The Pontypridd District Herald and Rhondda Valley, Llantrisant, Caerphilly, and Mountain Ash News. — 1891-02-21 (Pontypridd, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

TRIAL FOR WIFE POISONING.  In the High Court of Justiciary, Edinburgh, on Tuesday, John Webster, innkeeper, Kirriemuir, near Dundee, was placed on trial before the Lord Justice Clerk and a jury, on a °barge of poisoning his wife. An extraordinary interest has from the first been taken in the case, and this interest Was intensified by the suicide of the principal Crown witness some weeks ago, on the eve of Webster's trial, which had to be postponed in consequence. Long before the hour fixed for the commencement of the trial on Tuesday morning the court room was crowded, a large number of those present being ladies. The prisoner, who is a respectable-looking man, replied that he was not guilty of the charge that between the 28th July and sth August, 1890, in the Newtown Hotel, South Muir of Kirriemuir, Forfarshire, then occupied by him, he administered poison to his wife, Mary Webster, and thereby murdered her.— Helen Rose Grant, who had been a servant in the I hotel, was the first witness. She said that Mrs. Webster first fell ill on Friday, the let of August. She twice vomited that day. On the Saturday Mrs. Webster continued very ill, vomiting frequently, and being unable to retain any food in her stomach. On Sunday the prisoner said his wife Was not very right, but she would not hear of a doctor. He, however, sent for Dr. Clark on Sunday evening. Mrs. Webster vomited every hour on Sunday, and gradually got worse till she died on the Tuesday. During the deceased's illness only the prisoner, his daughter Lizzie, and witness were in her bedroom.—David Peacock, brother of the late James Peacock, barman at the hotel, stated that his brother committed suicide by drowning on the day before the 14th of January, the day previously fixed for Webster's trial.—Frederick Johnston, law clerk, Kirriemuir, said he was in Newtown Hotel on:the 11th of January, when Peacock asked him what would happen if he made a different statement at the tiial from that which he had already made to the criminal anthorities. He explained that he remembered seeing Mrs. Webster vomiting, while he had stated to the authorities that he had never done so. Webster, he stated, did not look out of his usual when his wife died.—Lizzie Webster, whose appearance in the witness-box greatly atected the prisoner, said that during her mother's illness she did not carry to her any food.—Dr. Clark stated that Mrs. Webster was suffering from excessive vomiting. She complained of pains in the stomach. She had a great thirst, and had no appetite. He prohibited the use of stimulants, which were being given to her. No explanation was given as to the cause of her illness. In the evening, when he visited Mrs. Webster the second time, he was senseless, and he was surprised at the change in her condition. He ordered hot application to the feet, and powders. Next day he heard that she was dead, and witness certified gastritis as the cause of death, but on the stomach being subjected to chemical analysis, arsenic was readily detected, showing that it had been recently taken. It was also detected in other orgems, showing that it had been recently taken.—The trialwas adjourned.