Saturday 14 Jun 1845 (p. 2, col. 8 - p. 3, col. 3) Part 1 SUSPECTED CASES OF POISONING. ----- APPREHENSION OF MR. JOHN GRAHAM. - IMPORTANT INVESTIGATION. We printed last week a detailed account of the evidence taken before W. CARRICK, Esq., Coroner, on the inquest on the body of Mr. John GRAHAM, yeoman, Grinsdale, who died under circumstances which gave rise to a strong suspicion that poison had been administered to him by some guilty hand. The greatest interest has been excited on the subject not only in Carlisle and the immediate neighbourhood, but indeed throughout the whole of the county, and amongst those who, though connected with it, reside at distant places. Deceased was a man well and generally known and universally respected as an intelligent, industrious, thrifty, amiable yeoman. He residing in the neat and sequestered village, beautifully situated, as we stated in a former number, on the banks of the Eden, about two miles and a half north-west of Carlisle. The party to whom the finger of suspicion points is Mr. GRAHAM's own son-his heir,-a farmer who has hitherto stood high in the estimation of all following the same calling, for his intelligence, and for his success in many departments of agriculture. It would be evident to our readers, from the line of examination adopted at the inquest, that Mr. John GRAHAM, of Kirkandrews, was suspected as the poisoner of his father, since whose death his name has been bruited about in connection with it. So long as nothing was elicited to criminate him, we thought it only just, as well as prudent, not to mention his name except where it might come out in the course of the inquiry; but since our last publication facts have transpired and circumstances have occurred which render silence no longer necessary. Mr. John GRAHAM is now in custody on a charge of poisoning his wife and his father. Soon after the death of Mr. GRAHAM, of Grinsda [sic] rumours got abroad that the wife of the man suspected of poisoning him had died after a sudden illness in which all the symptoms of poisoning were manifested. This was in November last. There were suspicions soon after her decease that she had met with foul play, but, as there were no definite grounds for supporting them, they were forgotten until after the death of Mr. GRAHAM, of Grinsdale, when they were revived and eventually reached the ears of the Coroner. The inquiry into the cause of Mr. GRAHAM's death was still going on; and, having obtained information which seemed to confirm the public rumours of Mrs. Margaret GRAHAM's death, and which was likely, if it proved correct, to throw light on the mysterious death of Mr. GRAHAM, Mr. CARRICK resolved upon exhuming the body, and submitting it for post mortem examination to medical gentlemen well qualified by their skill and experience for so delicate and important a task. Accordingly, as the first inquest had been adjourned to Tuesday the 10th inst., and it was desirable to know the result of the medical examination before that time, Friday last, the 6th inst., was the day selected for the disinterment of Mrs. GRAHAM. Soon after five o'clock, A.M., Mr. SABBAGE, Superintendent of Police, proceeded, by direction of the Coroner, to the church-yard at Kirkandrews, and, assisted by some others, succeeded, in about fifteen minutes, in exhuming the coffin, which was of oak, and in a sound state of preservation. It was then deposited in the barn of Mr. Thomas NORMAN, there to await inspection. The inquest had been fixed for nine o'clock, at which time the coroner and the same jury who are investigating Mr. GRAHAM's death arrived. The lid of the coffin having been removed, they were sworn in the presence of the corpse, which they then inspected. The face, and winding sheet in which the body was enveloped, were covered with mould, which gave the impression that the body was much decomposed, though, as will be seen from the medical report, the fact turned out otherwise. Richard HIND, ironfounder, Carlisle, was then called and sworn. The deceased, Mrs. GRAHAM, was his sister, and wife of John GRAHAM, of Kirkandrews. She was 45 years of age, and died on the 27th of November last. She was interred in Kirkandrews-church-yard. He identified the corpse as that of his sister, and the coffin as that in which she was buried. Jane HETHERINGTON, of Monkhill, was then examined. She said she knew Mrs. Margaret GRAHAM intimately; and identified the corpse and the coffin. These depositions were taken in the barn where the coffin was deposited. The coroner and jury having retired to a room in Mr. Thomas NORMAN's house, they were committed to writing; after which- The CORONER intimated that he should not take any more depositions that day. The corpse would be given into the hands of medical gentlemen, who would make a post mortem examination, with the view to ascertain