jar. Some of the flour was used for puddings on the 5th of November and on the 18th, and all who partook were taken ill. On the 21st Mrs. West died. The flour was used again on the 22d and on the 25th, for thickening broth; and again all who partook were taken ill, with exactly the same symptoms. No fewer than nine persons were thus affected the last time that the flour was used. Some suspicion was at length excited, and Mr. Elston, a surgeon, was called in. Portions of the flour were analyzed, and were found to be strongly impregnated with arsenic. It was now deemed requisite to institute an inquiry into the circumstances, and the body of Martha West was disin tered on the 5th December. An examination took place, and the presence of arsenic in the stomach was distinctly ascertained. An inquest was held on the body, and the following facts were elicited. George West, a son of the deceased, and the keeper of a general shop, purchased a pound of arsenic in August last. On Monday week, he had fourteen ounces left; the remainder he represented as having been sold. The next day, when the constable made inquiries about the fourteen ounces, West at first said the constable had taken it away with him the previous day, and after wards that it must have been stolen during the night. He had been at Weedon on the Monday night; and on his return he was, he said, taken very poorly, and in putting up the shutter he had fallen forward and had broken the window. Through the opening he presumed the drawer containing the arsenic to have been abstracted. It appeared from the evidence of Mrs. Blackwell, one of the daughters of deceased, that on the Sunday following the death of Martha West, George was asked to stay and dine at the house. He said he would, and proposed to go and order some flour of a person near Claridge. Mrs. Blackwell then reminded him that there was flour in the house; upon which he begged her not to use that flour-his mother was against it, he said, that he should never forgive himself if any thing happened to them: he told her she had better give it to the pigs. At the close of the inquiry, the jury returned a verdict of " Wilful Murder" against George West. so set 28. SUDDEN DEATH.-An inquest was held in the drawingroom of the house No. 17, Stratford-place, Marylebone, on view of the body of lieutenant-general sir William Henry Pringle, aged 68, whose death occurred at his residence as above, under the following melancholy circumstances: Harriet Stirling stated, that she was second lady's maid to lady Pringle. On Wednesday afternoon last, about half-past three o'clock, she heard a noise in the library as of something heavy falling, and on hastening thither found her master lying on the floor on his back, apparently lifeless, and lady Pringle standing by his side. She, at her ladyship's desire, rang the bell, and the butler answering it, he was told to fetch a surgeon immediately. Witness then assisted her ladyship in lifting deceased into a chair, when she heard him sigh once heavily. On the surgeon's arrival witness left the room, and was subsequently told that deceased was dead. John Vyse, butler in the service of the deceased, said, that deceased was of robust constitution, and in the general enjoyment of good health. On Wednesday afternoon last, about one o'clock, deceased went out to take a walk, and returned shortly after three, when he appeared as usual. About the time mentioned by the last witness, hearing the library bell ring, he went there, and on entering the room, saw deceased lying on the floor as described, and lady Pringle kneeling down by his side, supporting his head. Witness, by order of her ladyship, went for a surgeon, and fetched Mr. Hans, of Duke-street, Man chester-square, who applied mus tard poultices to deceased's feet, at the same expressing an opinion that anything that could be done would be of no avail, as deceased was dying. In a few minutes afterwards life was extinct. Mr. Wakley, the coroner, said he had no doubt that deceased's death was occasioned by disease of the heart, which was now fearfully prevalent, and which an eminent physician had recently told him was the cause of ninetyfive sudden deaths out of 100. The jury returned a verdict, "Natural death." The deceased officer was colonel of the 45th regiment, had served under the duke of Wellington in the Peninsular war, distinguished himself in various engagements. He had been nearly fifty years in the army, and for his general bravery had been created a knight grand cross of the order of the Bath. SHERIFFS FOR THE YEAR 1840. 01000 W. F. Brown, of Dunstable, esq. H. Hippisley, of Lamborne-place, esq. Thomas Mortlock, of Little Abingdon, esq. John Tollemache, of Tilstone Lodge, esq. Sir H. J. J. Hunloke, of Wingerworth, bart. John Samuel Wanley Sawbridge Erle Drax, of Charbo Sir H. Williamson, of Whitburn, bart. C. T. Tower, of Weald-hall, esq. Sir M. H. Hicks-Beach, of Williamstrip-park, bart. C. S. Chauncy, of Little Munden, esq. Arthur Pott, of Bentham-hill, Tunbridge Wells, esq. Sir G. J. Palmer, of Wanlip, bart. T. G. Corbet, of Elsham-hall, esq. John Wheelton and William Evans, esqrs. Sir J. G. J. Clifton, of Clifton, bart. Hugh Hamersley, of Great Haseley-house, esq. Thomas Eyton, of Eyton, esq. John Jarrett, of Camerton, esq. H. J. Pye, of Clifton-hall, esq. John Meggott Elwes, of Bossington-house, Stockbridge, esq. G. St. V. Wilson, of Redgrave, esq. The Hon. Peter John Locke King, of Woburn Farm, J. D. Gilbert, of Eastbourne, esq. Sir Thomas Aston Clifford Constable, of Burton Consta K WALES. Sir L. P. J. Parry, of Madryn, knt. IRELAND. Thomas Gregg, of Ballymunoch, esq. Lorenzo Nickson Izod, of Chapelizod, esq. Thomas Chambers & J. M. Dysart, esqrs. |