Saturday 31 May 1845 (p. 3, col. 4-5) Part 1 SECOND EDITION. ----- JOURNAL OFFICE, 2 o'Clock. ADJOURNED INQUEST. The adjourned Inquest on the body of JOHN GRAHAM, of Grinsdale, was held this morning, at the Coffee House Assembly Room. The Jury having been called over and sworn, all witnesses were requested to retire until called. John GRAHAM, farmer, Kirkandrews, eldest son of the deceased, was the first witness called. [He was not sworn, the coroner intimating that he was not to consider himself bound to answer all questions that might be put to him, but that he was giving a voluntary statement.] I have not had any thing to do since Candlemas; I let my farm, and have sold my stock. It was my father's property, but part of it was my own. John BERWICK is now the farmer; but I still reside in the house, occupying a sitting room and a bed room. I have no family. I was at Grinsdale on the Tuesday, and again on the Thursday, before my father's death. To all appearance my father was in good health; he did not make any complaint. I was at the house and saw both my father and mother. I think I might stay an hour on the Thursday, but I cannot exactly tell. When I went in my mother was in the back kitchen. My father was not in at that time. I cannot say whether I was within the back kitchen door or not; but I looked in, and went into the front kitchen, took a book, and read for about a quarter of an hour, when my mother came and sat down beside me. We remained together in that room perhaps half an hour. I remember the conversation-it was about going to Newcastle. She and I talked about it two or three months back, and I wished to go and spend two or three days there. She said she had given up the thoughts of going; and I said if so, I would go that day, but that if another week would suit her better I would remain. Nothing else particular was mentioned except talking about our friends at Newcastle, one named PROCTOR, and another of the name of ORD. It was my intention partly to visit them, and partly to look after a place to keep cows in. Both my mother and my brother knew that that was my intention; we had talked about it frequently. It was mentioned on Thursday. I went from my mother's to my brother's. Dinner was near about ready when I got there-it was scarcely 12 o'clock. I had a basin of broth, and left immediately. I then went direct to Kirkandrews and made ready to go to Newcastle directly, and went to Carlisle to meet the train. I called at Mr. SCOTT's, Black Swan, and at the Coffee House, to see if I had time to walk to the station. I found I had not, so I took the omnibus. I was going by the two o'clock train. I think I mentioned at Mr. SCOTT's that I was going to Newcastle-but I dont remember whether I did or did not. I went direct to Newcastle, and called first at Bryan BURN's, White Horse inn. I remained there two days-till the Saturday night. I staid there and visited my friends, but did not find them so comfortable as I expected: they had a son drowned in coming from the East Indies. I called at Mr. ORD's, spirit merchant, on both Friday and Saturday, but he was not in. I went on the Saturday to his office, and found him there. That was the only time I saw him. I had no particular conversation with him. No allusion was made to my father and mother except that he asked how they were. I said nothing to him about taking a place for the cows. I saw Thomas PROCTOR at his shop; I was not at his house. He said his mother's feelings were much hurt in consequence of the loss of her son. These were the only two friends I was in Newcastle. When I left that town I came to Haltwhistle. I went there for the same purpose-to look for a place for keeping cows. I remained there till Monday, at the Crown inn, Mrs. SAUL's. I made no enquiry at Haltwhistle about the place for my cows, I merely looked in the neighbourhood to see if it was likely. I had taken a ticket to go to Haydon Bridge on Monday afternoon, for the same purpose, when I got a message from Bryan BURN that my father was very ill. He told me that Mr. SCOTT begged he would tell me to come home if he fell in with me. I immediately took a seat for Carlisle. This was the first time I had heard of my father's illness. I met with Mr. WEIR at Scotby; he got in there. He was the only person I had any conversation with. I had asked him if had heard how my father was, because I knew that he was backwards and forwards at Grinsdale. He said he believed he was very ill. We talked a good deal down the line, but that was the principal conversation. He said he believed that my father had been poisoned, and that all who had partaken of a certain cake had become ill. I made no remark about that-but I felt very much. This was the first time heard about the cake, and I made no more inquiry about it because I did not know anything whether the cakes had been bought or made. When I came to Carlisle I went first to Mr. ANDERSON's (surgeon) to inquire how they were. I then went to the Black Swan, and Mr. SCOTT drove me home in a gig. I came into Carlisle by the half-past five o'clock train, and was about ten minutes at Mr. ANDERSON's. After that I went to Mr. SCOTT's, and remained there a very short time. I told him I wanted to be home directly, and that he was to get me a gig. He