Saturday 19 Jul 1845 (p. 3, col. 3) CASE OF POISONING AT GRINSDALE. ----- EXAMINATION OF MR. JOHN GRAHAM BEFORE THE MAGISTRATES. It will be in the recollection of our readers that the Coroner's jury which investigated the circumstances attending the death of Mr. GRAHAM of Grinsdale, brought in, after many adjournments, an open verdict, to the effect that deceased had died of poison wilfully administered by the hand of some person or persons unknown. The suspected party, Mr. John GRAHAM, of Kirkandrews-upon-Eden was already in prison, on the charge of wilfully murdering his wife, by administering arsenic to her; and, as it was anticipated that time would bring to light facts to verify the suspicion that he was also a parricide, it was thought better for the ends of justice to return such a verdict as would allow of further investigation in the event of that discovery, than one which, if sent to a higher court and acted upon, might result in the acquittal of the party and prevent all further proceedings, however strong were the proofs afterwards obtained. We stated, a fortnight ago, that after the termination of the inquest a small quantity of arsenic had been found in the pocket of the waistcoat worn by Mr. John GRAHAM during his visit to his father's house at Grinsdale and on the day the old man was taken ill. Mr. SABBAGE, the Superintendent of Police, having apprised the borough magistrates of the fact, and they considering that it supplied, in the chain of evidence against deceased's son, an important link that was previously wanting, it was determined to bring him up for re-examination, on the charge of poisoning his father. The inquiry was reopened on Tuesday last, by G. SAUL, Esq., and J. SLATER, Esq., in a room of Mr. ORRIDGE's house, within the gaol. Mr. GRAHAM was brought from his cell, and was present during the whole of the proceedings. He appeared to be in robust health, and to have been unaffected in his personal appearance by his imprisonment. On the entrance of his mother into the room he was moved to tears, but her chair was so placed as to conceal him from her sight while she gave her evidence. Mr. James MOUNSEY, the prisoner's solicitor, was present and watched the proceedings. Mr. BENDLE appeared for the prosecution. The witnesses examined were those whose evidence has already appeared in our columns, and their testimony did not vary in any remarkable degree from that previously given. Ruth GRAHAM, wife of deceased, and mother of the prisoner, was the first witness called. The principal portion of her evidence was the same as that adduced at the inquest. What she said in reference to John GRAHAM's visit to her house was, however, more explicit. It was as follows:-"I don't recollect of any body in particular calling at our house on the Thursday. My son John came from Kirkandrews on that day, about half-past ten. He was at the back door some time before he came into the house. He then, I think, looked into the back kitchen, and sat with me for about an hour. I was with him all the time he was in the front room until he left. He went out by the front door. I never saw him in the back kitchen. I was down in the garden, at the well, different times that day. I can't see the house door from the well. Jane THOMPSON came the same day for some pot-herbs. She was living with my son Sibson at the time. She came between ten and eleven o'clock in the forenoon. She was in the kitchen. John came in just as she was going out at the back door. I got the potherbs out of the garden for her. She complained of being sick, and I think stood at the door while I got them." Joshua ANDERSON, surgeon, Elizabeth NIXON, and Sarah NIXON, were next examined, but nothing new was elicited from them. Margaret ROBSON, housekeeper of John BESWICK, with whom the prisoner lodged, in the course of her evidence said: I recollect John GRAHAM going to Kirkandrews on a Thursday about the time his father was taken ill. He came into the house a little before 12 o'clock, and changed his clothes. He left those he took off in his bed-room. (A waistcoat was here produced.) That waistcoat belongs to the prisoner; I took a button off it when I gave it to Mr. SABBAGE, and I believe it is that which he took off before he went to Newcastle. The clothes hung behind the door in his bed-room, and I pointed them out to Mr. SABBAGE. They had not been removed after he left. Mr. SABBAGE emptied the contents of the pockets of all the clothes into a piece of paper which I gave him for that purpose, and took it away. I hung the clothes on the same place I got them from, and they remained there about a fortnight, when Mr. SABBAGE came and took them away. Benjamin MITCHELL, in the course of his evidence, said-The waistcoat now produced I believe to belong to the prisoner, and also the coat and trowsers. They are the same he used to wear when he was about home, and he had them on the morning before he went to Newcastle. When I met him on the road about twelve o'clock he had changed them for a black suit, and was carrying a carpet bag on the road towards Carlisle. Jane THOMPSON, Edward BAINBRIDGE, William CANNELL, Nathaniel WEDDELL, and Joseph HAUGH, were then examined, but their evidence was the same as that given at the inquest. John SABBAGE said-On the 23rd of June, I went to John BESWICK's house, and got from Margaret ROBSON John GRAHAM's clothes, which I now produce, consisting of a coat, waistcoat, and trowsers. I asked her for the clothes he took off when he went to Newcastle. I emptied the contents of the pockets into a piece of paper, which I wrapped up and gave to Mr. TINNISWOOD. I left the clothes in the house, and brought them away on the 30th of June. I have had them ever since. When I brought them away Margaret ROBSON took a button off the waistcoat, and there was one off before. Thomas ELLIOT, surgeon, produced the report drawn up by himself, Dr. JAMES, Dr. CARTMELL, and Dr. TINNISWOOD, in reference to the post mortem examination of deceased, and it was read. He said-On the 30th of June last I received a small package from Dr. TINNISWOOD, consisting of some chips of sealing wax, particles of cheese, dust, small sandy-looking particles, and a woolly-looking substance. I have since analysed the contents of the package, in conjunction with Dr. JAMES, Dr. CARTMELL, and Dr. TINNISWOOD, and detected arsenic in it. Drs. JAMES, CARTMELL, and TINNISWOOD, gave corroborative evidence. Wm. CARRICK, Coroner, Brampton, deposed to having held an inquest on deceased on the 30th of May last, and produced the prisoner's voluntary statement made on that occasion. The inquiry was here adjourned till Thursday. THURSDAY, JULY 17. The inquiry was resumed to-day at twelve o'clock, before J. SAUL, Esq., and Jos. FERGUSON, Esq., (Fisher-street.) Walker SWAN was the first witness called-I think I have seen the prisoner in my shop. It was in October, either just before or just after I went to London. I went on the 3rd of October last, and returned on the 7th or 8th. I think it was before I went, but am not positive. Witness then repeated his evidence as to selling six ounces of arsenic to a man like the prisoner, who said he wanted it to poison rats in a vessel at Shields, &c. Mark CARR, the station-keeper at Haltwhistle, was then re-examined: he made no alteration in his former statement. No further evidence was brought forward. Mr. SAUL, addressing the prisoner, said-The evidence in the case is concluded, and it now becomes my duty to ask you if you have any thing to say in answer to the charge. If you have it will be taken down in writing, and may be given in evidence against you on your trial. PRISONER-Not anything. Mr. SAUL-I have carefully considered the evidence, and I feel it is my duty to send you to take your trial at the next assizes, where the case will undergo a more solemn investigation. PRISONER-I am innocent-that is all I can say. He was then taken back to his cell. Mr. SABBAGE was bound over to prosecute, and all the witnesses to appear and give evidence at the assizes.