The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-02-19

! - uS.'eh ltSDihtu, iNu WI. MAY lux u
was eSonerated from all blame. After the
inquest he destroyed his stock.
Miss Edlnnnds had previously called on
May ilrd, and told him that his candies con-
'''inea poison, and that a friend of hers had
| Nearly dicd from eating them. 1t appeared
| thas tie prisoner was i'll the habit of sending
l'oys, whom she found playing in the streets.
10 buy suSar-plums and chocolate creams
from Maynard's. She would saw that these
were not quite what she required, and would
| return what appeared to be those just re-.
ccivcd, but were, in fact, others which she
had infected with poison. The boy returned
| TO Maynard, who poured back into the lars
those which Miss Edmnuds had returned
md sent her another packet, with which she
| professcd to he satisfied. ond which in turn
=he duly strychnincd.
More than this, she left about on shop
counters and other places, as though by &C
ctdeEt, bags bearing haynard's name con-
tanning the poisoned swcctmeats. When the
hoy Barker died anonymous letters were ad-
dressed TO his father, urging him most
strongly 10 prosecute Maynard, and there
was strong evidence to show that such letters
were Ill the handwriting Of the prisoner.
The weight Oh evidence was so entirely
against her that her counsel proceeded to set
up the defence Of insanity, and this is, legally
considered, the Importance Of the case, for it
VIII probably become an oft-quoted prece-
dent LII our own courts us we'll as in England.
Ihc evidence in support Of the plea Of in
sanity was very strong. The chaplain Of the
E'll Ill Which she was confined prior to the
trial, who had been chaplain of lunatic
asylum, and is person Of experience in such
clsc>, was decidedly OF opinion that she was
uemcntcd. DR.. Wood, formerly resident ut
another great asylum, believed her really in
capable Of judging between riyh and wrong.
Court Of ChaDcery to Luuatics, regarded her
AS one OF those persons OH the border land
between crime and insanity" He thought
her intellect quite clear and free from any
deluSion, but that she was morally insane"
Dr.. Mandslcy, an eminent nmn, agreed with
Dr.. Robertson.
There was yet another witness:
''ScldoEi,' writes one present. "has there
been witnessed more painful scene in court
than that caused hy the appearance of Mrs
Ednunds, the mother of the prisoner, in the
Tltncss-hoy. The unhappy lady, who had
Ill tic look Of extreme old age, was for a long
time unable to speak Cnr her sobs. There
was something incXprcs$ibIy pitable in the
| story 81 her life, rs she gusped it out in Sell
| tcnce5 broken with tears; how her father,
| whose name she begged not to be asked to
tell, had died all cpieptic cripple; how her
husband bad gone mad in the prime of life
ana died rarinS lunatic; how her only son
bad been an idiot from his childhood, and
had at last to be sent to Earswood to die !;
how her eldest daughter had attempted
| to commit suicide, and had died a
victim Of hystcria; how the prisoner, the
child 'Whom everybody who knew her
loved had suffered from paralysis and hvs-
| terra; and how she herself had watched steal
;rg over hcT the symptoms Of the hereditary
na!ady so fatal to her race, until this last hor-
ror h:d come upon the end of life of misery.
| All this was Wrun" from the wretched mother
by questions gently and kindly put, but yet
| 10 answer each one Of which was to her
mortal agony. And in the midst of it all
there c;llnc il response, Il sort Of Wailiny
cry from the dock, 'T.is is more than /
can bear No counsel can be justified in
leaving his case iacompclc: yet, if sud
den Inspiration had led Sergeant Parry to
close his case as Mrs. Edmunds was led
from Che wiiEeSs box, it is doubtful whether
any verdict but that OF not guilty on tho
plea Of insanity could possibly have bccl
returned. Unfortunately, the succeeding cvi
ttencc weakened, il it cid not destroy, tho
powerful impression caused by the widowed
i2othclS's story Of her own and her child:
life. That story bore the impress Of truth
and yet the corroboIatiug evidence was sin
gt!lsTlv weak. and at the close Of the case TO
the defence the impression left upon TN
court was that lie plea Of insanity had no
been made on Is forcihly rs had been cy
poctod from tho opening speech"
The jury brought III a verdict Of guilty
uaaccompanicd by any recommendation 4
mercy, and tie judge expressed his concur
renee with i but the Uome Secretary In
altered he sentence, and Miss Edwards zoe
IL i; isGn for iite.-Ne1c York Times.