Widnes Examiner. — 1892-10-22 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

LAMBETH POISONING CASES.  THE TRIAL OF NEILL.  The Central Criminal Court was crowded on Monday, when Thomas Neill, 38, was indicted before Mr. Justice Hawkins for the wilful murder of the girls Donworth, Shrivell, Marsh, and Clover ; also for attempting to murder Louisa Harris, and for sending blackmailing letters to Drs. Harper and Broadbent. The AttorneyGeneral prosecuted, and Mr. Geoghegan defended the prisoner, who is an intelligent-looking man, and who appeared self-possessed, scrutinized the jury as they were sworn, and pleaded not guilty. From the opening statement of Sir Charles Russel, it appeared that prisoner who was English by birth, obtained a medical qualification in America, and came to England in October, 1891. He met at a music hall Eliza May, an unfortunate, and afterwards wrote to her making an appointment. • May and another girl named Masters met prisoner in Lambert Palace-road with Matilda Clover, one of the girls subsequently poisoned, and they went in Clover's house. Clover let prisoner out, and afterwards left, returning at five o'clock next morning. Later she was found in great agony, and died four hours afterwards. Prisoner wrote to Dr. Broadbent, of St. Thomas' Hospital land to Dr. Harper, father of a student there, endeavouring to extort money from him. He also wrote to Mr. F. I Smith, sen of the late Mr. W. H. Smith, respecting I another of the poisoned girls, demanding money to suppress evidence. Elizabeth Matthews positively identified prisoner as the man whom she saw with Clover. Dr. Broadbent produced the letter received, from prisoner, and the case was adjourned. On Tuesday, John George Kirby, chemist's assistant, proved that at the beginning of October the prisoner purchased from him Dux vornica, which was scheduled as poison, capsules, and opium. Lucy Rose, servant. 27, Lambeth-road, said that in October last she admitted Clover and a broadly-built gentleman in the evening. Dr. Stevenson, Government analyst, proved finding strychnine in Clover's body after exhumation. Evidence was afterwards called as to the receipt of several letters accusing innocent persons of poisoning women. On Wednesday, the witness Haynes, to whom the prisoner is alleged to have made certain remarkable communications, admitted that throughout the case he had been employed by the police as their agent for obtaining information. Amongst other witnesses called were Miss Sabatini, who was at one time engaged to Neill; and " Loo " Harvey, whose ready wit in throwing away two "long pills" or capsules given her by the prisoner while she pretended to swallow them, possibly stood her in good stead at the time. The case was again adjourned. On Thursday the court was crowded. Many ladies attended, an early arrival being Miss Sabatini, the prisoner's late sweetheart. Dr. Stevenson, Government analyst, said he discovered strychnine in the contents of the stomachs of the girls Marsh and Shrivel!, and attributed their deaths to that poison. Mr. Geogeghan, with the concurrence of the judge and the prosecution, submitted a written question to the witness, explaining that he did so in the interests of public morals, not from consideration for those present. Detective Ward deposed to seeing the prisoner with a loose woman in Westminister Bridge-road, on May 12th. She had since been missing from her customery haunts ; but it was not suggested that the prisoner was responsible for her absence. After further evidence the prosecution closed. Mr. Geoghegan opened the address for the defence, stating that no witnesses would be called. Mr. Geoghegan contended that the evidence did not clearly establish either that Glover died by strychnine, or that the prisoner poisoned her. He submitted that unless absolutely satisfied on these points the jury must acquit the accused. The Attorney General then commenced his reply for the Crown.