The Blandford and Wimbourne Telegram. — 1886-02-26 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

THE WARMINSTER POISONING CASE.  lb The charge of wife murder against Edward Pearce, of Wet minster, was gone into again on Settle(lty at the Town lb all, before the Rev. G. F. S. Powell, Mr. G. L. Lopes, and Captain lleltiie. Mr. Cobb, of Selisbury' again prosecuted, and Mr. butter, Shaftesbury, deferided. k number of witnessee were called, who spoke to the manner of the deeeas.el, and the complaints she bad made to them about the tea 'rid food which she had at limy; making 11-r ill. The agent of the Prudential Assurance Comp Any stated that the deceased insured her life for fourteen guineas a couple of years before she was married. For the last four or five months she had ceased the payments, and they were made at irregular periods by prisoner's m 'tiler, who lived with them. Fourpenee was paid a few days before deceased died, but as there were arrears of fifteen weeks, the policy had virtually lapsed, only nine weeks' arrears being allowed by the company. The deceased died on Saturday night, and on the Monday morning. prisoner called on witness and asked if he would be paid the money. For the defence Mr. Rutter dwelt on the fact that there was not a single piece of direct evidence. It was eetirely snppositious, and not of such a character as the Bench w.odd be justified in sending the prisoner for trial uyin. Because he had the handling of poisons at his ratster's shop, that in no way proved that he poisoned his wife. The whole case was surrounded in mystery, and the inquiries of the police had in no way elucidated it. The Bench intimated that they intended s naling the prisoner for trial, and the proceedings were adjourned till Monday to enable Mr. Rutter to tall half a-dozen witnesses. COMMITTAL OF THE Pimal. en. At Warminster on Monday, Edwin Burt Pearce was charged on remand with the murder of his wife, by poisoning her with strychnine and arsenic, on 30th January. Mr. Cobb, Salisbury, prosecuted on behalf o' the Treasury, and Mr. .1. K. Rutter, Shaftesbury, 'Vended. Half a dozen witnesses were c died for the defenee, with a view of showing that deceased had been tampering with herself for the purpose of procuring abortion, and that her death was this result of misadventure. The witnesses stated that the deceased told them that she know " what to take " that there were white powders and other things—that she knew better than to have children, and that she had not lived at a chemist's without knowing what to take and what to do." An old woman name.l Whatley was called, and questioned as to whether pregnant girls had not been in the habit of consulting lye.. This she denied, and gravely stated that she had had 13 children, and her eldest daughter 12. She admitted having a white powder in the house for the purpose of worms, but could not tell the name of it. It might be calomel. She did not remember having seen the deceased. F. Cans, postman, said he had very frequently delivered letters, bearing the London post-mark, to the deceased, who would isfteu meet him 200 yards away from her home to receive them. Her husband (the prisoner) had asked witness to give the letters to him, as he believed there VMS some "hokey-pokey " work going on between his wife and others. The Bench committed the prisoner for trial on the capital charge. Thmughout the proceedings he bore himself with a very light demeanour, and often joined heartily in the merriment caused by the drollery of some of the witnesses.  The Mansion Rowe Fund for the relief of the unemployed in London on Monday amounted to £GO,