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
Catalogue details

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.

    32/156 (page 22)
    was to have charged it in the libel, and not to have used the alleged commission of one crime spoken to by this witness, and by this witness only, as giving colom- to the other offences which are charged here. The Lord Justice-Clerk, after consultation with the other judges on the bench, said that the Court was of opinion that the last question was not competent. By the Solicitor-General—Did this improper connexion between the doctor and you continue long after you had the miscarriage ? No. Was it continued when Mrs Pritchard was in Edinburgh visiting her father? No. Handn’t he connexion with you when Mrs Pritchard was in Edinburgh visiting her father? (Witness here hesitated a long time, and seemed indisposed to answer the question.) The Lord Justice-Clerk—It is necessary that you should answer the question, Mary. I sympathise with your very painful position, but it is necessary that you should answer it. Had he connexion with you at the time ? Yes. By the Solicitor-General—Had he also connexion with you after his wife’s return to Glasgow and before her death? No. Did he ever speak of marrying you? [Witness became affected at this question, and began to sob. After a pause, she answered in the affirmative.] When did he first speak about man-iage ? ■ Was it more than once ? Was it before his wife turned ill ? Yes. What did he say about marriage ? Did he say he would marry you ? Yes. Did he say when he would marry you ? No. When he said he would marry you, did he speak of his wife ? (A long pause by the witness.) What did he say about his wife when he said that he would marry you? (Another pause, the witness showing disinclination to answer the question.) Did he say that he would marry you if his wife died? Yes. Now, after I have suggested the matter to you, you will be kind enough to repeat what he did say to you ? What was it he said ? (A long pause.) The Lord Justice-Clerk—Give us the exact words. Witness hesitated, and became apparently deeply excited. After a pause of more than a minute. The Solicitor-General said—You cannot possibly like standing there, but you must if you do not answer the question. What were the words he said to you ? (Witness stiU hesitated, and held down her head.) There is no reason why you should not say it. It is to avoid mistakes regarding you that might be made that I wish you to answer. The Lord Justice-Clerk—Tell us what he said, because it must be known. Witness was repeatedly urged by the Lord Justice-Clerk and the Solicitor-General to repeat the words, but only became more deeply excited. The scene lasted for several minutes, and produced a very painful impression in Court. At one time the witness mur- mured some words, but too faintly to be heard, and afterwards, though repeatedly urged from the bench, and by the Sohcitor-General, she refused to repeat what she had .said. The Solicitor-General—Did he say he would marry you if his wife died ? Y es. Was that several times? No, only once. What did he say then upon that one occasion? (Witness again hesitated.) This was before his wife took ill that he said that? Yes. Did he give you any presents ? Yes. What was the first present he gave you ? A ring. Was that last summer? No. Was it this year? No. When was it he gave you the ring ? The year before last. What else did he give you ? A brooch and a locket. [Shown a brooch in the shajie of an anchor.] Is that one of the brooches ? Yes. When did you get the anchor brooch ? This year. Was it not very short.ly before his wife’s death? Yes. In the same month that she died? Yes. Did he give you his likeness? Yes. Did he give you more than one photograph of himself? Yes. AYas his photo- graph in one of these brooches which he gave you ? In the locket. AVas there a photo- graph in it when he gave it you? Yes. There is not a photograph in it now; what has become of it? (AA^itness hesitated.) The Solicitor-General repeated the question. What became of it ? (AATtness faintly.) I tore it. I forgot to ask you when you were speak- ing about Mrs Pritchard's illnesses throughout from her return after Christmas until her death, was she afflicted with a violent purging as well as with sickness and vomiting ? Yes. You had to attend in the chamber and empty it several times a-day? Yes. Did this purging accompany the sicknesses down to the end of her life ? When she was sick, did she also purge in this way ? Sometimes. AVas it commonly ? Yes. Do you know whether Mrs Taylor, on the last day of her life, was also affected in that way ^vith frequent purging ? Yes. AVhen did you first observe it ? On the Friday. AA'^hat time of day ? In the afternoon. Now, there was some tapioca got from Burton & Henderson during Mrs Taylor’s lifetime, do you remember who bought it? Yes. ' AVho was it? Master Kenneth, one of the children. Did the boy give it to you when he brought it in ? Ye& How much was there of it ? There was either half-a-pound or a pound in a paper bag. What did you do with it ? I laid it on the lobby table. How long did it lie there before it was taken down to Catherine ? It did not lie very long. AVas it an hour or two, or a shorter time ? A shorter time. Did you take it down to Catherine ? Mrs Taylor took it down. Did you tell the prisoner that Mrs Taylor used Batley’s medicine ? I did not. Did you ever speak to him upon that subject at all ? No.