The Express. — 1850-03-20 (London, England)

JANES MERRITT. Suspicion fell upon the wife. It was enhanced by the fact that her husband was a member of a burial society, and that she received from the society Dome money towards his funeral expenses the morning following his death. But on the otter hand, it is established that the death of her husband would have done nothing to benefit Mrs. Muterrr's circumstances. Whilst he lived he was receiving 30s. a week wages. His wife, after his death, had co hope for herself and her three children but the workhouse, to which the orphans have since been consigned. Besides this, the meant of payment upon SIERRITT'S death was, on the 24th of January, 71. 100, whilst had he lived only to the 2nd of February, Mrs. MERRITT would have received 101. So the ease stands : a case of circumstantial evidence, resting upon the one main fast of the purchase by the wife of the poison which occasioned death. There is sot one fact established, and scarcely one suggested, which goes to the administration of the poison by the wife. Her defence is very simple. She had thrown the arsenic carelessly into the cupboard. In the same cupboard there were some soda powders which ter husband was in the habit of taking in the morning, under medical advice. She presumes he took the arsenic instead of one of these powders. The druggist acknowledged that they were both twisted up in the some sort of piper, and it is to be borne in lied that the morning must have been dark at halfpast seven on the 24th of January. The depositions taken before the committing msgistrate in this case were vague and insufficient. At the trial the case was opened by Mr. BODKIN very moderately, and with a view ratherto a verdict for manslaughter ttaa murder. The woman had no friends to defend her. A few hours only before trial the attention of the Sheriffs of Middlesex was called to her case, and copies of the depositions were humanely handed to Mr. Ci.sessoo. Such were the dinedoutages under which the case was tried. The foots we have narrated being proved, Dr. LETTIIIBT, of the London Hospital. was called to give evidence as to his analyse of the contents of the stomach. In the course of his examination he hazarded an opinion that the arsenic which occasioned death had not been in MEsaires stomach more than four hours at the utmost. This statement made a strong impression upon the mind of the Jude. When the examination in chief had concluded, Sir F. POLLOCK very closely interrogated Dr. LETHIEBT SS to his grounds for such opinion. "Are the data upon which you rest your opinion at all safer Quite safe," said Dr. LISTEIVIT, and he then went on to state why. According to his theory, bermes digestion is usually effected in a period under four boars, the arsenic taken more than four hours previous to the death alums Maos.rev would have from his stomach into his intestines, which it tiled not due. Ergo, the poison which occasioned death had been taken only four hours before death. Now, mark the consequenoes of this evidence. The fan was in bed from 5 o'clock to half-put 12, when he died. The arsenic was in a cupboard, In a room below. It follow., therefore, that it must have been administered to him, not taken kaM by him. And if administered to him, by whose but by We wife's? The learned judge took this view of the case, and charged the jury aemadiagly. Dr. LETIIIIIT, he said, has propounded the malt of sr:Usti& investigation into this subject. If he was to be believed, little doubt remained upon the ease; if, on the other hand, there was any question as to his evidesee, there was nothing against the prisoner but the suspicion attaching to bar purchase of the arsenic. The jury, relyiag spoil Dr. Lemma's evidence, found a verdict al guilty, accompanying it with a recommendation to muff on account of the prisoner's good character. See what a superstructure is erected upon the concision that the poison which maxims' death was administered only four hours before death occurred. This woman, in effect, bas been found guilty of a series et suaressive administrations of poison. Awned= Dr. Lunsav, she most have administered about sight in the evening—though there is net the slightest evidence that the damaged took anything whatever at that time. According to the min se up far the prosecutioa, she administered arsenic in the gruel which her husband drank at twelve o'clock,— though that gruel was mixed in the presence of the dsseased sad el his friend, with oatmeal which the