Saturday 21 Jun 1845 (p. 2, col. 8 - p. 3, col. 1) Part 1 SUSPECTED CASES OF POISONING. ----- ADJOURNED INQUEST ON MRS. GRAHAM.- VERDICT OF WILFUL MURDER. [CONTINUED FROM OUR FOURTH PAGE.] [The report on page 4 was simply a reprint of the report in the later editions of the previous week's paper.] The adjourned inquest on the body of Mrs. MARGARET GRAHAM, of Kirkandrews, was held in the Coffee House Assembly Room, on Thursday, before W. CARRICK, Esq. The proceedings ought to have commenced at ten o'clock, but it was found that one of the jurymen, Mr. LOWRY, was absent. A messenger was despatched for him, and ascertained that he was confined to bed from illness. The CORONER decided to proceed without him. Richard MARTINDALE-I am a druggist in Carlisle. I know John GRAHAM. I have never, to my recollection, sold him any poison; I might have done so. Shortly after the potato-pot affair he asked me if I could analyse arsenic. I said I thought I could, and asked him if there was any of the potato pot left; and he said no, it was buried. He said there had been a very serious affair at their house-all the family had taken ill by eating potato-pot, and he could not tell how it occurred. To the best of my recollection it was on the Saturday after they became ill. We have an entry in our books against Mr. GRAHAM, who kept a regular account with us. I referred to it the other day, and found there was no entry against him for arsenic. If it was paid for at the time it would not be entered. John SIBBALD-I am a druggist in Caldewgate. John GRAHAM has been at my shop since the commencement of the inquest. It was on the evening preceding the first sitting at the Coffee House. He opened the door and went into the back shop, and said he wished to see me. He asked me if I saw anything different in his countenance when we went down to Newcastle together. I said no. He said, "Did we not stay at the White Horse together," and I said we did. That was all that passed. Mr. J. MOUNSEY was with him at the time, and told him to come away. I have kept a druggist's shop at Burgh for the last two years. Sometimes I attend it, sometimes my brother, and sometimes my sister. I am quite sure that John GRAHAM never, to my knowledge, bought arsenic at my shop from me. I have inquired of both my brother and sister, and they say they have not sold any. I do not remember ever having any conversation with Mr. GRAHAM about the testing of arsenic. I am quite sure I told the jury of all that passed between him and me in our back shop. Margaret RICKERBY (who looked very pale) was then brought forward to be identified by the following witnesses:- Janet KENNEDY, servant at the Grapes-I see the woman standing there. I could not say for her; I never saw her face. She was sitting with her back to me, and always held her head down. They had tea together, and I waited on them, but she was sitting with her back to me, with her face to the fire. You showed her to bed?-Yes. And yet you don't know her face ?-No, sir, I never saw it; she had her hat on. She appears to be about the same height as the woman. Sarah MARTIN, of the Angel Inn. CORONER-Will you look at this woman, and say whether she is the woman who was in the habit of meeting Mr. GRAHAM at your house? Witness-(after looking at her)-That is not the person. RICKERBY, at the request of the Coroner, turned round and looked Mrs. MARTIN full in the face. Not a muscle of her face moved, but she blushed slightly. CORONER-Look at her, Mrs. MARTIN. Witness-I never saw her before. I did not wait on them but on one occasion, and that is not the woman, decidedly. Jane IRVING, servant with Mrs. MARTIN. CORONER-Is this the person you saw with Mr. John GRAHAM? Witness-If she be the person she is very much altered since. CORONER-Do you believe her to be the same? Witness-She was a good deal stouter, but the person there is rather like her. The last day she called was on a Wednesday,-but I can't say how many weeks ago. Since I went to the Angel Inn she might call three or four times. Did John GRAHAM ever meet any other woman than one?-Never that I seed. Which room did they go into?-Sometimes up, sometimes down stairs. The last time they were up stairs. Do you know what refreshment they had last time?-I think they had brandy. What time were they there?-About the middle of the day. Was the person with him in the habit of holding her head down to prevent you seeing her?