Saturday 14 Jun 1845 (p. 3, col. 4-5) Part 2 SECOND EDITION. ----- Journal Office, Friday Afternoon, 2 o'Clock. ----- ADJOURNED INQUEST. [continued] Mary ELLIOT-I live in Bread-street, Carlisle, and am the wife of John ELLIOT, joiner. It is a month since I left Kirkandrews. My house then was opposite John GRAHAM's. I know Margaret RICKERBY. We farmed under Miss BLAMIRE. RICKERBY was in the habit of visiting our house sometimes, during her servitude with John GRAHAM, and once since. John GRAHAM visited my house. He and Margaret RICKERBY never met there. Never?-No, never, I am sure as death. Do you remember the last occasion on which you saw John GRAHAM?-Yes, he was in our own house in Bread-street, and I have not seen him since that day. I was present at the laying out of Mrs. GRAHAM. John was present. Nothing was said about her death. I saw her the day she died; nothing was said then about her illness. I don't know on what terms John GRAHAM was with Margaret RICKERBY. CORONER-Do you positively deny that they ever met at your house?-I remember him once coming in, but as he came in she went out. Do you remember him coming into your house one day, about Martinmas last, and meeting RICKERBY and her sister?-I do. CORONER-I am justified coming to this resolution; if I find a witness committing direct and flagrant perjury, I am justified in sending that person to a place of confinement. I only regret that I did not do so at the commencement of this inquest; and then I should have had more truth to-day. You recollect that, do you?-It was after Martinmas. Before or after Mrs. GRAHAM's death?-After her death. Was it before or after?-Before. How long were they in the same room together?-He was not twenty minutes in our house. How long was he in?-About half an hour. Was Margt. RICKERBY there during that time?-Yes. He then went out, did he?-Yes. Who went with him?-He went himself. Do you mean to swear that RICKERBY did not go with him?-She did not go then. How long after?-May be half an hour. Did she go out without her hat and bonnet?-Yes. And returned how long after?-It might be twenty minutes after. He did not return?-No. Was she then in his service?-No. Do you remember RICKERBY being in your house about Christmas?-No. Neither before nor after, nor about that time?-(A long pause.) Are you going to give us an answer?-I don't remember. Has she been at your house since the time you speak of, when GRAHAM and she met?-Yes. When was that?-It would be about Christmas. Was she there all night?-Yes, sir. Did you see GRAHAM that night?-No, sir. Are you sure of it?-Yes, I am sure of it. Do you swear he and she had not tea at your house and that they were not together that night?-They were not. Can you tell us the reason why you left Kirkandrews?-My husband thought it would suit his work better to be at Carlisle. Why did you leave Miss BLAMIRE's house,-did not she insist on your leaving? She did not. Do you remember seeing RICKERBY at your house about Whitsuntide?-No. Was she ever at your house in Bread-street?-Never. Do you repeat that she never was?-Never, to my sight, never. Are you quite sure RICKERBY was not in GRAHAM's house on the Friday she staid with you?-She went in the afternoon. How long might she be there, do you know?-I can't say. She might there an hour, but I cannot say exactly. Do you remember RICKERBY saying once to you that she had cowed Peggy so far that she had made her beg her pardon?-I cannot say. You must give me an answer-did she say that to you?-(After hesitating)-I don't remember anything about it. Do you swear you don't know whether you heard it or not?-(No reply.) Did you not hear it?-(No reply.) If you don't give me an answer I shall commit you. Will you answer my question?-(No reply.) For the last time I ask you?-I cannot say whether she told me these words or not; I don't remember. Did she use words to that effect?-I cannot say what she said. CORONER-Officer, take this woman into custody. Mr. MOSS-Tell us what she said, to the best of your recollection; don't make a fool of yourself. Witness-It's no interest to me to tell a lie. One can say no more than one knows. Mr. WHEATLEY-That is what we want. Witness-I said what are you doing here, and she said she had come on business and her mistress durst not say her nay. (This last answer was got out after a good deal of fencing.) CORONER-You must withdraw, and not leave the premises. I shall call another witness. The police officer then took the witness to another room. William REEVES-I am a surgeon. On the 15th of November, 1844, I was going down Botchergate, and on passing the Bush archway Mr. J. GRAHAM, of Kirkandrews was driving out in a gig. He said "I am wanting a doctor, will you go with me?" I said I should be very happy. He got out of the gig, sent it to the Black Swan, and I went with him to Backhouse's Court. He said he had a servant with him (E. GRAHAM) who wished to see her relations, and he would not have brought her if she had not been a valuable servant. He said he had only had her a short time and that she was very ill. He left me with her and said he