Star.
London, England, 1831-01-10 00:00:00

ATTEMPT TO POISON FIFTEEN PERSONS.

I

t

Saturday. at Woolwich, John Lowe, a journeyman butcher, in the
service of Mr. Campion, residing in Woolwich, was brought before
the Magistrates, charged with having wilfully attempted to kill Mon
persons, inhabitants of the town, by secretly poisoning their food with
a mineral poison, known by the name of toriaris ed &Winton', or swee-
tie feriae, under the following horrible circumstances. Mr. Joseph
Canter, the Coroner for Kent, attended the examination.
It apipeared that on Wednesday forenoon, the 22d ult. Mr. Carttar
issued his warrant for holding inquests on the bodies of three convicts,
who died suddenly, on board the hulks at Woolwich, and Campion, the
constable, summoned fifteen jurors. The inquiry took place at the Earl
of Chatham's Arms, 'Thomas-street, Woolwich. After the inquiries
bad terminated, the jury were presented with 20s.allowed by the county
for their services, which it was agreed should be spent in refreshments,
and Mr. Wells, a butcher, one of the jury, was desired to supply eight
pounds weight of beef steaks for the repast—the steaks were obtained
sod given to the cook to be ducted. After dinner, the jury partook of
a glass at spirits each, and retired to their homes, when shortly after,
they were one and all attacked with violent retching and other ail:
mons, which excited considerable alarm ; several were so danger-
ously ill, that their medical attendants expressed doubts of their re-
covery. In this state they continued for several days. Mr. Judge
and Mr. George Smith were worse than any. The circumstance
produced very considerable alarm and excitation, and from inquiries
them could be no doubt that poison had been clandestinely intro-
duced into the provisions of which they ate at the Chatham Arms, and
an investigation was immediately set on foot into then affair.
Large hand bills were printed and widely circulated, a reward
laqsli
for the perpetrators of this diabolical act. In the course of inquiry
It was ascertained that the prisoner, had on the forenoon of the day on
which the inquests were held, purchased at the shop of a chemist in the
town, some eartarised antimony, stating that be wanted it fat the psub
pose of administering it to the heifer; and proceeded towards &shames
where the Jury were sitting. In consequence of this discovery, owl&
elan naturally fell upon him as being the perpetrator, and consequently
a warrant was instantly granted for his apprehension. It having been
placed io the hands of Campion the constable, to whom the aceseed was
known, he had not flinch difficulty in apprehending bbl
; he stoutly
&Wed any participation in the horrible attempt, and treated the mat a
with much levity of manner when brought before the Magistrates.
Ann, the servant maid at the Chatham Arms, said that upon ramie-
Ing the steaks from her mistress she proceeded to cook them in the tap-
room, at which time no person but herself was present, nor did she
leave them till they were dressed, so that if any person bad touched
them she must have seen them. She did not see the prisoner in the
liana whilst she was cooking the steaks. In her aces-examination she
admitted that she had left the steaks in the tap-room whilst she went
up stairs to lay the cloth.
Mr. John Mills, one of the Jury, swore that when he went down
stairs, before the Jury partook of the steaks, he saw the prisoner leave
the house, and shortly after he met his master, to whom he spoke as
to the goodness of his stew of meat. Mr. Campion, the prisooer's
master, dented most strenuously having seen Mr. Mills at all at the
harse, or having spoken to him. Mr. Mills, however, swore to the fact.
There being no further evidence to produce, the prisoner was called
upon for his defence. He denied any knowledge of the charge made
against him, but admitted purchasing die poison ; he raid he had been
employed to do se by a man in the street, whom he should not know
again, and tbr which be received a glass of gin.
The Magistrates told trim they did not believe a 'word be said upon
the subject; dare certainly was strong suspicion against him, but not
sufficient to send him to trial. They bad no doubt, before long, the
affair would be developed ; and until further inquiries should be
made, they would bold him to bail to answer the charge at any fu-
ture period. The prisoner, having found the required sureties, was al-
lowed to go at large.

His Majesty has become the patron of the Seamen's hos-
pital on board the Grampus, and directed the annnal sub-
scription of 100 guineas, which was regularly contributed
by the late King, to be continued.