Star.
London, England, 1825-10-13 00:00:00

ATTEMPT 10 POISON.

We have before had a paragraph on the subject of the
following narrative, from the Essex Herald, but not so
full nor explanatory:—
The Bench of Magistrates assembled at the Shire-
hall, on Friday last, had a case before them of this
lamentable description, as interesting as it was extra-
ordinary; and which occupied their attention for several
hours: the circumstances related, as far as we could
collect them, were as follows John Hurrell, who
resides at a farm called Calvert., in Boreham, had
occasion to use some arsenic for the destruction of rats,
which he cat efully put into a cup and locked in his
bureau. On the Ist instant, Mr. Hurrell u.ed a part
of this arsenic, in the presence of a gill named Eliza
Philbrook, about 15 years of age, who, it was noticed,
read the word poison, which was legibly printed upon
the packet; after which Mr. H.orrell replaced it in his
bureau, locked it, and put the key in his pocket. On
the day following, Sunday, Mrs. Hurrell, who is in a
very forward state of pregnancy, and in a very poor
state of health, on her return from Meeting, spokeein
the presence of tl.e girl, of the woman who had recently
destroyed herself at Witham, by taking oxalic acid.
On Monday morning, Mr. Hurrell put s,,me tea into
the pot, and desired the girl to add a sufficient quantity
of water, and carry it to her mistress, who with a little
girl were up stairs, which she did, and the tea-pot was
again brought down for the use of Mr. Hurrell, who,
on attempting to put in water, observed something
white on the leaves ; it excited his attention, and in-
duced him to taste, which being so extraordinary, he
became alarmed. About this time Mrs. Hurrell had
begun to feel the effects of that which afterwards proved
tis be poison, and which providentially caused a violent
sickness. It struck Mr. Hurrell to look for the poison,
and on going to the bureau, it was missing; this con-
firmed him in his suspicions, and he instantly dic-
patched a little boy, about nine years of age, named
Charles Choat, for some castor oil, as the best antidote
he could at the instant suggest; but this little urchin,
not understanding the importance of his mission, re-
mained so long, that Mr. Hunch' himself ran to the
shop, and there found the boy, apparently unconcerned,
fitting on a smockfrock, a delay which was afterwards
not unfairly construed, other circumstances connected,
as a proof that he was an accessary to the attempt to
poison. Mrs. Hurrell, as soon as her state would allow,
taxed the girl with putting the arsenic into the tea-pot,
promising her, that if she confessed, she would forgive
her, when she related, that although she knew the
powder would poistin rats, she did not know that it
would poison her mistress; that she put into the tea-
pot, two pinches taken between her finger and thumb
(supposed about a tea-spoon full). How she got
the poison out of the bureau was not clearly shewn.
After this confession Mr. Hurrell desired one of his men
to take her to her parents (very industrious people who
reside at Latchiogdon), directing the man to call upon
Mr. Barnes, and deliver a note explaining the circum-
stance. At this tune Mrs. Hurrell continued in a very
alarming state, and the little girl was also much affected.
Mrs. Hurrell has had every medical assistance, but
some fears are entertained under all circumstances of
her doing well. John Perkins, a labourer, who, from
his apparent stupidity or unwilling manner, gave the
Honourable Chairman strong reasons for expressing his
doubts whether he dare " turn round and look an ho-
nest man in the face," but Perkins proved the contrary,
and, as though enlightened by that circumstance, related
with much less ambiguity than heretofore, that which,
had it been true, would have criminated tile boy Choat,
who, the girl declared, was worse than herself, as he
put her in mind of poisoning her master and mistress,
having said that " he wished he could get at the stuff
(meaning the poison) and he would give his master and
mistress a d—d good dose." Charles Choat, who ap-
peared a very interesting thild, and who spoke in a tone
and manner which had more the appearance of truth
than falsehood, denied what the girl had said; and re-
lated, that Eliza Philbrook asked him what would be
the consequence if either master or mistress died? that
she shewed him the powder in the pot, but he was not
aware that it was poison ; that after she had put the
water in• the pot on the Monday morning, she made an
attempt to go to the kitchen door to empty it, but on
observing her master, she exclaimed, " Lord, there is
my master r that he slid not know but what it was
whitening in the rot, scraped from the wall by setting
the tea-pot against it; and as to his not making haste
from the shop, he did not understand that it was neces.
sary. Mr. W. Baker, Chemist, at Chelmsford, and his
assistant, Mr. Smith, proved that there was a quantity
of arsenic in the water poured from the tea leaves, but
which
leaves had not undergone the same test, hich
the Court requested might be made. Elias Philbrook
had upon her examination made a confession, that she
had been guilty of putting the poison into the pot, and
persisted in the boy Choat being accessary before the
fact ; that she shewed the little girl the powder in the
pot, (who, upon being called, acknowledged that cir-
cumstance,) but the appeared so ignorant of the tribu-
nal before which she has yet to appear, not even under-
standing what was meant by her trial, that it was
thought best not to allow her to sign what she had con-
fessed. On her way to the Shire-hall she asked the
matron of the gaol whether she thought she should be
hung ? The boy Choat was released, and the girl com-
mitted for the felony, to take her trial at the next
Assizes. The Cow t was crowded to excess.