whether deceased had or had not died from natural causes. It was possible that the result might tend to throw light on the cause of the death of Mr. GRAHAM, of Grinsdale, now under investigation, and it was advisable, therefore, that the medical evidence should be forthcoming before the inquiry was resumed. To the report of the medical gentlemen given in the evidence at the inquest on Tuesday we refer our readers for the result of the post mortem examination. It was at first agreed to adjourn the inquest till Thursday, but the day was finally fixed for Tuesday last, by which time is [sic] was expected the medical gentlemen would have concluded their experiments. The fact of poison having been discovered in the stomach and viscera of Mrs. GRAHAM was, we understand, communicated to the Coroner on Sunday night. Mr. SABBAGE, the superintendent of police, received, very early on Monday morning, a warrant for the apprehension of Mr. John GRAHAM, and he immediately went to his residence. He found Mr. GRAHAM in bed, and on stating his mission, Mr. GRAHAM got up, dressed himself, and was taken into custody. He was detained in the police-office till Tuesday evening, when he was removed to the gaol, where he now remains. THE ADJOURNED INQUEST ON MRS. GRAHAM. On Tuesday morning the jury assembled at 10 o'clock, in the Coffee House Assembly Room, and the first duty of the Coroner was to adjourn till Friday next the inquest on Mr. GRAHAM, in order that the inquiry into Mrs. Margaret GRAHAM's death might be proceeded with. The room was much crowded during the day. Mr. John GRAHAM had the option of being present during the inquiry, but he declined. Mr. JAMES MOUNSEY appeared as his solicitor. The Jury, we may repeat, consists of- Wm. MOSS, Carlisle, Foreman | John WILKIN, Caldewgate Richd. MARK, Tanner, Carlisle | John STORY, Caldewgate Thomas WHEATLEY, Newtown | John PATTINSON, Caldewgate David WRIGHT, Knockupworth | Thomas SPROAT, Lowther-st. Robert COWEN, Newtown | Wm. GILKERSON, Beaumont John SIBBALD, Caldewgate | Wm. ARMSTRONG, Beaumont Joseph LOWRY, Raffles | Rd. PATTINSON, Caldewgate The following is the evidence adduced on Tuesday:- Mary HIND-I live at Kirkandrews-on-Eden, with my father and mother. Margaret GRAHAM, the deceased, was my sister, and wife of John GRAHAM. She died on the 27th of November last, about seven o'clock in the evening. It was on a Wednesday. She had not been very well for three weeks before that. She became ill on a Tuesday. She was at our house that evening, and said she was not very well-she thought she had got some cold. She said nothing more that night. I went down next morning, and found her in bed. She said she had been up, but as she could not sit, had gone to bed again. She said she had been braiding at night, but did not say particularly whether she was poorly any other way. In the latter part of that day she got up, and went to work again. I saw her on the Sunday morning before her death: she said she was better than she had been the day before, and that she would come and see my mother. She was up that forenoon. I next saw her on Monday morning. I went down in consequence of having heard that she was poorly; my father said she had had a bad night. I was there betwixt eight and nine o'clock: she was in bed, very bad. She complained of very great pain in the chest, of very great pain and thirst. She laid her hand upon her stomach, and said the pain was there. I remained with her till nearly twelve o'clock at noon. She was purged and vomited-first one and then the other-the whole time I was there. She said she had been very poorly through the night both ways-both purging and vomiting. I asked her if she had taken anything that morning; she said she had taken a cup of coffee, but it had come back again. I asked her if she thought she could take anything I could make her, and she said she was frightened to take anything, it set her on a braiding. While I was there John GRAHAM was at home, going back and forward to the room all the morning. Mrs. GRAHAM thought she could take a little whey. I went and got milk out of the dairy myself. John was present at the time, but he and I had not spoke up to that time. I got some ale for the whey-Mrs. GRAHAM thought it better than the wine, and I made the whey. When I was pouring the milk upon the ale John GRAHAM came beside me and did not look pleased; he said I was to take the crud (curd) off it before I gave it to my sister. She drank the whey. I gave her nothing else that day. CORONER-Was there any reason why you did not? Witness-She seemed displeased. Whenever I wanted to make anything for her she said John would do it, and she seemed as if she was frightened that it would not please John if I made anything. Whenever anything was said about giving her anything to eat or drink he always said he could do it himself, he