Saturday 21 Jun 1845 (p. 3, col. 2-3) Part 2 ADJOURNED INQUEST ON MR. GRAHAM, OF GRINSDALE. ----- [continued] Mrs. GRAHAM (widow of deceased)-I remember that I baked either five or six cakes,-I can't say which. I did not give any of them to Mrs. HOWNAM to make away with. There was very little of the potato pot left, and what was left was thrown out. I do not know who threw it out, I was ill. Nothing was said about leading the dung-hill after my husband became ill. I never ordered it to be led away; it was always led away when turnips were sown, and when it was wanted. I got the yeast with which the cakes were made from Mrs. NIXON. I made some yeast myself, too, that morning: I had it at the door once, and had it in the house afterwards. I made it about ten o'clock. I had it in the milkhouse, and afterwards it was set to the fire to work. It stood there till I set the bread at night, and the remainder was put into a bottle, as it always was. I made a loaf of mixed bread of it-wheat and rye. I got the yeast from Mrs. NIXON on the Thursday morning; I don't know at what time-perhaps eight o'clock. I got a small jug full. Mrs. NIXON's daughter brought me it, and gave it into my own hands. I set it with meal as soon as possible-betwixt eight and nine o'clock. I used the whole of it in the baking of the cakes. Are you quite sure now you disposed of the dough after you made it up?-I did not make it up, I only set it, I did not make it up till the afternoon. I had it in the set-pot, when the yeast was put in, as I told you before. Is it not usual to set the dough before the fire?-Yes, but that pot is just of the proper warmness. Have you any niggarts to the fire?-Yes. How much space is there between them and the set pot?-Just a little piece-perhaps as much as six inches. Had you ever set the dough in the set-pot before?-All winter, constantly. The loaf was worked up on the following day. I worked it up, and the woman who baked it made it into a loaf. How long did the dough for the cakes stand on the setpot?-Till 11 or 12 o'clock. Did you take it out before or after Jane THOMPSON called that morning?-I don't remember. You remember her coming in for the potherbs?-Yes. I rather think it was before I took the dough out of the pot. Do you remember leaving the house when she came?-No, she only came on an errand. Where were you when she was there?-Just in the kitchen-where she was. Were you in or out of the house?-I was not out. Do you remember any one else being there?-No. Are you sure you did not leave the house when she was there?-I am sure I did not. Not even to go into the garden?-I don't know but she went herself into the garden. Do you remember what you did between the time of Jane THOMPSON being in and some one else calling?-I was down the garden a little piece after she left-I had same clothes there-and I did something about the yeast. Did you not do something about the bread?-No immediately. How long was it after Jane THOMPSON's visit that John came?-He came when she was there. Were you down the garden during the time he was in your house?-No I was not-I am sure of it. What reason had you for making yeast, when you had borrowed some from your neighbour?-I did not borrow it. NIXON's people came and said they had some yeast to spare, and they gave me a sup to make cakes with. I wanted a loaf made for the following day, and I made it with my own yeast. It was good bread. I always baked my bread on the Friday. Were not those cakes made expressly for your husband on account of his bad teeth?-No, we were out of bread,-they were not made particularly for him. Has your late husband been called upon to make some heavy payments for your son lately?-Nothing particular. None at all?-He did advance a little money, but it was neither at John's request nor any body else's. Nobody axed him to do it. When was that?-A little bit back. He was not under any obligations for John-he had not been bound for him, had he?-Not a shilling. When was the money advanced?-I don't know; one does not mind these things. Within what time?-Some weeks before my husband's death,-I really don't know how many. It was to John HIND, of Kirkandrews, and that is all he advanced for him. Esther HOWNAM-I only saw the two cakes that Nanny LITTLE fetched in-no others. Mrs. GRAHAM gave me none to put out of the way, and nobody else did. Did you not put one into the fire?-I put one into the fire myself. CORONER-Oh! you did, did you? Witness-Yes, I did, but Mrs. GRAHAM did not tell me. How came you to tell us before that you received the two cakes, put one in the back kitchen and did not know what became of the other?-Yes, I did, and I am ashamed of myself. CORONER-And you ought to be ashamed of yourself. What did you make of the other? Witness-Sibson GRAHAM's girl got it. When did you put it in the fire?-On Wednesday morning. Why?-I didn't know what to make of it. I was afeared some one else would get it, there were so many about. Will you swear that neither Mrs. GRAHAM nor any one else told you to put it in the fire?-Yes, I will. Had Jane THOMPSON got one before you did so?-Yes, and they were all ill with it. Have you not said to Mrs. NIXON that you put more than one into the fire? -I am sure I didn't. Did you see any one else put any cakes into the fire?-No, I didn't see any cakes but those two. Did your husband visit Mr. GRAHAM?-Yes, he was two or three times seein' on him when he was ill. Jane THOMPSON-I ate a piece of cake, but I did not destroy any. I had more in my possession besides that which I took to my master. I am sure Mrs. GRAHAM went to get me pot-herbs, and I waited in the house till she came back. Just as I was going out of the door John GRAHAM was coming in. Jane WISEMAN-I am a dressmaker at Monkhill. Jane THOMPSON told me she was down for some pot-herbs at nine o'clock on the Thursday, and, as she had a bad head-ache, Mrs. GRAHAM made her some punch, and went into the garden. She said John GRAHAM came in, and there was some flour on the table and some yeast at the door; that she (Jane THOMPSON) went to the door for a short time, and that John then came to her and said she looked ill, and then went in again. Jane THOMPSON was recalled, and the Coroner repeated to her what last witness said. In reply to the Coroner, she said-On my oath I did not see flour on the table, or John any place else but at the door; and I never said I did; I'll take my oath I never did. Jane WISEMAN-Oh! dear me, you did. Well, if ever- Jane THOMPSON-I'll take my oath I never said anything about the flour on the table. I couldn't, for it wasn't there. When Mrs. GRAHAM came in she made me punch, and I was sick. That is true enough. I then went away, and I met him at the door. He was never in the house when I was there. Jane WISEMAN-I am very sorry you have made me a story-teller. Jane THOMPSON-I am not making you a story-teller. You might be mistaken, but I never said- CORONER-Now don't let us have any altercation; I am only testing the credibility of a witness. Jane WISEMAN-She said that John GRAHAM came in when she was sitting; that the flour was on the table; that she set the punch down and went and leaned her head against the door; that John GRAHAM came to her and said she was ill and then returned into the house. The witness then retired. Margaret ROBSON was re-called, but said she had nothing more to add to her former evidence. The CORONER then intimated to the Jury that it would be desirable to adjourn. There was a witness who would be called to-morrow whose evidence, it was possible, might be important. He was a druggist in Newcastle, who recollected selling poison to a man answering the description given to him of John GRAHAM. Should he be able to identify John GRAHAM as the man it would supply an important fact. The enquiry was then adjourned till 12 o'clock this day (Friday.) The witness above alluded to is expected to arrive at two o'clock in the afternoon. Should his evidence prove of importance we shall publish it in a second edition.