HORSES POISON ED BY AltSENIOUS ACID. 511 
"Mr. Orridge. — No, my Lord. 
“ The Judge . — This is a case in which the charge of malice 
must be clearly established. 
“ Mr . Orridge. — It is a question entirely for the jury 
whether — 
“ The Judge. — It is a question for the judge to say whether 
there is reasonable evidence to go to the jury. 
“ Mr. Orridge. — I have no further evidence. 
“ The Judge. — It is a most serious offence, and if maliciously 
done it ought to receive condign punishment ; but I really 
do not think there is any such evidence as would at all justify 
the jury in finding the prisoner guilty. Here is Fetch, w’ho 
has lived all his life upon the farm, and his employers are 
perfectly satisfied wuth the manner in which he and the 
other servants have treated the horses. There is not a tittle 
of evidence to show that he administered arsenic to this horse, 
or that he had any spite against his mistress or any of the 
family, or against any of the horses. Therefore, I shall say, 
that upon this evidence the jury ought to find a verdict of 
not guilty. 
“As it appeared there was no stronger evidence against 
Murton, both prisoners were discharged. 
“ The Judge. — I do deplore the facilities which exist in this 
country for the sale of poison. There is a law against the 
sale of arsenic, and I hope before another session of Par- 
liament passes away, that precautions will be adopted by the 
legislature, to prevent the sale of all poisons, in such a man- 
ner that they may never be misapplied. I am informed that 
rat-catchers go about the country selling arsenic. If any 
such persons are brought before me 1 shall take care to 
punish them with the utmost severity. It is a scandalous 
breach of an Act of Parliament, and it ought to be publicly 
denounced and reprobated. It affords a facility to apply 
arsenic to improper purposes, and a facility for poisoning 
mankind, and gratifying all the malignant passions in the 
human heart. If these men have, for any purpose, however 
innocent, without the knowledge of their mistress, used 
poison to improve the appearance of their horses, I hope they 
will be careful not to do so in future. As they seem to have 
conducted themselves properly, I would strongly advise that 
they be forgiven and taken into service again. 
“ Mr. Mitchell said he did not care taking Petch back, but 
he would not take the other. 
“ The Judge. — Well, I must leave that to you. 
“The Court then adjourned.” 
