The Express. — 1867-03-15 (London, England)

MURDER AND SUICIDE.—On Tuesday afternoon the mysterious disappearance from their home at Devonport of • respectable young widow, named Elizabeth Venton, and her child, was cleared up. It appears that on Monday night, about half-past 10 o'clock, Mrs. Venton and her child were left in a sitting-room at the mother's residence by a sister for something like twenty minutes,and on the return of the latter she found no person in the room, but a note, written with a pencil, and addressed to herself. It ran thus :—" My dear Suter,—This is my last will and request, that you take everything I have in my poesession for yourself, and by the time you And this I and my poor baby will be no more. I dare any person to take anything from you. Settle all my accounts and bury me decent. Give my love to father and mother. From your poor affectionate sister. God bless you, my dear sister ; God will reward you for your kindlier to rue. Good-bye for ever. As to my business, everything is for you, as I am tired and weary of everything on this earth. Good-bye, God bless you, my dear sister.—Elizabeth Venton." This note was at once handed to the police authorities and a vigorous search commenced. On the following morning the body of the child was found in the water near to what is called Camel's Head-bridge, and afterwards was discovered, embedded in mud, the body of the unfortunate mother, who had evidently jumped from the bridge during low water, and walked fifty or sixty yards before she got to sufficient water to drown herself. The poor woman had exhibited great depression of spirits since the death of her husband six months ago. EXTRAORDINARY POISONING CASE IN STAFFORDitsias..—At the Stafford Assizes, yesterday, before Mr. Baron Pigott, James Machin, 34, blacksmith, was indicted for feloniously administering to Henry Rainford, on the lit and 2nd February last, at Newcastle-under-Lyme, • certain poison called chlorideof zinc, with intent thereby to kill and murder him. Another count charged him with causing bodily injury. The evidence showed that the prisoner and prosecutor worked at the forge of Mr. Llewellyn, the prosecutor being the foreman and the prisoner next under him. The prosecutor enjoyed good health until the month of September last, when the circumstances commenced out of which arose the present charge. The prosecutor was in the habit during the month of September of drinking • pint of beer every morning, which was fetched for him by the prisoner. After drinking the beer the prosecutor always felt a burning sensation in the throat, accompanied by violent purging and vomiting. This was always the case after drinking the beer brought by the prisoner, but not when others fetched it. This state of things went on for some time, until one day in February the prosecutor saw the prisoner tampering with a bottle of fan he hail left in the forge. After drinking some of the gia the old symptoms recurred with increased intensity, sod the *entente of the bottle were sent for analysis, when they were discovered to be strongly impregnated with chloride of zinc. The jury found the prisoner guilty upon the minor count, and he was sentenced to five years' penal servitude.  Sumacs