could do it as well as anybody. Nothing particular happened that morning. I went home to dinner, and returned at two o'clock. She was much the same; Mr. SEWELL, surgeon, had just come. I left her at tea-time, and came back between five and six. I left her for the night about eight o'clock; she was easier. The vomiting and purging rather ceased towards evening; she got some medicine from Mr. SEWELL. I next saw her on Tuesday morning, before eight o'clock. No one but John GRAHAM and his servants (Betsey ROBINSON and Benjamin MITCHELL, father and son) was in the house during the night. Benjamin MITCHELL's son is fifteen years old. I found my sister still in bed. No one was in the room when I went in. She was then easier, and said she had been easier through the night, and had had some sleep. I went home again, to tell my mother how I found her, and came straight back. After my return John boiled her a little panada; it would be between nine and ten o'clock. He prepared it himself. When he was boiling it sometimes I was beside my sister, and sometimes in the kitchen. She lay in a bedroom on the ground-floor, adjoining the kitchen. It was a little sago, I think, that he made. I did not see him put it into the pan. He took it to her. I think she supped some of it. She got nothing more that morning in my presence. She took some gin and water afterwards when she was thirsty. About an hour or so after she took the sago she became worse. I did not see her get anything between the time of her taking the sago and becoming worse. She became much worse than ever she was. Vomiting and purging came on again, and thirst and pain in her stomach. She was held in precisely the same way as on Monday, but much severer: cold sweat stood upon her brow. Her head was very hot and very bad, and she did not see very well: her sight was good enough before that. I remember Mr. SEWELL and Mrs. GRAHAM, of Grinsdale (John's mother) coming shortly afterwards; I was present at the time. When Mr. SEWELL came in he seemed very much put about to see John's wife altered: John was present. Mr. SEWELL said she was dangerously ill, and he proposed that Dr. OLIVER be sent for; Dr. OLIVER had attended her before. John did not go for him till about an hour after. I did not hear him urge any one to go. The fits of vomiting were very frequent and severe on the Tuesday forenoon. Dr. OLIVER saw her between two and three o'clock in the afternoon; he had a consultation with Mr. SEWELL, and they gave her some medicine amongst brandy; it came straight back. Dr. OLIVER ordered a mustard plaster for her breast and bowels. Mrs. GRAHAM (John's mother) and I made it and laid it on. In the afternoon John was often lying on the bed where my sister was. In the evening she was up while the bed was being righted. After we put her to bed he told Mrs. GRAHAM and me to go out of the room. We went out, and he laid down beside her again. Mrs. GRAHAM was much easier in the evening. I went into a neighbour's, Mrs. BURTON's, for a short time. John had sent Ben. MITCHELL to say that Dr. OLIVER was not to come. He did come, however, about an hour after. This was on the Tuesday night. He gave her some medicine in brandy, but it was vomited again. Betsey ROBINSON made some panada, and Mrs. GRAHAM took some of it. It remained in her stomach while I was there. I left about ten o'clock. Mrs. CANNELL had been at Longburgh, and she had called in the evening. Dr. OLIVER gave orders that some one was to sit up with Mrs. GRAHAM all night. John was unwilling that any one should sit up; he said he could wait upon her himself. My brother proposed that my father's servant and John's should sit up. My sister thought that I was not strong enough for it. John said there need not any one sit up, he could get her what she wanted. Our servant had come down, and we left her there. I saw Mrs. GRAHAM on the Wednesday morning, about eight o'clock. She was easier; vomiting and purging had both abated; but she was much weaker. She saw very little that day-her sight was bad; she could not see the objects in the room except a little bit in the morning; she soon lost them. Her hearing was worse than it had been. I made her some beaf-tea, and she took it. She was continuing to grow worse; she slept much, and just looked up now and then. She died that evening, about seven o'clock. I remember the Wednesday before Martinmas hiring: she was bent on going to Carlisle with apples and butter on the following day. It was on that same Tuesday evening that she became so ill. She was sometimes subject to braiding any way, and she did not say particularly how she was held that night. A JUROR-Did Mrs. GRAHAM say anything as to John's conduct toward her? Witness-Sometimes when I went down I found her crying, and when I asked her the reason she said John was so unsettled. [to be continued]