The Cannock Chase Examiner. — 1876-05-05 (Cannock, Staffordshire, England)

EXTRAORDINARY CHARGE OF CONSPIRACY TO MURDER. The investigation of a very remaikable charge of conspiracy to murder has been continued at the Bow street Police-court, before Mr. Vaughan, the Treasury having undertaken the prosecution. The accused persons are a medical student, twenty-four .years of age, named William Kimpton Vallee, and a married I woman, thirty years of age, named Helen Sne- A letter signed with Vanees initials, and subsequently proved to be in his handwriting, was opened at the Dead Letter Office, in consequence of its not having been claimed at the Junction road . post-office, Kentish Town, to which it bad been addressed. The letter contained what was prnoticell, an offer of a sufficient quantity of chloral to cause death, and certain advice which, if followed, the writer said, would lead to the verdiot of the coroner's jury being "Death from misadventure." Vance was dieeovered and arrested, when he handed to the police a letter which he had received and which had cellist forth his own note. This letter, signed "M. q.," was a very remarkable one. It stated that the writer, whoever he might be, desired to die in order to benefit by his death some poison not named. He wrote:—" I make no question you could be service to sue. The question is, will you ? The solatiurn I offer is .ilOO ;.the conditions these-, .  , lam tired of ray life. I could do a great deal of good to a person I am interested in by leaving the world just now, and, one way or the other, I am resolved to do so ; but, if possible, I should prefer not to wound the feelings of the person who will gain moat by icy death, by allowing it to be supposed voluntary. Besides, the most merciful verdict of a coroner's jury would be sufficient to invalidate my will. Now, although I have someacquaintanoewithmedioineandchemistry,l know of no drug or combination of drugs whieh would do this for me without risk of discovery. It is possible you may. It is not absolutely essential that the supposed means should be painless or even very quick in their results. If some artery could be hurt with any plausible appearance of accident, assistance summoned too late, &c., I am willing to allow time for experiment,, and have no objection to a personal interview. I will give any assurance of bone-fides that may be thought necessary." The prisoner Snee admitted, when arrested, that she had put the following advert lawn. tt n the London Daily Telegraph:—"To medical men in need of money, or to students well up in chemistry and anatomy. A gentleman engaged in an interesting experiment is willing to give liberal remuneration for professional assistance." The prisouer Vance, it appears, answered that advertisement, the letter given above was Mrs. Snee's reply to him, suid the one that was not claimed at the post-office was in answer to this reply of hers. The woman Snee told the pollee that she wanted the drags herself, and had no intention to murder anybody. An important fact Is the case was that this woman had sent a post-office order for tin; guineas to Vance. Mr. Poland said that since the last occasion, eta the Saturday, the day after the hearing, a gentleman in a brougham called at a postoffice at 149, Kentish Town road, and asked for some letters addressed "M. V." There were three letters so addressed, but the postmaster very properly refused tq give them up, and communicated with the police. It was suspected that " M. V." referred to the 14. Vain*, end so the Seeretary of State's warrant was obtained to have diem opened. They were opened on April 27, and proved to be of great importance in this ease. Mr. Poland then proceeded to read them. Two of these documents were as follow:— Envelope addressed, "To be calked for, M.V., 149, Kentish Town Road, Post Office,