would remunerate me for my trouble. I found she was labouring under neuralgia, an affection of the nerves. I bled her, and she recovered in a few days. The second day after, a man called and said I had not understood the complaint. He said she was in the family way, and intimated that he was her father. He asked me if I could not produce miscarriage, and he would give me anything. I asked if he supposed I was going to make myself a felon, and said if he repeated I his request would expose him. The girl said she had taken an ounce of quicksilver to procure abortion. I said if she had taken twice that quantity it would not have made her well, for that was not what was the matter with her. The girl got well, and went back to Mr. GRAHAM. Soon after his wife's death Mr. GRAHAM came to my surgery and said people were blaming him for poisoning his wife. I said it was a distressing thing that she had died so suddenly, and he began to cry. He talked a great deal about her, and cried a great deal. I cautioned him about this girl of his; and I said he should look after her, or it might be awkward. In February the girl sent for me and said she had taken laudanum, she was so distressed because she was in the family way. I administered emetics, and she came round. When she got well I told the authorities about her, and they thought it best to give her a caution about it and to say no more to her. The CORONER then read over to the medical men who made the post mortem examination of Mrs. GRAHAM, the evidence of Dr. OLIVER. He then, at the request of Mr. ELLIOT, read that portion of Mrs. HIND's evidence which describes Mrs. GRAHAM's symptoms when she became worse. Dr. JAMES, re-sworn-On Monday morning week John GRAHAM came to my house. It was exactly a quarter past four when he left. He called me up, and asked if his wife was to be taken up that day. I said I did not know anything about it, and that, if it had been the case, it was most probable that I should have heard it. He said if it was done he could not remain in the village. He said, likewise, that he had never done an injury to any person in his life. I said I was very sorry for him. He desired me not to mention the circumstance of his having called me up at that time, and I replied that it was broad day-light, several persons were on the street, and it was impossible that no one should see him. I have heard the evidence of Miss HIND and the other evidence of her illness. I think from the accesssion [sic] of the symptoms at different intervals, from the Sunday night to the Wednesday-from arsenic having been found adhering to the gullet, the stomach, and the bowels, extending over a large surface-and from the great emptiness of the bowels-that more doses than one had been taken. I agree with Dr. OLIVER in thinking that a dose must have been taken after his visit on the Tuesday evening. Thomas ELLIOT, surgeon, resworn-I confirm the evidence of Dr. JAMES and that of Dr. OLIVER. I think the probability of its having been given at different times is increased by its having been proved by Miss HIND that the symptoms returned with renewed violence on the Tuesday morning about an hour after she had taken her food, but not immediately after. I also think it likely that the case would have terminated fatally at an earlier date if she had taken the whole of the arsenic that we found on the first occasion-from the circumstance of its having been spread over so large a surface-from the stomach and bowels being so empty-and from her being a weak woman, all of which circumstances would tend to increase the rapidity of the absorption of the poison, and consequently hasten the fatal issue. Dr. CARTMELL also confirmed the evidence of the last witnesses. He said the great probability, but not the certainty, was that the poison had been taken at different intervals. Even in cases where a single dose is administered there are remissions. Dr. TINNISWOOD gave similar testimony-He said it was exceedingly probable that a second dose was given. From the state in which the oxide was found in the stomach and bowels, it is probable that it was given at a later period than those yellow portions (sulphuret of arsenic) found in the same parts. Mary BECKTON-I live at Kirkandrews, and am servant with Mr. HIND. I remember being sent down to Mr. GRAHAM's on the Tuesday night, to sit up all night. I was sent about eleven o'clock. I did not see Mr. GRAHAM at first, but he came through the kitchen two or three times. I did not hear him say anything till after Mrs. GRAHAM's brother and sister went home. A little after they had gone he came to me said I had to go home, there wasn't any person going to sit, and he could get Mrs. GRAHAM anything she wanted as well as any one. He told the other girl to go to bed. He went into the parlour and said to Mrs. GRAHAM "I can make you anything you want better than them," and when he came out he said to me "go home." I went soon after eleven o'clock. Mrs. GRAHAM wished me to leave, but I did not hear her speak; the girl said so. At a quarter-past one the Court adjourned for half an hour.