-She always held her head down when we went into the room. Margaret RICKERBY resworn- CORONER-Now then, you must tell us all you know. Witness-Touching the death of Mrs. GRAHAM? CORONER-Yes. Witness-Varra weel. She then kissed the book. CORONER-How often have you met John GRAHAM at the Angel?-I think three times. Do you remember when you last met him?-I divn't. Can you tell to a week or so?-No. Or the day of the week?-I telt you before all I have to say about it. The day of the week?-About the death of the woman? I know nowt about it. I ask you if you can tell me the day of the week?-(No reply.) Will you answer the question?-I have nee 'casion to answer. CORONER-I commit you to gaol for contempt of court, in refusing to answer my question. Officer, take this woman into custody, and I will make out her commitment. Constable BARNFATHER then took her into custody. The Coroner shortly afterwards issued his warrant for her committal to gaol. The CORONER then (addressing Janet KENNEDY, Mrs. MARTIN, and Jane IRVING) said-Go into the room where RICKERBY is taken, and see, when she has taken off some of her clothes, whether you can recognise her. Jane IRVING-I am almost sure it is her; she is very like her, but very much altered. The witnesses then left the room. James BARRET-I am turnkey to the Gaol. I don't recollect the day John GRAHAM was taken into custody, but he has been in gaol for the last week or so. Last Friday, the 13th inst., it was my duty to go with the cook to serve the two prisoners who were with John GRAHAM with their dinner. When we went into the room he had been talking with them. One of them, after he had got his dinner, said he wanted some salt. I said I would wait with the other prisoner and John GRAHAM till he went to the lower prison and got it. The man who was left with me is called MURPHY. John GRAHAM addressing him, said if she (his wife) had been poisoned, he knew how it had cumt; but that he would keep to himself. I am quite sure I am now repeating the words he used. He said to me, "that I mus'n't tell you, must I?" I said whatever he told us might come against him, and he said no more. Here the witnesses who went to identify RICKERBY returned. Jane IRVING was then recalled. CORONER-Is it the woman who came to the Angel inn with John GRAHAM?-She has the same gown and shawl, but a different bonnet. It is very like the person. Janet KENNEDY-The woman who came to the Grapes had the same gown on, but a different shawl. Mrs. MARTIN could not identify her. Robert SIBBALD-I am in partnership with my brother. I never sold arsenic to Mr. John GRAHAM; and he has had none from either of the two shops, to my knowledge. Jane SIBBALD-I live with my brothers, and occasionally assist in their shop. I never sold arsenic to John GRAHAM or to any one, that I remember. I was not allowed to sell it. The CORONER then read the deposition of Joseph HIND. He said he had nothing to add to it. Benjamin MITCHELL, was next called, and his evidence having been read over to him by the Coroner, he corrected an expression which appeared as he uttered it on the coroner's notes. The words used by Margaret RICKERBY were "thou has no more religion than an old sow," not "cow," as before printed. He had nothing more to add. He then signed his depositions. Mary HIND, Richard HIND, Isaac HETHERINGTON, John SABBAGE, Mr. ELLIOT, surgeon, and Dr. TINNISWOOD, then signed their depositions. Mary ELLIOT was next called. The coroner read his notes to her. CORONER-Do yon wish to add anything to this or alter it?-No. Is it all true that you have stated?-It is all true. You understand all I have read to you?-Yes, I understand what I say. Witness then signed her deposition. William REEVES, surgeon, on his deposition being read was asked- It was not John GRAHAM who asked you to procure abortion, was it?-No, sir. Or no one connected with him?-Not that I am aware of. He then signed his depositions. The other witnesses were successively re-called, and signed their depositions. At a quarter-past one the Court was adjourned for three-quarters of an hour. When the jury returned, The CORONER (addressing Mr. James MOUNSEY) said, I believe yon act as legal adviser for Mr. GRAHAM? Mr. JAMES MOUNSEY-I do. The CORONER-Is it your wish, or his, that he should attend here to make any statement? Mr. JAMES MOUNSEY-It is not. The CORONER then said he had sent up word to the gaol that if Margaret RICKERBY wished to come before the jury and answer any questions that might be put to her, or to make any statement, she might, on those terms, be liberated. In the meantime he would proceed to make a few observations on the case. [to be continued]