The Statesman.
London, England, 1818-07-20 00:00:00

YORK ASSIZES, Jvir 16.
CROWN SIDE.

ATTEMPT TO POISON.
William Bailey, otherwise Knighstei, aged 27,
was charged with hoeing administered poison with
intent to kill Joseph Dodsworth, his brother-in-law.
Mr.WILLIA sts opened the case for the prosecution.
Joseph Dodsworth was called into Court; end
gave his evidence'sitting. lie lived at Aikendele in
the beginning of March last. His father, Thomas
Dodsworth, has only two childven—witness and the
Prisoner's wife. His father hes some property in
lend. Witness married at Christmas last, when the
Prisoner, who had till then lived in his father-in-
law's house, removed to a separate house. On the
25th of March witness and the Prisoner, had
gone together to Boroughbridge. On their way
homewards the Prisoner presented a piece of roll of
bread to witness, desiring him to eat it. Witness
remarked! some' black particles in the roll, and Pa-
mper said that it had not been well baked. They
afterwards separated, and when witness had gone
about two miles, he felt a sudden swelling, sickened,
and was attacked with a violent pain in his stomach.
He made his way to George Jackson's, at Knares-
borough. He lay sick in his stable. Mint water
was given to him. ' He continued very ill, end was
carried home to his father's. The Prisoner came into
his room ; witness's father and wife were present.—
The Prisoner seemed to pity him very much. They
sent him fur some mint-water, but the witness was
then so ill, that he could now give no account of that.
He took the mint.water, and threw it up again.--A
Doctor was sent for that gvening. Thomas Haw,
who had been sent for the Doctor, brought back a
pill and a draught, both of which the witness took.
It did him good. The Prisoner came again next
morning to ask him how he did. Something was
said about sending for medicine. Prisoner said he
was going to Boroughbridge for coals, and he, would
carry medicine to Westfield-gate, where witness's
father was to take it from him, and carry it to the
witness. This was done. The medicine was shaken
up. There was a powder to be taken with the
draught. He flung it op again as soon as he got it.—
He was to take it every (Our hours. lie took it
three times, and always with the same effect. The
Prisoner came in at night, expressed much sorrow,
and pitied him very much. lle got more medicine
next day, which his wife gave him. It did him good.
Ile was long very ill, and out of his mind apiece.
Cross-examined by Mr. CROSS.— Ile said they
were good friends. His stomach was first affected
after eating the bread. He did not till two or three
days afterwards think that the breed was the cause.
lie had eaten MI breakfast at• seven that meriting.
lie had been ill some time before. lie could not tell
what his complaint had been. He had then required
no Doctor. lie had given the Prisoner some time be-
fore a promissory note for 601. which be owed to
him. It was not hitherto paid. It Was not payable
till after his father's death.
Exemined by the COURT.—He said Ms father*s
property consisted of about 11 acres, in land. it was
to come in his futher's heirs.
Anne Dodsworth, wife of former witness, was
marriedlast Christmas. Her husband was carried
home about five o'clock on the 25111 Marsh. ..'l'he
Prisoner came soon 'afterwards with some mint-water
in a pitcher. Witness poured it into a tea-cup, and
said it looked very thick and muddy : he said that
the woman from whom he get it had teemed (emptied)
it from the bottom of what she had it in, and said it
was all she had. Ile told her to put some mar in
it, and stir it well, and give it to her husband, for it
would do him good. It made her husband very sick.
She sent Ilaw for the Doctor. flew brought some
medicine; and a bolos. It seemed to give him ease.,
Mr. Sedgewick, the Doctor, came nett day, and or-
dered same person to be sent after him for medicine.
The Prisoner came in afterwards, and she said to him
that she had to send some person to Boroughbridge
far medicine. He said that he would bring it to West-
field-gate, 'and her father-in-law should meet him
there, as Ire was going to Knaresborough with coils.
Her father.in-lew brought a battle and half a dozen
powders; .it was a clear medicine, *ilk some white
powder at the bottom. The cork was not tied;•
there was no distinct parer •attached to it. Her fs.
ther.in.lavrdirected her to shake it up; she did so,
and gave two table spoonfuls of it to her husband ;
she repeated this at intervals twice ; it sickened him
every time. She sent Tho Mas Steel for more media
cine that day; he brought some small bottles; she
gave this draught to her husbeuti-,-it used him it
once. •
Some doubt was occasioned as to the eaandastioo

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