The Potteries Examiner : — 1872-01-06 (Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England)

THE BRIGHTON POISONING CASE.  STRANGE CONDUCT OF THE PRISONER.  Christiana Edmund, charged with wilful murder in one case, and with three several attempts to commit the same grave crime, who has been in custody at Lewes Gaol, under remand from time to time, during the past four months, was removed under the provisions of a Bill known as "Palmer's Act," to Newgate, where, unless the case should be traversed, she will be tried at the next seesions of the Central Criminal Court. The prisoner had scarcely entered Newgate before rhe requested in somewhat peremptory terms to have an interview with the visiting magistrates, her avowed purpose being to protest against what she defined as the improper treatment to which the regulations of the metropolitan prison subjected her. She was understood to say that at Lewes she had been allowed to occupy an apartment with the matron of the county gaol.—hod been permitted to change her doses as often as she liked—to Wear her bonnet at chapel, &c., and she complained : warmly that the use of the velvet dresses and furs, suitable for the present season, which she had brought with her from Lewes to Nevagate, had been denied her. Mr. Jonas, the Governor, pointed out to the prisoner the impossibility of changing the regulations of the prison to suit the convenience of any individual, and earnestly advised her submission to the rules, assuring her at the same time that everything consistent with his duty should be done to secure her comfort. The Rev. Ordinary, Lloyd Jones, had also an early interview with the accused, who, in answer to his friendly ministrations, replied that she had been treated with great kindness by the chaplain of Lewes Gaol, and she thought it would be much better that in her case that gentleman should continue to attend upon her, and invited the rev, ordinary's assent to this arrangement. The Rev. Lloyd Jones, whilst assuring the prisoner that he would offer no obstacle to her seeing his reverend brother from Lewes, pointed out the difficulty of that gentleman giving up his other duties to attend any person in London, upon which the prisoner declared she had always been brought up as a lady, and that it Vaioo quite impossible she could, se required, submit to attend the chapel service without wearing a bonnet, A.°. As nothing appeared likely to satisfy the unhappy woman, the governor waited upon Alderman White, the visiting magistrate on the rota, who, in the course of the afternoon, went to Newgate, and had a long interview with the prisoner, who repeated her protests and complaints with great volubility and apparent earnestness. The worthy alderman with great feeling pointed out to the accused how desirable it was she should exhibit a somewhat more conciliatory manner, and conform to rules which could not possibly be framed to snit individuals ; but all the arguments addressed to the prisoner failed to create the smallest impression, and her last words to the alderman were that she supposed she must now appeal to the sheriffs. This will not avail her, as the sheriffs have nothing to do with the internal management of the City prisons. It is, however, hoped that under the care of the Governor and the Rev. Ordinary, the prisonerivill presentlybecomo more reconciled to the position to which her alleged criminality has reduced her. It is a remarkable circumstance that the accused was sent up from Lewes on Thursday in solo charge of a venerable warder of the Sussex county gaol, who travelled alone with her in the railway carriage throughout the journey. This is considered very extraordinary, as is ;deo the fact that theboxes and trunks which the prisoner brought from Lewes, and of which she complains she has been deprived, have been found to contain a knife and other articles of cutlery. The prisoner occupies a double cell, on the female side of the prison in association with an educated woman, in custody on a charge of bigamy.