The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-08-18

BY WILLIAM TRUE HAWTHORNE.
 London, Aug. 17.--A white building and a bottle of stout played promf- nent part in the trial and death sem <.ace of Richard Brinkley, the princi- Sal in one of the most extraordinary poisoning cases ever known in Eng land For four days the court, crowd- ed to its utmost capacity. listened to the unfolding of the crime, and the world guilty" with its terrible sig nificance to the prisoner. from the lips of the foreman of the. jury, after an hours deliberation, brought to a cli- max criminal drama that has had no counterpart since the trials of Neal, Cream and Chapman on similar charges.
 BrinkIey, carpenter. 53 years old, is alleged to have introduced prussic acid into a bottle of stout, with intention of killing Reginald Parker, whose name appears as witness to the will of an old lady named B1ume. who died under suspicious circumstances two days af- ter the will, which was drawn in favor of Brinkley had been signed. The rel- atives of Mrs. Blume were contesting the will, and it would be to Brinkley's interest, 1t was alleged, to get Parker out of the way. as the latter had sworn he had never signed the document,
 
 providentiaily escaped death by poison, but MT. and Mrs. Beck, with whom he lodged, died after drinking the deadly potion and their two daughters were made desperately ill
 At this point in the trial the white bulldog was brought into the limelight by the prosecution. Parker testified that Brinkley wrote him note, asking him to bring the writer a good dog. uhffo bulldog and requested Brinkley to call at the home of the Becks to see it. Parker was in his room having some ale with MT. Beck when Brinkley called. He produced from his pocket a bottle of stout and said the doctor had ordered him to drink some. He poured out some stout and drank it.. and Parker also had some. Brinkiey then asked for some water. and Par ker got glass from the kitchen, but whether Brinkley drank any of it wit ness could not say. as he was busy un- chaining the dog at the time. There was opportunity. however. during Par ker's absence from the room, for Brink ley to put poison into the bottle of stout, and this he is supposed to have done.
 A bargain was struck for the white bulldog, Brinkley paying pounds for it, and taking the animal away with him, but leaving the bottle of stout be- hind. Parker drank no more of the stout, but the Becks drained 1t. and the elders were found dead in bed next morning, while the two daughters were made very III, but recovered. On Park er's statement to the police, Brinkley was arrested, charged with the murder of Mir and Mrs. Beck. It was proved that Brinl1ley bought prussic acid the day before the tragedy and, as to the motive, it was contended that Parker was the only obstacle in the way Of establishing the validity of the will which Brinkley either forged or trick ed. Mrs. Blume into making.
 Brinkley took the unusual course in a murder case of going into the wit ness box, saying he had nothing to fear. He protested his innocence, but his weak statements under cross ex- animation made the case against him absolutely conclusive. When the yer dict of guilty was rendered by the jury, the prisoner listened to his sem tence to be hanged almost unmoved. The only indication of his emotions was when, glaneing around the crowded