The Warwickshire Herald. — 1888-08-02 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

EFORE THE MAGISTRATES.  William Barber, the chemist's assistant, who is sup. posed to be concerned in the strange death of Mrs. French. at Walthamstow, was arrested by the police just after he had left Hancock's coffee-house at Brent ford on Saturday morning. He was dejected, and miserable in appearance. At the police-atation he adini ted his identity, and ilesides handing over to the inswetor on duty a written statement relative to the mystery, he made a verbal statement, to the effect that he did not administer the drug to Mrs. F. ench, hut that while he was serving a customer in the shop she took a lose out of a bottle to allay her toothache. He added: '• Ido not think she meant to poison herself—she did tilt seem to he a woman who would do so. We were great friends, but there was nothing improper between us. I tried to restore her, but failed, and I ran away in the excitement of the moment. I did not exactly know what I was doing." Before leaving Brentford, Barber was si ached, and MI him was found 2 ,d. in bronze, a pawn ticket whiting to his waistcoat, and a bottle of prassic acid. It is presumed from this that Barber ntemphtird suicide, and that he had intended his written statement to be found on his body when he was discovered dead,  - At Stratford petty sessions, on neiday, Barber was charged on suspicion of ha,•ing caused the death of A Mary French by administering to her a n ,xious drug. The court, which was opened at 10 ~.cl.ick,was crowded long before that hour. There was a full bench of magistrates, Captain Kinder*ley being in the chair. The accused was placed in the dock, and when the clerk read the charge he sobbed cdilily. The husband of Mrs. French was pre.t. Mr. T. Bore represented the accused. :retire-inspector Gla,se informed the bench that be iff,-r only sufficient eudence to support a remand until Saturday. Frederick Phayle was examined and said: I am an errand boy in the service of Mr. Hamilton, who is a chemist at Walthamstow. 1 have been employed there for two years. No one but myself and the prisoner were employed in the shop. 1 sometimes saw Mrs. French, the deceased woman, go into the shop. She used to come twice a day, generally about 11 tinock. It was duriiig. the last nine months that have seen the deceased call. She came as a customer, and when she arrived the prisoner used to seed me out. He always did so when Mrs. French c ilcil, but not when other customers came. The deceased and prisoner son.etimes sat down in the parlour. 1 neier saw the prisoner take any liberties with Mrs. French. The last time 1 saw the deceased was Saturday neck. It was a quarter past in the afternoon. She had been there the same morning; but I don't k • how long she stayed on that occasion. That day I was sent with a note for the deceased, given me by the prisoner. and I was to go for his din* per at the same time. The pi isoner instructed me to give the note to Mrs. French,but not if Mr. French was ill kitehen.l found Mr. French in the kitchen, and 1 did not deliver the note. Tie note was sealed in an envelope, but there was no name or address. I p p lac,ll it in my ock m et, brieht it liaek, and gave it to the prisoner, telling him that Mr. French was in the kitchen. The prismer then said I was to keep it hell-k. and he sent me to my dinner. On my return to minutes to 3 o'clock, the prisoner again sent me wit!) the note and gave me similar instructions to those given earlier in the day. I say/ the deceased the second time : she was lilone in the back kitchen of the house. I gave her a plate which I had 11,1 ought back from the prisoner; I also gave her the note. I asked," Is there anything to go back." Deceased said, "Tell him, yes " I returned and gave prisoner the answer. He said, "That's all right," and then sent me for a shillingsworth of brandy. As I was going for it I saw deceased enter the shop. This was about a quarter past 3. When I caine back the fr..nt door was closed. I do wot know whet%er it was locked. I knocked at the sid—Ooor. The prisoner told me to do so whenever I fetched beer. When I knocked on the present occasion the prisoner opened the skit-door. He seemed rather dull and strange. . I had observed the 'prisoner's dulness and strangeness during the whole day. I had fetched liquor for him earlier in the day. After delivering the brandy I was sent home. I returned in the evening. The front door was then fastened. I scaled the back wall and went into the room where I found the deceased on the couch. Her dress was unbuttoned at the top. Besides her cape and umbrella, I saw a bowl of water with a cotton handkerchief in it, a syphon of soda-water half-fu m half-full, a tumbler, and a bottle in which I had brought the brandy. John James Patchett, aged 9 years. the son of W. J. Patchett, butcher, deposed : Last Saturday week, at 5 in the afternoon, I saw the prisoner at his shop door. I saw him go some distance, as far as Mr. Fa