The Sun. — 1859-05-26 (London, England)

MYSTERIOUS DEATH FROM POISON.  Last evening Mr. Wakley, the coroner, and a jury, resumed an adjourned inquiry at the Golden Lion public-house, High-street, Fulham, touching the death of Mr. Charles Edward/ White, aged seventy years, the proprietor of the extensive pottery works in Fulham, who was found dead in his counting-house, on Saturday, the 14th inst., under the following singular circumstances : From the evidence taken on the -first occasion, it appeared that the deceased was one of the oldest inhabitants of Fulham, he having been born in that place, and his father had carried on the business before him. For some time past he had been very low and desponding, arising from his connection with a young woman with whom he had been cohabiting during the last eight months. The last time he was seen in her company was on the Friday night before his death, and then she was at the works, where some high words passed between them. He was seen about the premises on the following day, and as late as at half-past five o'clock. At six o'clock his men were waiting to be paid, and upon his foreman going to the counting-house he found the door locked on the inside. Upon looking through the window he saw the deceased sitting in a chair apparently in an insensible state. The door was broken open, and a strong smell was experienced. The unfortunate deceased was quite dead, and he appeared to have vomited. Mr. Gillingham, a surgeon, was called in, and afterwards made a post mortem examination of the body, but was unable to discover any cause of death. The foreman also asserted that he discovered neither bottle nor paper in the counting-house, and the deceased's sister in her evidence stated that she had not the remotest idea of his having poisoned himself. The supposition was that he died from a. fainting fit, but the jury were not satisfied, and resolved upon the inquiry being adjourned for the analysis of the stomach.  Mr. Gillingham now stated that Dr. Richardson had made the analysis, and attributed death to corrosive sublimate, which he said he found in large quantities.  - William Roulton, the foreman, here stepped forward, and said he wished to mention two circumstances which he omitted to state on the last occasion. One was that the last time the deceased was seen in the counting house there was a wineglass in the window, but when the door was broken open it was found in the usual place. On the Sunday morning he found a piece of paper in the stove, upon which was written the words " strong poison.'_ •  The Coroner asked the witness the reason he did not mention these circumstances on the last occasion, as he distinctly said he found no paper. The witness said it was because he did not like to hurt the feelings of Miss White by mentioning them in her presence. If she had not been present he would have stated them.  The Coroner said it was a pity he did not mention them, as it might ,have prevented the jury from important evidence, that day. He had given very evidence, as it released any person from the imputation of murder. He then asked the witness for the paper he found. The witness said he handed it over to Miss White.  The Coroner then requested him to obtain it from that lady. While the witness was gone, the coroner observed that if this was a suicide, it would make the sixth he had held since Monday—three on Tuesday and three that day. It was extraordinary the number of suicides that took place in the neighbourhood of London, and it was really thought nothing of. They happened more frequently in the hot months, and it was an error to suppose that they chiefly took place in November. The witness here returned, and handed the coroner some paper; but he and the jury were unable to discover the words.  The Foreman said the piece of paper was scorched, and when he picked it up it came into two pieces. However, when he put them together he could distinctly read the words " strong poison." Some of the jury examined the paper more minutely, and said they could distinguish the letters " S" and " n."  Mr. Gillingham said the deceased was in the habit of dosing himself with medicine, and might have taken the poison by mistake. The Foreman said he had seen packets marked poison" in the counting house. A gentleman present said the deceased had been brought up a chemist. The Foreman said the deceased always attended to the fancy part of the work, and he did not know whether he used poisons in glazing. A Juror said the deceased stood very high in the business as a glazed body-pipe manufacturer. After some conversation, 'The jury returned an open verdict tllatthteherdeeceased died from poison, but how administered was no evidence to show.