Star.
London, England, 1829-08-31 00:00:00

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ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

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CROYDON, Avs. 29.
CROWN SIDIL--Before Mr. Justice GASELIZ
William Craig was charged with breaking and enter-
ing the dwelling-house of Ann Law, and stealing stock-
ings and other articles to the amount of fifty pounds, her

property.
Mr. Dow Lino prosecuted, Mr. BACON defended, the

prisoner.
The prosecntrix is a milliner, and resides at s,Crown-
street, Walworth. On the night of the 12th July
last, she was the last person who retired to rest in
her house. She had previously seen that all her
doors and windows were safe. The next morning,
about half-past four, she was disturbed by a knock-
ing at the street door.. She went down stairs, and
then, to her great astonishment, she perceived that the
window of her parlour was open, and that some person
had done this by patting his hand through a hole pre-
viously cut in the shutter. She then went into her shop,
and found that every thing there was in confusion, and
property of various kinds, to the amount of nearly 501.
was taken. It was soon after communicated to her that
the prisoner, about four o'clock that morning, had been
seen running from her house, with a bundle under his
arm ; that, being pursued, he threw it down, and in it
were found a great quantity of stockings and other ar-
ticles. These being shown to her, she instantly recog-
nised them as some of the stock she had the previous
night lost. In this bundle was also found a lantern,
from the horn of which, a piece had been broken ; and
in the parlour was discovered a piece of horn which ex-
actly filled up the deficiency. This was the case for the
prosecution.
Some witnesses were called to the character of The
prisoner. The Jury found him Guilty.
Edward Nunn was charged under the 9th Geo. IV. c.
31, sec. 11, with • attempting to administer a certain
poison called oxalic acid, to Francis Cook, with intent to
murder him. _

Mr. BACON prosecuted—The prosecutor is a shoemaker
at Bengal-place, Kent-road, and the prisoner is his ap-
prentice. Some time since the prisoner, contrary to the
custom of the family, thought proper to fill the kettle a
little before tea-time with water. When the water boiled
Mrs. Cook was filling the tea-pot, when she thought she
smelt a very unusual smell arise from the water ; knowing
that the prisoner had filled the tea-kettle, she desired him
to drink some of the tea made with the water which he
had poured in, and into which she had put some milk.
This he refused, at the same time adding, " If you will
put a little into a good deal of water I don't mind drink-
ing it." Inquiries were then made of the servant about
what had been the conduct of the prisoner before this, and
she said, that about a month antecedent the prisoner had
remarked to her that he was tired of his business, and
wanted to be transported ; that he had inquired if his
master died, should he be obliged to serve out his time
with his mistress; and that he had asked her if it
would not be odd if they both died suddenly. On
hearing these statements, Mr. Cook sent for a con-
stable, and had the prisoner taken into custody.
A neighbouring chemist was then employed to analyse
the contents of the tea-kettle, and he found it to be
strongly impregnated with oxalic acid. The constable,
hearing this, asked the prisoner if he knew what was the
nature of oxalic acid ? and he said, " Oh, yes ; a tea-
spoon full would kill any body in 24 hours." The water
in the butt, whence that put into the kettle by the pri-
soner had been taken, was examined, and found to be pure.
The prisoner, in his defence, denied any knowledge of
the acid being in the kettle, and the Jury acquitted him.

BRIDGEWATER, Am 28.
MURDER OF A WIFE BY HER HUSBAND.

Abraham Reed was indicted for the murder of his wife,
Mary Reed, by administering to her arsenic. The pri-
soner is a wild-looking man, about 30 years of age.
The following are the circumstances proved against the
prisoner : He was married no longer ago than the month
of July, 1828, but the marriage was not followed by
that happiness which might have been expected. There
was, however, reason to fear that dislike to his wife was

not the only cause of the murder he had committed. It
would appear that ho was a member of a benefit club at
North Molton, and by one of the bye-laws of that club, the
person who had been for two years a member of it became a
free member, and entitled to a certain sum of money u
burial money for his wife. By his conversation on this
subject there was reason to fear that this money had been
one of the causes that had excited him to the commission

of the offence with which he was charged. .On the 29th
of June last, the prisoner called at the shop of a Mrs.
Burgess, in North Molton, and asked to be suppliedwith
mercury or arsenic. She said she sold neither, and he
then asked if she sold Spanish flies, and she told him that
she did not keep that in the house ; he then went to the
shop of a druggist named Waistcoat, in North Molton,
and by representing that he wished to destroy rata,
obtained three ounces of arsenic. On the morning of
the sth July he purchased, at the residence of a Mr.
Hale, half a pint of cream ; and it was in evidence, that a
portion of the same cream had been eaten by Mrs. Hale's
family, without their suffering any inconvenience, so that
not the slightest doubt could exist that no poison had
been mixed in the cream before it was delivered to the
prisoner. On the 4th July the prisoner's wife was in
good health, but on the following day, soon after she had
partaken of the cream which the prisoner brought home,
she was seized with sudden sickness, and when the neigh-
bours came to her assistance, the prisoner• said she was
only in a fit ; she complained of a great pain in her sto•
-
mach, and after having taken some tea said, " I am
poisoned—l am poisoned ; send for the Doctor, or I shall
be dead before he _comes." The prisoner was standing
by at the time ; she was asked what she had eaten ;
she said cream, and added, that there was arsenic in
it ; the prisoner was then asked where ho had pur-
chased the cream, and his wife, interrupting him
in the conversation, said, " you don't know what'
I know." Some of the persons who were round the de-
ceased then asked to see the cream, and the deceased
replied, " he catched it out of as hand, threw it away,
and broke the cup." During thew hole of that night she
remained in a very bad state, and on the following morn-
ing she died. In front of the prisoner's house there is a
small pond, into which the residue of the cream was
thrown. Some pigs and fowls that ate it were suddenly
attacked with vomiting, and died soon after. On the
same day that the deceased died, the prisoner gave direc-
tions for her funeral, which he wished to take place as
speedily as possible ; and hastening to the Secretary of
the Benefit Society, demanded the sum which he was
entitled to receive for his wife's funeral. No suspicion
at that time having been entertained that. the poor
woman had been murdered, three pounds were paid
him on account, and the prisoner returned home. The
next day (two days after her death) she was put into a
a coffin, and the undertaker, who assisted in performing
that duty, remarked that he thought she bad not died a
natural death, and he advised that a medical man should
be called to give his opinion of the cause of her death.
A horse was offered to the prisoner to go to Dulverton