The Sun. — 1833-09-24 (London, England)

CIRCUIT COURT OF JUSTICIARY.  PERTH, SEPT. 16.—ADMINISTERING drew Williamson, labourer, was indicted on the 10th Geo. IV. C. 38, for having, on the Ist July, felouioudy. compounded with some sugar a quantity of arsenic, which. was administered among tea to Margaret Mintosh or Williamson, his wife, Willadmina Young, his grand.. 'laughter, and Hubert But•ercase, all and each cf whom were rendered more or less ill in consequence; or otherwise, the poisonous substance was administered to the above persons, with intent to murder, or do them some gi ievous harm. The prisoner pleaded—Not Guilty. The facts of the case are shortly these :—Tire panel, oldan man of 60 years of age, married Margaret M.lntosh, also well advanced in life, and mother of two sons by a former marriage, who hid reached manhood. The p Ind and his wife, who had been married about three years, appeared to live on most disagreeable terms. On the last Friday of June, a quarrel took place between them, which continued till Monday morning, in the course of which the panel struck his wife and bruised her severely. She got up and went out to milk the cow, but feeling ill, returned to bed. The panel having taken brose to breakfast, which was rather unusual, offred her tea—made it, and on her refusal to partake of it, lie got in a passion, and threw the tea into the ash-pit. This circumstance, however, di I not excite any suspicion in the woman's mind, and he went out of the house, followed by his wife, who went to a neighbour's house. The panel returned, and was observed by a grand-child go to a press, and remark that there was no sugar in the bowl. He took some from ab g, and stirred it in the bowl with a spoon, and then put some more sugar on the top, and the spoon above all. He was observed to have a small paper parcel in his hand on going to the press, and to have it in his hand on leaving the press, but he was not seen to take anything from it, and had he done so, the girl, thought she would have observed it. He left home that night, stating that he was going to take another house for himself, because lie could not live with his wife, who returned late in the evening, attended by her sons of a former marriage, each of whom came armed with a gun. Next morning the wife partook of tea as usual, old one of her sons and the grandchild had one cup each, and they were soon after affected, with the exception of the girl, with griping pains. The wife took tea again in the evening, and was again affected in a similar manner. Suspecting something wrong with the sugar, she took it to St.Andrews,where it was analyzed by Professor Briggs,who found it to contain a portion oldie white oxide of arsenic,and Dr. Green of Cupar also made an analysis, and obtained a similar result. The panel, who had not absconded, was apprehended, and admitted having arsenic in the house, which be had purchased to destroy rats, of which there were some in the house. He also said, that if there was any of it found among the sugar, the poison must have been placed there by his wife to inculpate him. He likewise mentioned where a portion of the arsenic would be found, and where it was found accordingly. The Jury unanimously found the panel guilty of the crime libelled.