said he had not one, but he got one, and it came immediately. I had just one glass in the house; that was all I had. Mr. G. SIBSON was in the house while I was there, also Mr. WHITFIELD; I do not know whether there were any others. I merely asked them how they were, and if they had heard anything how my father and mother were. I don't recollect anything else. Mr. SIBSON may perhaps recollect better than I. I went direct to Grinsdale: Mr. SCOTT drove me down. I remained till evening. When I found my father was so much worse than I expected I came back to see if Mr. ANDERSON could do him any good, and to tell him to take Dr. BARNES with him if he thought he would be of service. It would be 10 o'clock or later when I got to the town, and I only remained a few minutes. I went direct back to Grinsdale again. I had some conversation with my father about his sickness. He said he was very ill, and I asked him if he thought there was anything that would do him good. Nothing was said about poison by either of us. I had some conversation with Mr. SIBBALD about going to Newcastle, but nothing was said about my father's illness or my object in going to Newcastle. I did not tell any one that my errand was to value some land. I perhaps might mention that I would be in London before I returned, because I have talked of going this summer, several times. I can't remember to whom I said that; but I might say so. I might say that I had a notion of going to London, at the White Horse, Newcastle. I was not called up to go to London by the early train. He did not call me either on Friday or Saturday morning, and ask if I wasn't going by that train-I think not. Mr. SIBBALD slept in the same room with me. Perhaps I might say something about it the night before; I might say I maybe might go to London, but I did not say when, that I recollect. I think I did not say that I had heard my father and mother were ill, but that Mr. WEIR had relieved my mind much. I said Mr. ANDERSON, had I would say that, I think, in the Black Swan. I did not say, on that day, that I had an appointment with Mr. MORLEY. I had no appointment with him that day, but I often have. I did not say I was going to meet him when I left home on Thursday. I don't remember whether any one came into the house on that day while I was with my mother-I think no one did. I did not see the dish that had the paste in it. I did not see anything standing before the fire. I have had no arsenic in my possession lately-none. There was none on my premises, to my knowledge. I think I once bought some, many years back; we were making some stuff to dip sheep with. I don't remember the quantity I bought on that occasion, or from whom I bought it; it would very likely be from Mr. MARTINDALE, I often went there for what we wanted. It was all used at the time, and there has not been any arsenic since on my premises, to my knowledge. The CORONER-There are no other questions, Mr. GRAHAM, we have to ask you. If you have anything else to say we shall be glad to hear you. At the request of one of the jurymen, The CORONER read over the evidence of Mr. GRAHAM. When he came to that part which refers to Mrs. PROCTOR's uneasy state of mind, Mr. GRAHAM said the person drowned was not her son, as stated, but her brother. He also stated that he had an appointment with Mr. MORLEY for the 11th of June, and handed the Coroner a letter in which that appointment was made, in reference to the division of Rockliffe Common. Mr. GRAHAM then signed the evidence; and, he having retired from the room, Jane THOMPSON was sworn. I am not a servant with Mr. Sibson GRAHAM, but only went to attend on Mrs. GRAHAM, during her confinement. I was there on the Thursday, when Mr. John GRAHAM was ill. I remember going in the forenoon, for some pot herbs. No one was in but Mrs. GRAHAM when I went. CORONER-I trust you come here to tell the truth, and to be careful what you say. I ask you who you saw when you went for the potherbs? Don't let me take down what is not true. Did you not find John GRAHAM and his mother sitting by the fire? Witness-No, they were not. No one was there but Mrs. GRAHAM. When I came out I met John GRAHAM. He went, I think, into the back kitchen, but I am not certain. I did not take notice of anything on the floor. CORONER-Either you are telling a lie or I am grossly mis-informed. Witness-When I went in some yeast was standing on a flag at the back door near the step. I did not see a dish with paste in it. Mrs. GRAHAM went and got the pot herbs, and I remained in the back kitchen. It was after her return that John came in; he came in at the back door. I did not take notice of anything standing about at all. We have been talking about this amongst ourselves since the inquest at Grinsdale. Mr. and Mrs. GRAHAM, the girl and I have talked about it. I am certain I never told any one that I saw John and his mother sitting by the fire when I went in-I could not, for I never saw them. I don't remember whether Mr. Sibson GRAHAM vomited or not; I did not find anything in his room. I was ill, in bed, all the next day. The CORONER read over the evidence. By Mr. PATTINSON.-The yeast was standing outside the door when I left. I met Mr. John GRAHAM in the door way. The witness then signed her evidence. [to be continued]