Star.
London, England, 1830-07-24 00:00:00

BUCKINGHAM ASSIZES, JvLt M.

(We published a second edition yesterday, announcing the cc.
quittal of Simon Byrne, the pugilist, charged with killing sandy
/IPCsy, in a prise battle. Thd substance of the evidence was the
same as given on the emoner'd inquest, and was defective in sub.
stantiating the counts in the Indictment.]
DEATH OCCASIONED BY ADMINISTERING
SPANISH FLIES.
Joseph Terser, aged 21; Frederick Whitfield, aged 19; and
Jews Barran, aged 20, were charged with manslaughter, in feloni.
ousiy killing and slaying Eleanor Elisabeth Turner. by adminis-
tering in a pot of beer a quantity of cantharides, or Spanish flies,
on the 18th of April. Diseased lingered for 24 hours in great ago.
ny, and died.
Females and boys were ordered to withdraw before the trii con.
monad.
In this trial there was an immense number of witnesse,
examined, and it occupied about seven hours. There were
several extraordinary features in the case. It appeared that Tur.
OCT was brother to the deceased, and that Whitfield was paying hit
addresses to her. Barrett was a casual acquaintance merely, and
moved in a more respectable sphere than the othets. He was to have
been married on the Monday following the Saturday evening en
which he had been taken into custody on this charge. On Easter
Monday there was a merry making at Denham, where the
prisoners all reside, and about thirty of than adjourned to a
house to dance in the evening ; it was not a public house,
so porter and ale were at different times during the evening sent for
from a public.house in the neighbourhood. Those who partook of
one portion of the porter sent for at first complained of a peculiarity
in the flavour of the beer, and afterwards they became ill, chiefly
complaining of pains in their inside. Whitfield was the most ac.
tire in administering the drug; but when the porter in the pas was
nearly finished, Barrett put out a candle that was burning in the
room, and Turner blew out another, which caused the room to be
in darkness, and before lights were again brought in, Whitfield had
persuaded the deceased to drink up the dregs of the pot. Barrett
and Turner had left the room during this time, bat they knew that
the drug was being administered.
Several witnesses, both male and female, proved their severe in.
disposition occasioned by partaking of the porter. And from the
testimony of some of them, it appeared, that both Turner and
Whitfield intimated, during the day, their intention of giving some
"d...—....d rum stuff to the girls." [The object of this Intention
was a vulgar notion that prevails among the ignorant, hut which
delicacy prevents us explaining.] Banat was several times hum.
tuned, by mem other of the prisoners, during the night, to mix
it the thug with the , and had been told that it was quite sate.
but the act of mix it was not distinctly brought home to him ;
and it was apparent bad no previous knowledge of the intention
of the prisoners before the time they were engaged in dancing.
Mr.-Maltly andpillr. Pried were counsel for the prosecution ;
Mr. Bligh and Mr. Munroe were for the defence.
A difficulty arose regarding the form tithe verdict, in consequence
of the indictment having been altered in expeassion by the Grand
Jury. Turner had been described as having a knowledge that the
drug was poisonous, and the other with having administered without
that knowledge, which the Jury had clanged. Justice Littledale
informed the Jury of the difficulty; and desired them to bring in
their verdict Guilty, or not Guilty of administering ; and to reserve
their answer as to whether or not "with knowledge of the poisonous
quality of the drug," till afterwards. He would receive the verdict
of the Jury, and if Guilty, he would reserve the question of the al.
leged informality in the indictment for the opinion of the twelve
Ju4es.
William Stubbs, chemist, residing in Uxbridge, stated that the
prisoner Turner called at his shop on the Monday forenoon, and
asked for three-pennyworth of Spanish flies. Witness was unwilling
to sell him the flies, but the prisoner told witness that the article was
for a respectable farmer in the neighbourhood, well known to witness,
to be used for the purpose of making a blister for a horse. Mr.
Stubbs expressed his doubt that the prisoner had told the truth, and
was fearful that he meant to use them for playing tricks. This
Turner positively denied ; and Mr. Stubbs cautioned him very par.
titularly of the danger, expressly informing him that the smallest
quantity given to any one would occasion death, as Spanish flies
was a deadly poison. Whitfield lent Turner the three-pence to
make the purchase, and the drug was bonded over to him.
The Jury returned a verdict of " Guilty," and added, " but not
knowing that the drug was a deadly poison."
The prisoner Barrett was well-dressed, and conducted himself
with propriety. Turner and Whitfield had a mean appearance ;
and when they did not evince entire indifference, they indulged in
occasional fits of laughter at the awkwardness of several of the
TITIOCTINS, mast of wheal were of the lowest class, and extremely
ignorant.