Year: 1863

cheerfully resigned herself to do her duty.


IN LONDON.


But the time was passing. We did not
reach London an hour too soon. The trial
had begun when hurried into the court
with our only important witness. The ply
sician who made the post-mortem exami-
nation was giving his evidence.


There were traces of poison in several
organs, and the chemical analysis left no
doubt that this poison was arsenic. The
circumstances were certainly against the
prisoner. The jurymen lowered upon him
ominously.


But the medical witness, a gentleman of
high intelligence, was to be cross-examined;
and now found q use for some slight
knowledge of chemistry. At my sugges-
ton, the prisoners counsel put the follow
ing questions, which 1 give with the ans
wers.


Have you ever known, or is it mat
ter of authentic record, that arsenic is ta-
ken in small doses as cosmetic, to improve
the complexion 2"


1t is sometimes used for that purpose"
g Is it also administered as medicine
for certain diseases?"


" Yes, undoubtedly"


"Now, sir, is it not fact we'll known to
medical science, that arsenic, taken for
some time in small dozes may accumulate
in the system, so as to produce violent and
even fatal action Z"
i IA =. L.


Are there not cases OF such cumula-
tive action 7"


eyes,


Zone question more. If person in
the habit OF taking arsenic, either as a
medicine or a cosmetic, were to die sud-
denly from any cause, would not arsenic
be found in the liver and other viscers by
a chemical analysis 7"


"There is no doubt that it would"


That will do, sir"


We called four witnesses, ,Norah Magrath
She testified to having lived more than two
years with Mrs. Mellon to the uniform
kindness and affection Of her husband /;
and to the nature of their domestic diff
culties. She was sure that she loved the
Every ground she trod upon" and that if
he was sometimes jealous and out Of tenn
per, they always made it up ; and she was
sure he would not have harmed her for the
world.


"Was it within your knowledge, wit
ness, that the deceased lady ever gave her
husband any ground for jealousy I"


"No, your honor, not that l ever saw /;
but she was very handsome, and liked to be
admired"


Witness, you say she was very hand
some. Did your mistress ever take any
thing for her complexion Z"


" Yes, sir, sure an she did often"


"Do you know what it was ?"


alt was a white powder, like"


GA white powder that she rubbed on
her skin Z"


"No, your honor, it was powder that
she swallowed"


"What did she call it?


" | never heard any name for it,"


How do you know that she took it for
her complexion, and not as medicine fol
some disease {"


Because she told me in joking way
that if | would take some it would make
me as white and pretty as she was"


"Where did she keep this powder? ?"


In little drawer of her writing desk. u


Is that desk portable, witness 2" in
quired the judge.


g Is it what, your lordship?"


"Can it be brought into court ?"


"Aisily enough, your lordship."


"The court will take recess while this
desk is produced"


Two officers went with Norah, and re-
turned with the writing desk, in an inner
and concealed drawer of which was dis
covered an ounce glass-stoppered bottle
about third full Of white powder. II
was identified as the bottle from which
Mrs. Mellon took her cosmetic; and a
chemist pronounced it to be ARSENIC.


The jury did not request the eloquence
of counsel nor the judges luminous charge
to bring in verdict Of mot Guilty,
And scarcely an effort was made to sup
press the cheers Of the crowd when thai
verdict was announced, and took Arthur
Mellon by the hand, aud led him forth tc
life and liberty.


Our trials have not been in vain. L
Alfred wronged me, bitterly did he atone
for the wrong by sufierings that seem Z
have added many years to his life. We
seldom speak of label, and we are more