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
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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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    bottle you took ? I could not say; but it is something like it. How much did you pay mrit. 8s. 4d. Did you give it to Mrs Taylor with the mixture or solution in it ? Yes ^id you see the bottle, or one like it, after Mrs Taylor’s death ? Yes. Where« In the bed-room Did you find it in her pocket ? No. Was Mrs Taylor in good health herself from the tune she came till the day before she died; or did you see anything the matter with her. She was complaining. When did she begin to complain ? She had a cold when she came. ^ When did she begin to complain about anything else ? She ] ! never com- plained of anything else tUl the day before she died. What did she complain of to you the day before she died ? She wanted to be sick. What time of day ? About five o’clock she said to me she was not well. That is Friday the 24th ? Yes. The Lord Justice-Clerk—In the morning ? No, the afternoon. She was unwell, and wanted to be sick ? She said she wanted to be sick, and could not vomit. • Solicitor-General—After five ; was that long after five o’clock ? It was between SIX and seven. Did she say what she thought was the matter with her ? She said she thought it was from being confined too much in the same room. Did she say she thought she had got the same complaint as her daughter, Mrs Pritchard ? Yes. This was between six and seven? Yes. Well, what did she do then? She came down stairs from her daughter’s bed-room. Was it not her daughter’s bed-room where she said she wanted to be sick, and that she thought she had the same complaint as her daughter? Yes. Where did she go after she came down stairs ? I think she went into the dining-room or draw- ing-room. Did she not go to the consulting-room and write letters ? Not at that time. When was that ? After tea. Where had she tea ? In the dining-room. Anybody with her at tea? Yes. Who ? AU the family. By the Lord Justice-Clerk—Was the prisoner there? Yes. And the children? Yes; I did not see her taking tea, but she was in the dining-room when the tea was on the table. By the Solicitor-General—What time was that ? About seven or past seven. When did she leave the dining-room ? I came down stairs and left her there. You said she was in the consulting-room later at night; did you see her there ? I went down stairs, and she came to the stairhead and called upon me, and sent me out for sausages for her sup- per. And you went and got them ? Yes. And when you came back you found her writ- ing in the consulting-room ? I knew that she was there. The Lord Justice-Clerk—How did you know it? Because she was not in the dining- room. The Solicitor-General—Did you not see her there ? No. Did you not see her again that night ? Yes. What was the first you saw of her that night after you came back with the sausages ? She met me going upstairs to the drawing-room. And she must have come out of the consulting-room, for she was not in the dining-room ? Yes. You had come up from the kitchen yourself, I suppose? Yes. What did she say to you? Nothing. What o’clock would it be ? About nine o’clock. Where did she go at this time when you met her in the stair ? I think she went up to her daughter’s bed-room, where she slept. When did you next see or hear of her? Up in the bed-room. Were you sent for when the bell was rung, or soon after she went up ? Yes. How long after ? Not very long. But was it two or three minutes, or an hour or so ? It was more than two or three minutes. By the Lord Justice-Clerk—Was it about half-an-hour or a quarter of an hour ? About half-an-hour—I don’t think quite as much. By the Solicitor-General—You answered the bell? Yes. What was she doing—was she in bed when you went up ? She was sitting on a chair. And she wanted hot water ? Yes. Did she say why she wanted it ? She said it was to make her vomit. Did you go for the water ? Yes. Where was Mrs Pritchard at the time? In her bed. Did Mrs Taylor take the hot water when you took it up to her ? Yes. Did Mrs Pritchard give you any message when you went up for the water ? She desired me to go for the doctor. Did you go for the doctor ? Yes. Where did you find him ? He was engaged in the consulting-room. Do you mean there was a patient with him? Yes. Did he come to Mrs Pritchard’s bed-room, where his mother-in-law was? Yes; but not then. How long after ? Very soon after. Do you mean within a few minutes ? Yes. After the person who was with him went away ? Yes. Did you go with him yourself, or did you go up before him ? The beU was rung again before the doctor went. And did you go up? Yes. And what did you find? Mrs Taylor in the bed-room. What was she doing—was she as well as she had been, or worse ? She appeared to me much the same; she was not any better at any rate. But was she not worse ? She was -worse when I ■w'ent up the third time. What was wanted the second time the bell rung ? More hot water. And you took it up ? Yes. Did she take it ? Yes. Did she try to vomit both times that she took the water ? Yes. Did she succeed ? She did not vomit, but threw up a little water. Did the bell ring the third time ? Yes. Was that before the doctor had gone up ? The doctor was up then. How did you find Mrs Taylor then ? She was