as
it was understood to be a friendly information, agreed
upon by him and the police, in order to have the question
settled whether Sunday strollers are bond fide travellers.
A case was asked for and granted, arid` the ques-
tion will therefore be remitted to the Court_ of Comm
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