Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1886-02-05

OpA N~ObIhWlSh IESIle1ES,
the heart; a thickening was %perceptible in
the left ventricle; the right auricle of the
heart was distended with blool, the left
auricle empty; no odor of essential oil Of
almonds all over the boly. The stomach
contained undigested food, and imbaddel
in it numerous black particles percep3ible
to the naked eye. On examination they
proved to be powdered opium, aud they
were stuck all over the mucous membrane,
and so numerous as not to be counted. The
liver was healthy, the pupils of the eyes di-
lated, the brain and membrane congeste1,
but other wise healthy and without any
signs of inflammation. 1t was quite possible
the deceased had taken astrong narcotic as
we'll as the essential oil of almonds, but the
latter was the cause of death.
At this point the butler was recalled and
related what the reader already knows in
regard to the bottle delivered at the house
by the druggists asst: tant; and the next
witness was Mr.. brewer, the druggist him
self, who related the incident of Mr.. Need
hams call and purchase Of the essential oil
of almonds.
The coroner remarking that it was a pity
such articles should be sold ven by author
lied persons and in such large quantities,
Mr.. brewer said the essential oil of bitter
almonds was sold by every confectioner in
the kingdom.
"For what purposeT
well" replis1 Mr.. brewer, ut is used
commonly in cooking, for flavoring Gus.
tar1s, and other purposes Indeel confec-
tionery, such as is generally sold, contains
poisons of all kinds"
'Indeed! Is that 500 A nice reflection
for those who eat confectionery. laugh
teri 1 shall take care to give my cook
. some advice upon this point the moment /
return home. Gaughter.) At the same
time allow me to remark l am not jesting,
and that this is not a theatre. / must re-
quest gentlemen present to control their
emotions"
Witness continued to state that he could
not understand at the time for what posi-
BILE purpose M. Needham's groom might
require essential oil of almonds in the
stables. Arsenic, quite as deadly a poison,
would of course have been an entirely
different matter. 1t is a common thing to
give arsenic to horses among their corn to
improve their coats and condition. On the
continent it is a very common practice, and
it is a fact known to science that with re-
gard to the administration OF arsenic to
horses and the taking of it by human beings
that if it is discontinued tbs constitution
breaks up with just the same symptoms as
those which ara produced by Ursenical pois-
oning. The sufferers die froLl the want of
it, but with every appearance of being the
victims of poison.
Mary Atkinson, the parlor maid, was
then called. If you have been present at
serious trials for murder, or at equally
painful inquests, you must have noticed on
the part OF the spectators a tendency to be
amused. 1t is as if the mind, weighted
with the tragic story, sought relief in the
merest suggestion Of comedy. The clever
dramatist, dealing with a pathetic situa.
ton. understands this well, and seeks to
give his audience the quick relief Of an ex-
cuse for laughter. Mary Atkinson came
upon the scene at Hampstead with the rep
utation of a humorist. She had, according
to the butler, a habit Of describing people
whom she did not quite understand as being
ttmad as a hatter.h Mary was an intelli-
gent, bright-looking young woman, with a
snub nose and a snowy bonnet; and she was
received with a general smile Of approval.
G06 T6IdICu WlOA mlHuG5 u6Ldn pdl VbSuA0A
interview she had had with her late master
on the afternoon Of his death. 81
"And you said he was mada"
Eyes, sir, / beg his pardon" GaughteT.
"Why did you think he was madP'
1T was such a odd thing for him to ask
me-"
ITO ask you whatF''
"If I'd ever been to the opera"
Sand so you thought he was mad because
be asked you if you had ever been to the
operaF' ,
"Well, sir, l did, beg his pardon
Gaughter)
Don't beg his pardon, poor gentleman
he 80 hp-o~I thr+. Aud mu-t rnC-,7- th'