DAN DAWSON 



347 



writes Mrs. Tompkins, in conclusion, 'and looked round 

 over the splendid estate, I said to myself " It's a good thing 

 to be a successful English trainer," and if you'd tasted those 

 berries, and seen that estate, I'm sure you'd agree with me.' 

 News afterwards came to Park House that the bright and 

 entertaining lady-journalist, who made herself so agreeable 

 during her surprise-visit, had lost her life in a railway 

 accident. 



DANIEL DAWSON, THE HORSE-POISONER 



On May 6, 1811, it is recorded by the historian of the 

 period that ' An occurrence has taken place at Newmarket 

 which is the subject of general conversation and surprise 

 among the frequenters of the Turf. Several horses were 

 entered for the Claret Stakes, and as usual were taken out 

 in the morning for exercise. They all drank at one water- 

 trough. Some time after they had been watered six of 

 them were observed to stagger, and then to roll about in the 

 greatest agony. One is since dead. On examining the 

 trough it was found that the water had been poisoned. The 

 horses were the property of Mr. Sitwell, Sir F. Standish, 

 and Lord Kinnaird. Suspicions attached upon one of the 

 jockeys.' This was not the first occurrence of the kind. 

 In the ' Calendar' for 1809 there is an advertisement offer- 

 ing 100 guineas reward for the discovery and conviction of 

 the person or persons who it is expected poisoned the water 

 in the trough belonging to J. Stevens, stable-keeper, from 

 which the horses drank. Two horses suddenly died, and 

 others were drinking the poisoned water on this occasion, 

 but the miscreants escaped justice this time ; and, no doubt, 

 emboldened by their having once cheated the hangman, 

 repeated the offence in 181 1. Another account is to the 

 effect that the poison was put into the water in a trough 

 belonging to Richard Prince, a Newmarket trainer, and also 

 in two other troughs on the heath, and from drinking out 

 of which four horses died, and several others were harmed. 

 The evil was evidently getting serious ; the water was tested 

 and found to contain a preparation of arsenic, and the 

 Jockey Club at once offered a reward of 500 guineas for 

 the detection and conviction of the guilty parties. This 

 had the desired effect. On August 15, 181 1, 'a low touter 

 of the name of Daniel Dawson ' was apprehended at 



