Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1858-10-09 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

POISON.—A few days ago, an inquest was concluded by Mr Lovegrove, corner for Gloucestershire, on the body of Thomas Tay'or, a railway labourer, who died under circumstances raising a strong suspicion that he had been poi:wiled, and that his wife and brother were concerned in his ilea h. The deceased had one child by his wife, aged about four years, and an illegitimate child, aged seven years, also lived with them. About six months since the deceased's brother, Charles Taylor, a returned convict, came home, and went to res.de in the same cottage. The deceased and his wife had fir quern quarrels about the illegitimate child, and since the brother's return they bad lived more unhappily titan before, the brother taking the part of th • wife. It was shown from the evidence of various witnes-es that the wife had expressed a s rong partiality for Charles Taylor, and her wish that her husband was stiff and dead, and that about a week before his death the deceased, who was previously in sound health, was seized with violent pains in his stomach, which continued at intervals until the even tug of the 4th tilt , when death ensued. After death the house was searched, and remains of poison found, and the brother, Charles Ta.Hor, has absconded. On the conclusion of the evidence the jury returned a verdict of • wilful mordr' against Ann Taylor end Charles Taylor. The woman was forthwith committed for trial, and a warrant was issued for the apprehension of Charles Taylor. TIIE SINGULAR Casa OP ATTEMPTED Sumins.—At the Mansion House, on Saturday, Frances Johnson, aged 18, a respectable young woman, the daughter of Mr Robert Johnson, cutler, who was charged on Monday last with attempting to commit suicide, by throwing herself from London Bridge, was again brs ught before the Lord Mayor, and exc ted deep interest. It will probably be remembered that the young woman attributed her attempt to the conduct of her father (her mother bt Mg dead), arihing from her distress of mind frem his telling her to go on the streets for her living. The Lord Mayor on the previous occasion had sent a message to the father requesting his atmndance, but as lie refused to do so unless summoned, the Lord Mayor directed the unfortunate young woman's temova to the infirmary of the City of Lyndon Union ; and as she then became chargeable to her father's parish, St. Beret's, Gracechurch-street, on an application front Mr Alibis, the churchwarden, a summons was obtained against Mr Johnson (a respectable wrey-beaded locking man) who now appeared to answer to the sumnious.—Miss Johnson was examined, and repeated her former statement. In answer to the Lord Mayor, she declare! she bad made no mistake in saying th it her father told her to go on the streets for a living.—Mr Sleigh said it was the n.ost painful inve ligation id which he had ever been concerned ; he had spoken to the defendant, who was willing to make an arrangement to hupport the witness for the future.—The Lord Mayor said the question was ore beyond that of maintenance, an idea which the British public, after the father's conduct, would entirely discard, and maintain the children themselves. (Applause.) The question was whether the defendant, by his brutal and inhuman conduct, had driven his daughter to attempt her own life. Another daughter of the defendant was examined, and combated her sister's evi ence. Johnson then pretended to be in a fit, and was carr ed out of court. On his return, after some very strong comments on the conduct of the defendant, the Lord Mayor said he could not conscientiously do otherwise than exercise the power with which Ile was invested by the vagrant act, and that was to infliA the utmost punishment possible under that act. He should therefore commit the de endant to one month s imprisonment, with hard labour. The decision weir rteeived with loud applause ill the court, and the defendant was removed in the van to Holloway prison.