A complete report of the trial of Dr. E. W. Pritchard, for the alleged poisoning of his wife and mother-in-law. Reprinted, by special permission, from the 'Scotsman' / Carefully revised by an eminent lawyer.
- Eminent lawyer
- Date:
- 1865
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: A complete report of the trial of Dr. E. W. Pritchard, for the alleged poisoning of his wife and mother-in-law. Reprinted, by special permission, from the 'Scotsman' / Carefully revised by an eminent lawyer. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.
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![hoard. You went to the press, and got the bag of tapioca ? I cannot remember whether it was Mary Paterson or myself, but I told Mr Gemmell there would be some of it very likely in the house, for anything I knew. Did you see it there ? Yes, it was in that closet. Who was the ofBcer who was present ? I think it was Morton or Murray. [Shown a paper bag.] Is that it ? It may be it, for anything I know. I cannot swear to the bag. Is that what was found in the press by Minray, in your presence ? Yes. The bag that was found in the press was taken possession of by the officer? Yes. The Lord Justice-Clerk—When was it found in the press ? It was the week when I was taken back to Glasgow. I was staying in Sauchiehall Street at the time. When you were taken back there did you find the remainder of the tapioca in the kitchen press ? Yes. I went to see if it was there. The Sohcitor-General—It was immediately after the prisoner was apprehended ? No, not immediately, but he had been apprehended. It was after I was brought back from Edinburgh to Glasgow. And that bag which has been shown to you is the same sort of bag? Yes. About the same size? Yes. The Lord Justice-Clerk—Did you find the remainder of the tapioca in the kitchen press ? Yes. What was done with it? It was given to Mr Gemmell, the Procurator-Fiscal, and the officer Murray, who was with him. Cross-examined by Mr A. R. Clark—Did the prisoner and his wife live happily together? Yes. Was he attentive to her in her illness ? Yes. Do you remember seeing Mrs Pritchard after Mrs Taylor’s death, and speaking about a nurse? Yes. When was that? It was after I left her service. I asked Mrs Pritchard if she would not like to have a nurse. This was after Mrs Taylor’s death? Yes. What did she say ? She said, “No, Catherine; I do not like strangers.” Did she say anything more ? Nothing. Just think a little—“It was my own fault,” she said, “ that I have not got a nurse, for the doctor wished me to get one.” The Lord Justice-Clerk—Meaning her husband ? Yes. By Mr Clark—Are you satisfied that she had an attack of cramp before Dr Cowan came ? I think so. The first attack was before Dr Cowan came, and the second after he left. When you heard Mrs Pritchard call out at midnight upon the occasion you have spoken to, were you and Mary M'Leod both down stairs ? Yes. Who w’ent up first ? Me. Were you in the room before Mary came ? Yes ; she came immediately after. Then whenever Mary came in did she teU. you to go for the doctor? Yes. That was the first thing that she said? Yes. And the first thing you heard? Yes. Dr Pritchard was in the room when you went up ? Yes. She had said nothing that you heard until she told Mary M'Leod to go for Dr Gah'dner ? She did not say anything particular; but she seemed to be in great pain under the influence of chloroform. She said nothing that you heard about this time of hypocrites ? Not at that time. Was Dr Gairdner in the room at the time the word was used ? Yes. And it was not used before he came ? No. Who else was in the room besides Dr Gairdner ? Dr Pritchard, Mary M'Leod, and myself. Were you in the room aU the time Dr Gairdner was there ? Yes. Was Mary M'Leod in the room all the time Dr Gairdner was there ? Yes. I think she was. And you heard all that was said during that time? Yes. And saw aU that was done? Yes. Mrs Pritchard was very much excited you said during that time? Yes. When you got the tapioca, was it not Mary M'Leod that brought it to you ? I think so. Have you any doubt about that ? It was brought down stairs into the kitchen. And by Mary M'Leod? Yes. Did it appear to be unopened when you got it? I thought so. I did not notice it ever having been touched. After you made the tapioca you put the bag away in the closet ? Yes. You did that yourself? Yes. When it was found in the closet was it in the same condition as you had left it ? I cannot say that. Did it appear to be in the same condition as when you put it there ? Yes. You did not make any more tapioca irx the bag ? No. By the Lord Justice-Clerk—There was just one making of tapioca? Just one that I know of. By Mr Clark—Dr Pritchard kept medicine, I believe in his house? Yes; but I did not see much of it. I thought there was chloroform in the house. But did he not keep it in the consulting-room ? No, I did not notice any. Was he not in the habit of dis- pensing medicine ? No; I think ho generally gave prescriptions for his medicines. Were there no bottles or other things of that sort in the consulting-room ? Yes. There were a good many bottles, but I did not know what they contained. You know that things of that kind were kept in the consulting-room ? Yes. Was the place in which they woro kept open or locked ? Sometimes open and sometimes locked; it was not always locked. Was Dr Pritchard in the house at the time the tapioca was brought ? Yes, so far os I know. Maby M'Leod—The Solicitor-General—How old are you, Mary ? Seventeen in October.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b28407258_0021.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
