The Sun. — 1837-03-28 (London, England)

CROWN COURT.  William Cookson was indicted for administering arsenic to  his wife, Mary Cookson, with intent to murder her. Cookson had for some time previous to the day on which this offence was alleged to have been committed been upon ill terms with his wife, and was then separated from her. They both lived in Preston, she residing at a house where the prisoner had formerly lived with her, and with which he was well acquainted. Her two children, one eleven and the other five years of age, lived with her, and an old man of the name of Brown lodged there. On -Saturday, the 21st of January, prisoner and his wife met at her house, but again parted on ill. terms. The next day he called on a person of the name of Dewhurst, with whom he was acquainted, and asked him to go as a voucher for him to the chemist's shop, as he wanted some arsenic to make a solution, for the purpose of curing the itch. At the chemist's he alleged the same reason for wanting it, and finally obtained an ounce of white arsenic. It was properly labelled and marked." poison." Dewhurst went with him to the Item's Head public-house, where they had a little ale, and where Dewhurst left the prisoner about three o'clock. Some little time after he called on a woman of the name of Whewell, with whom he was acquainted in Preston. He seemed very moody, and spoke little. What conversation lie bad, related to his wife. At last he made use of the followir'r expressions :—" What will be the end of all this? I don't know, but I fear something serious. To think of two children to be left desolate ! I wonder if they will hang us both at the same place." Mrs. Whewell told him it was nonsense to talk in that way, and rallied him upon his despondency. He still seemed very gloomy, and shortly after left the house. A little after seven o'clock he was in a spirit vault kept by a person of the name of Parker at Preston, and he then seemed very much agitated. He asked for some peppermint. On receiving it he drank the health of one of the young women at the bar. She replied " The same to you." " Nay, nay," said the prisoner, " there's neither health nor happiness for me in this world ; it's a done job." Some time after, between seven and eight o'clock, a woman who resided next door to the prisoner's wife, saw the prisoner come to the front door, and try the " sncck." He went in, and closed the door after him. She did not see him come out. A little after eight o'clock, Mary Cookson, who had been absent during the day, returned home. The next morning she rose about eight o'clock, and proceeded to make tea for her breakfast ; the first cup she took seemed to have a very peculiar taste, and before taking a second, she perceived a burning sensation in her mouth, throat, and stomach. On pouring a little of the liquor into a bason it appeared whitish, and she then also periceived a white powder among the -leaves, the inside of the  to at.at being also covered rids a similar substance. She shortly afterwards b-eame very sick, and vomiting, was prPituced. Becoming alarmed, she poured all the liquor abf: the tra.kaves, and took it across the street to the shop aof a cheaust aml dru7ist, who, from the symptoms sire described, suspected the presence of arsenic, and took rnea• sures to counteract its effects. She remained very however, for a week. On the tea loaves being analysed„ arsenic was found in large quantities. There could not he less than would suffice to poison twenty indtvld'aals. Arsenlc was also found in the oatmeal in ttm house.  On being apprehended, the prisoner professed to be totally ignorant, of the cause of his apprehension. While he was being taken to the police-office, the constable observed Lim take his hand out of his pocket with something in it. It was a piece of paper wrapped in 0 piece of cotton, which contained a soft white paste. This also proved to be arsenic. Verdict—Guilty. Sentence was deferred.  Pete. Daly was indicted for wilfully' settin4 fire to a stack of hay, the property of Whittle Fallows Whittle, at Charnock Richard, in October lan.  --The Jury, after hearing evidence, returned a verdict of Not Guilty.