Trial of Robert Sawle Donnall, on suspicion of poisoning Mrs. Downing, his mother in law, tried at Launceston, March 31, 1817, at the Lent Assize, for the county of Cornwall, before the Hon. Sir Charles Abbott, Knt.

  • Donnall, Robert Sawle
Date:
[1817]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Trial of Robert Sawle Donnall, on suspicion of poisoning Mrs. Downing, his mother in law, tried at Launceston, March 31, 1817, at the Lent Assize, for the county of Cornwall, before the Hon. Sir Charles Abbott, Knt. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    On cross-examination, she lects the prisoner being called out of the roots before he* mother was*served with the second cup of cocoa. Ed var I i g wad present at tea on the 3d of Nov.— He did no! e his mother the first cop. bi I >vo her the se- cond, v :ir< turning from the Amoral, th< prisoner denied be- ing present at the commencement of the tee, and told the wit. Bess to say that be bad given the first eon. Recollects the prisoner saying to him about 2 or months before, Una the deceased had from 5 to fiOOl* a year coming in. Cress-examined.—He did not observe any thing particular in the prisoner's manner. The room was small. He saw Donnall take up the bread and butter, and bring it directly be- fore his mother. His mother and Mrs. Etotin&Ii only drank co- coa. It was about the time of his mother's finishing the first cup, that Donnall was called out. Whenever they drank tea at Donnall's, he was generally in the habit of handing about the bread and butter. When atthe Town Hall, witness did not say that he gave the first cup. When before the Mayor, he was asked that question, but does not recollect his answer. The prisoner went round the table with the bread and butter, and came to his mother from behind. [Mali of the room produced.] A * The Tea Table. A. The Fire Place. 1 Mrs. Doaall, at the Table. 2 The Prisoner. 3 Mr. Samuel Downing. 4 Mrs. Jordan. 5 Mr. Edward Downing. 6 The Deceased. Dr. Edicards, of Falmouth, was called in by the prisoner on the Monday morning. He was introduced to the deceased's room by Donnall, who told him e had an attack of Cholera morbus, and that she had had a similar attack a fortnight be- fore. He found her drowsy, and in such a state as to make it