H. A LIMA NDER, Esq. has been canvassing Barnstaple.
The common hand-weavers in Lancashire are getting
from seven to ten shillingsa week. The silk weavers are making from
nine to even tbirty shillings a week, according to the suture of the
work; but then they have frequently to stand three or four weeks
for want of wOrk or for shoot. Power-loons we-avers, pencils who
manage the looms which are worked by steam, get from lits.to 15..
a week, and those who are Allowed to attend three looms will make
a pound. Women can do this work. Power-loom &meta make
about 30s. a week. Spinners, iu some instances, rather mote, and
cotton printers considerably more. The farmers' labourers in the
viciany of manufacturing towns are better off than in other dis-
tricts. Their wages appear to be about 91. a week for the winter
qearter, and 12s. all the rest of the year. Daring harvest time they
'mike something more.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.
STONE RAVES--Wamresaay.
Sweepstakes of Sp.oach, p.p. with.ls added, for keens sot tho-
roughbred. 12 Subscribers. Two mile beats
Mr. Deakin's eh. b. Cock Robin
Mr. Booth's ch. g. Pantagreel

2 1 1
1 1 2

Mr. Yates's gory arid Mr. Wakefield's Governess were nut
placed. A very fine race.

A Match for 50 sow.
Mr. H. Toralinson's b. h. St. David . . 1
Mr. John Tornlinsoa's bl. h. Sir Watkin . 2
The Publicans' Purse of 50 sov. for horses of all ages, not thorough

Two mile heats.

Mr. Cbawner's br. m. Sportly
Mr. Wakefield's br. nu Governess

V t 1
. 1• 1 0

Mr. Aston's b. g. Mr. Deakin's ch. g. Mr. Tornlinson's bi. m.
Mt. Potty's br. g. Mr. Burton's br. b. Mr. Booth's ch. g. and Mr.
Timmies b. w. were not placed.
Governess won the first heat in fine style ; she swerved in the
second heat, and ran inside a post, consequently she was adjudged
to be distanced.

A Match for 50 soy. Mile heats.
Mr. Boreham's gr.'s. Resolute
Mr. Stevenson's br. m. Chance

A very superior race.
COVENTRY RACES—Ocroszu 3.
A Sweepstakes of 10 sov. each, 15 subscribers. One mile.
Mr. Petre s Irvin, 3 yrs
Mr. Dewe's Bang-up, 5 yrs
Mr. Webster's Brook, 5 yrs
Three othets started.
Match for 50 soy. Half a mile.
_ _ _

Mr. Petre's Doctor
Captain Moore's Schedoni

Sweepstakes of 15 sot. each. (6 Subscribers).
Mr. Hyde's ch. m. Dandyzette, syn . 1 1
Mr. Webster's Brook . . • 2 2
Ur. Hamilton's Irvin . 3 bolt
•
Match for 50 sovereigns.
.
Mr.-Williams's Rattler . 1
Mr. Dewe's Crib • 2
•

PERTH RACES—Tnuasomr.
Sweepstakes of Twenty Sovereigns each. Two rniles.
Sir D. Moncrieffe's g. c. Benvorlich . walked over
A Plate or x5O given by the City of Perth. Three mile heats.
Lord Kennedy's North Briton, 4 yrs old 1 1
Sir D. Blonctieffe's g. c. Beovorlkh, 3 yrs old : 2 dr