The Sun. — 1865-09-12 (London, England)

APPREHENSION OF HER LOVER.  The city of Salisbury was thrown into a state of considerable excitement en Wednesday morning last by a rumour, which was subsequently found to be true, that Miss Emily Sophia Blake, only daughter of Mr. T. J. Blake, surgeon, of Castle-street, had died during the night from the effects of poison. The young lady was only 19 years of age, and of an exceedingly attractive person, and her death occurred under somewhat unusual and mysterious circumstances. Late on Tuesday night Mr. and Mrs. Blake wore alarmed by hearing loud cries from Miss Blake's bedroom, and on proceeding thither found her in great agony, screaming loudly, while her body was in a state of rigidity, and exhibiting symptoms of the presence in the system of strychnine. Her parents questioned her as to whether she had taken anything likely to cause illness, but could not obtain a satisfactory answer. They immediately sent for Dr. Roberts and Mr. W. M. Coates, who shortly afterwards arrived, and applied all the usual remedies in a case of this nature. On being questioned whether she had taken any medicine, she denied that she had done so ; but she was afterwards privately questioned by Dr. Robertson, who told her she was dying, when she admitted that she had taken three pills. Dr. Roberts asked her who gave her the pills, and she replied, " They were given to me by Mr. Storer, who said they wero to keep me well." [Mr. Storer was the late assistant to Mr. Blake.] Dr. Roberts asked her if any of them were left, and she replied, " There's a box in the dressing-table drawer." The box of pills was found, and on being asked if that was the box from which she had taken the pills, she said it was. Shortly after this she fell into convulsions and died.  On Wednesday, at 1 o'clock, an inquest was held at the Council-house, before Mr. R. M. Wilson, coroner, when the jury, having been sworn, proceeded to view the body, and the inquest was adjourned until nine o'clock on Tuesday (this day), for the purpose of having a post-mortem examination.  On Wednesday evening Dr. Roberts, Mr. W. M. Coates, and Dr. H. P. Blackmore made a post-mortem examination.o of the body, when they found the principal organs in a healthy state, while the symptoms which appeared to have occasioned death, were such as would result from poisoning by strychnine. The stomach and its contents were accordingly sealed up, and, together with the pills found in the box, forwarded to Professor Taylor for analysis. The postmortem examination revealed the fact that the young lady was not in the family-way. It is evident from all the circumstances that Miss Blake was not in such a state of mind as to induce the belief that she took the pills with any intention of committing suicide, as she had written a letter to one of her aunts respecting a journey to London, and she was in very good spirits a short time before her death. She was out for a walk on the Tuesday evening, and was met by various persons, who observed nothing unusual in her appearance. She also had a romp in the kitchen with the servants before she went to bed.  Mr. Storer, the person who, according to Miss Blake's statement gave her the pills, was for some time an assistant to Mr. Blake. It is stated that he proposed to marry her, but his suit was rejected by her father, and his conduct not being satisfactory, he was dismissed. He left Salisbury for Falmouth about three weeks ago. After he was gone Mrs. Blake received a telegram from his sister, stating that he was very ill, and was in a desperate state of mind respecting the young lady. It is said that Mr. Blake had no strychnine in his surgery ; and thus, if the pills which occasioned Miss Blake's death were prepared for her by Mr. Storer, the poison must have been procured out of the house, and must have been purchased for the purpose. The following are some additional facts respecting Mr. Storer :—About two years since he entered the employ of Mr. Read, chemist and druggist, Salisbury, when he remained as assistant for about six months. Previously to his engagement at Mr. Read's, Mr. Storer was employed by Mr. Stone, chemist, of Marlborough. While in Mr. Read's employment he conducted himself with great propriety. He left Mr. Bead's, and was for some time an assistant in a chemist's chop at Cheltenham. He subsequently-returned to Salisbury, representing himself as a duly qualified medical practitioner, and was engaged by Mr. Blake as his assistant, with whom ho remained until a few weeks ago. A warrant for the apprehension of Mr. Storer was issued on Wednesday, and it was entrusted to Superintendent Caldow, who started for Falmouth on Thursday evening, in order to effect his capture. On Friday a telegram was received announcing that Storer had been apprehended. He was expected to arrive in Salisbury on Saturday afternoon. —Salisbury/ and Winchester Journal.