Glasgow Courier. — 1846-06-23 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

THE WHOLESALE MURDERS BY POISON IN NORFOLK. - DISCOVERY OF FURTHER MURDERS. - . .  NORWICH, JUN): 11.—The inquiry which has been going on for the last few weeks respecting the appalling deaths by poisoning in the village and neighbourhood of Bappisburgh, before Mr. Pilgrim, the county Coroner, was brought to a close last evening at Stalham, and, as was anticipated, further murders have been detected. The proceedings took place at Norwich, whither the Coroner proceeded, and the bodies of five more of the grandchildren of Balls having been exhumed and examined. - . . . .  Mr. G. W. Frith, surgeon, of Norwich, deposed that he had made an elaborate analysis, prolonged over more than eight entire days, to detect the presence of arsenic in the remains of the five bodies. In all, decomposition was so far advanced that no organs could be distinguished. The remains of Maria Green produced abundant and certain evidence of arsenic. In that of Martha Green, he could discover no trace by the most delicate teots. nor in that of William Green. The body of Neenah Peggo, fro,. Ingham Chapel, also showed no trace of arsenic. Maria Lace, remains, according to his observations, contained a small quautit) of arsenic, but they had extended the inquiry to a portion of the soil taken from about three feet from the graves of Balls family, in Happisburgh church-yard, and had detected arsenic in considerable quantity. There was considerable difficulty in aseertaining the presence of arsenic when the bodies were in a decomposed state. All the coffins were sufficient to keep not the solid soil except Lacey's. Could not tell where the poison came from in the ease of Lacey. He had many doubts on the subject, and the solid soil might possibly have been the source of the arsenic in Lacey's coffin. Had no doubt whatever of the presence of arsenic there. The only doubt was as to where it came from. There was the highest probability of the othertwo children of Green dying of scarlet fever. The arsenic might haw escaped if the coffins were decomposed, but they were not, except Maria Lacey's, which was only sound at the bottom. The evidence of Mr. Clowes and Mr. Goodwin, who had assisted in the chemical analysis, having been taken to a similar effect, and some of the witnesses examined who had given evidence on the previous inquiry, the Coroner summed up at great length, and the Jury finally returned a verdict—" That the deceased Maria Lacey and Maria Green died from the effects of arsenic, but by whom administered there was no evidence to show.' With regard to the deceased Martha Green, William Green, and Hannah Peggs, the verdict was left open. The result of the protracted inquiries that have just terminated has led to the discovery of the following facts; that the full extent to which the poisoning practices were carried will probably never be known. The deceased Jonathan Balls, had seven children, four daughters and three sons. Three daughters are married and reside in the vicinity of Happisburgb. One died, as it appeared, partly in consequence of the ill treatment of her husband, W. Lacey, a fisherman, but who is now ascertained to have perished from the effects of arsenic. The names of the daughters now living are Green, Pestle, and Peggs. Mrs. Green has had eleven children, and seven of them died suspiciously between 1836 and 1840. Mrs. Pestle had six ehi.dren; four of them are dead; three were poisoned. Mrs. Peggs have five, one of whom died in 1839 under suspicious circumstances. The first death was that of Maria Green, thirteen months old, and buried in December, 1836; next, Ann Peggs, eight years, died June, 1830; third was William Green, three years, died October, 1841; then Martha Green, died Oct., 1841; fifth, Ann Elizabeth Pestle, nine weeks, died November, 1843; next, Samuel Pestle, died September, 1845; seventh, , was the wife of old Jonathan Balls (Elizabeth), died in her 834 year, in December,lB46 ; then Elizabeth Ann Pestle, eight months old, in the month of the present year, and lastly old Bails; on the 284 of last April, aged 82 years. The supposed murderer lived all his life in the neighbourhood of Happisburgh, and had always borne a bad character. During the last fifteen or twenty years, he was principally dependent it; his married daughters for subsistence, and the supposition is, t t he poisoned his grandchildren in order that their parents might be better able to support him. That be committed suicide, fearing his crimes would be detected, there is no doubt, for after haying administered arsenic to the infant of Pestle, and finding the mother was going to have it examined, he became greatly excited, observing his death was near at hand, although he was in a better state of health than usual. In six hours afterwards he was a corpse. _ .  It is presumed that the Secretary of State will institute farther Inquiries into the matter.