The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1835-03-10 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

TWO CHILDREN AT BOLTON.  The town, but particularly Bolton Moor, has been in a state of great excitement since, Friday, owing to the prevalent rumours that. two 'children, who died suddenly in Commissionstreet, had been poisoned br their own father. An inquest was held on 'their bodies at the Three Arrows, on Monday, before W. S. Rutter, Esq., coroner, and a highly-respectable jury. The following is a sketch of the evidence given touching the mysterious and melancholy end of the poor children. Margaret Pincock, an old woman, stated that she resides in Commissionstreet, Bolton Moor. About seven o'clock on Sunday morning, the 22d February, witness was called upon by Orrell's uncle, and desired to go-and lay out the boy, who he said was dead. She went to Orrell's, and laid out the corpse. On the Tuesday following the child was buried at Deane church. On Thursday morning' last, witness was again sent for between one and two 'o'clock in• the mot ning, tolay out the girl, who had died, but she did net go until after six o'clock, when she found the dead child was placed-on the bed. Orrell said it had died of sicktiess and relaxation of the bowels. Witness laid out the second child. The witness also stated that the daughter was observed on the cellar steps, the day that her brother was buried, and she then looked very ill. Witness had no suspicion that anything was wrong, nor did she know of any information being given to the police. . • Christiana Seddon said that on Wednesday last she called to see Orrell, having discovered that his late wife was her cousin. The deceased -child, Elizabeth, was in bed, and was sick—she vomited much. • Orrell was taking tea out of a cup and saucer. Witness inquired after the other children, and he replied that two of them were with his mother, and the other two with his uncle David. Witness left the 'place, but called a third time; the child •was still vomiting, and very sick. It cried out for cold water, and Orrell said she should not drink so much cold water, as it would make her ill Witness asked him to fetch a doctor to the-child, but he answered that it was of no use, for-it would not-take good stuff, and therefore it was not likely that it would take -physic.. The child cried out frequently, "Oh, my • belly," and witness, at the request of the father, examined the 'child's belly, and he remarked that "it almost clung to its back." Richard Daly, Esq., boroughreeve of Great Bolton, stated that in consequence of information which he received, he went with Messrs. Flamers, Burrow. Rollinson, and Lee, tv Orrell's, but found the door locked. They waited till three o'clock, and 'then sent for a man to picl( the .lock.. On entering the cellar they found the corpse of the child laid out upon the beeL A. very particular search was made in the cellar, and Burrow die_: covered a small paper package. On opening it, Mr. Heap, surgeon, who accompanied witnesses, judged it to be arsenic. Mr. Heap then proceeded to open the body, and about twenty minutes to four o'clock Orrell entered the house, and witness 'then ordered Rollinson and Lee to take him into custody. John Burrow, deputy-constable of Great Bolton, corroborated the statement of Mr. Daly. • :I Mr, Joseph Lomax Heap, surgeon, deposed that on Friday last he saw the contents of the parcel which was found in Orrell's Cellar, and had since ascertained that it was arsenic. Witness on that day examined the body of the girl. In the stomach of the ,child he found arsenic, add found that portion of the intestines which communicate with the stomach highly.inflamed. The liver, lungs, and heart were in a healthy state; there was sufficient inflammation .to cause death. The contents.of the stomach had been tested. On Saturday examined the body of the boy. Found the same inflammatory marks as in the stomach of the girl, but not so violent. The inflammation was such as would be produced by taking arsenic. • At the close of the inquest the jury returned :the following verdict—" We find the prisoner, John Orrell, guilty of the wilful murder of his two children, William and Elizabeth Orrell." He is accordingly committed to LanCaster Castle, to take his trial for the offence.. .. • . • It was then unanimously resolved—That the thanks of the jury be given to Richard Daly, Esq., boroughreeve of Great Bolton, and the other officers of the town, for their great zeal and acs tivity in fully investieating all the circumstances connected with this inquest.—Jobu Lomax, foreman of the jury.