The Barrow Herald and Furness Advertiser. — 1883-10-20 (Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England)

THE WHOLESALE POISONING IN LIVERPOOL.  ARREST OF THE WO WAN FLANNAGAN. The woman Catherine Flannagau, who for the last week or ten days so skilfully eluded the vigilance of the Liverpool police, by whom she was "wanted" on suspicion of having caused the death of ['homes Higgins by administering arsenic, was captured on Monday afternoon by the Watertree police. Inspector Keighley, of the county police, whilst on duty in the police station, Wavertree, on Monday afternoon received information that tosee is woman winking in the Station note), Wellington-road; that she was spending money freely: that she was telling people that a warrant was ou; against her for stealing her son's furniture, and that in consequence she meant to go to Blackburn at night by tram to get out of the way. The inspector, having heard this, and not expecting anything extraordinary to accrue, went to the public-house above-named. There he found that the woman had gone to 35, Ono-street, which is close to. No. 35 is occupied by Mr. and Mrs. McGovern, who are of Irish nationality ; and, upon visiting the place, the police found these people at dinner, with the woman who presumably had been in the Station Hotel. The inspector at once asked the stranger how long she had been in the house, and she replied since half-past nine that morning. After speaking to her a few minutes he inquired as to hr name and destination, and she answered that she was named Clifford, that she had come from Blackburn the preceding day, and that she was going to return to that town by train in a few hours' time. The inspector then said, "Where did you stay last night ?" and the woman replied, "I stayed with Mrs. Booth, 3, Mount Vernon-street, Liverpool." Having a handbill in Ibis possession relating to the woman Fiannagae, Inspector Keigbley's suspicions were aroused upon noticing that the appearance of the woman before him tallied with the description of Ylaunagan, and he was • prompted to ask, "Is your name Flanuagau?" The woman retorted quite coolly, and in not the slightest way zonfused, "No, it is not my name." The iuspecI tor then took a closer survey of her, and observed that even her wearing apparel was similar to that which Flannagan was described as wearing, with the exception that instead of a black shawl she wore one of a black and white pattern. Going up to her, he said he would take her into custody as Catherine Flannagan wanted on suspicion of murder. She replied, •• I know nothing about it," still retaining her self -pos. sessicm 1 . he inspector then took her into custody, and on the way tothe station his prisoner acknowledged her identity. Mrs. Flannagan and her sister, Mrs. Higgins, were on Wednesday charged, before the Liverpool stipendiary, with poisoning the husband of the last-named prisoner. Mr. Marks in stating the case for the prosocution, gave official utterance to the particulars as to the supposed murder of Higgins, which have already appeared in our columns, and also related two incishmts of a very suggestive character. On the night before Higgins died two women were sitting up with lain along with Mrs. Flanuagan, and in the course of the evening Higgins asked for a uriuk. Flaiiiiagau then took a mug containing liquid, poured some of this in o a tablespoon, and offereu Higgins a drink out of the spoou. But he struggled against taking the drink, mid Mrs. Flannagan then poured the contents of the spoon into the mug, and threw the whole of the liquid into the tire. Shortly afterwards, Mrs. Flannagan appearing to be dosing, Higgins again asked for a drink. and the woman gave hurl some water, shortly after taking which he died. The case was remanded until Tuesday next.  The police' are in the meantime actively pursuing their investigations into the dreadful case, and are making wide and careful enquiries as to the various persons whose lives Mrs Flaimagan is said to have insured, and we understand that the names of six persons, irrespective of Higgins, have been ascertained, who, after being entered by the accused in various friendly societiis and burial clubs, became ill with vomiting and purging, and shortly afterwards died; ainsi driongst these half-dozen names are the names or the young daughter of Thomas Higgins and Catherine Jennings, who, with her father, lodged with Mrs. Flannagan at the beginning of the present year.