POISONING BY STRYCHNINE. 
241 
the pills were left, and she said there was a box of them in the dressing-table drawer, 
where the box was found. She then fell into convulsions, and died. 
Mr. Whatman appeared to watch the case on behalf of the friends of the deceased ; 
Mr. Lee attended on behalf of the city magistrates ; and Mr. Kelsey represented 
Mr. Storer, at present under remand by the magistrates, charged with the murder of the 
deceased. 
Application was made for Mr. Storer to attend, who wished to be present, but this 
was refused by the coroner. 
Mr. Superintendent Caldow gave evidence as to the arrest of Mr. Storer at Topsham, 
who then, in answer to the superintendent, denied having given or sent any medicine to 
Miss Blake. At the house where Mr. Storer had been staying two boxes were found, 
containing a large quantity of letters, and a small medicine chest, some of the drugs 
from which were taken to Professor Taylor. The pink paper produced contained six 
grains, and Professor Taylor had taken five grains out of it. It had on it the part of a 
label, on which the letters “tryc” only remained. The letters were then read, the 
following extracts from which tend to show the intimacy existing between the two 
parties. 
“ Thanks, darling, for the powders. I have taken two, but no good yet. Mamma 
wrote to aunt, and said it is my time. I am to take care of myself. Do you think you 
had better send me something stronger ? I mean pills, or some more powders. I am 
always down in the morning to take letters out of the box, so you need not fear sending 
the pills so long as I have them in the morning. I hope I shall be all right before I 
come home, for mamma will be sure to ask me on Friday. Write to-morrow. Good¬ 
bye, pet.” 
“My darling, mamma says that papa is in a way about me, and is going to examine 
me. i)o you think he will find it all out ? Mind, I shall still say you have taken no 
liberties with me. Say yes or no to ‘ Fernanda,’ meaning whether he will find it out 
or not. Burn this.” 
Mrs. Blake, on being recalled, stated that she had no reason to suspect any improper 
intercourse between her step-daughter and Mr. Storer, nor had she used any threat as to 
an examination. 
Dr. Alfred Swaine Taylor said, that on the 7th of September he received a jar con¬ 
taining, as was alleged, portions of the viscera of the deceased, a small bottle, and a box 
of pills. On September 12th, in compliance with an order from Sir George Grey, he 
proceeded to examine these articles. The pills in the box were twelve in number. The 
average weight of each was rather more than four grains. They were of a brown 
colour, and had an aromatic smell. They were soft, as if made with treacle or syrup. 
Under the microscope they presented no unusual appearance. No crystalline or mineral 
matter could be perceived in them. They contained neither arsenic, antimony, nor 
mercury, but they contained a large proportion of sugar, with vegetable matter similar 
to the aromatic confection of the Pharmacopoeia. Three of the pills weighing 12'G 
grains were submitted to the usual processes for the detection of strychnia and other 
alkaloids of the like nature. Strychnia was separated from them in a crystalline state, 
and distinctly identified by all of its principal chemical properties. The decoction of 
the pills in water and spirit had the intensely bitter taste of strychnia. This- taste re¬ 
mained upon the tongue for more than an hour. From the thiee pills a quantity of 
strychnia equivalent to half a grain was separated. Assuming that the strychnine was 
equally distributed among them, this would make a proportion of one-sixth part of a 
grain for each pill. By another chemical process the strychnine contained in the half of 
another pill was extracted. This was found to be equivalent to one-tenth part of a 
grain, or representing one-fifth part of a grain for each pill. By another chemical pro¬ 
cess the strychnine contained in the half of another pill was extracted, dhis was found 
to be equivalent to one-tenth part of a grain, or representing one-fifth part of a grain 
for each pill. (The packet of strychnia was produced.) Considering that, it is exceed¬ 
ingly difficult to extract the whole of the strychnia contained in a pill under such cir¬ 
cumstances, it may be inferred that each pill would not contain less than from one-sixth 
to one-fifth of a grain, and that three pills would therefore contain from three-fifths to 
one-half of a grain. Three other pills taken from the box were made into an extract 
with spirit (for dissolving strychnia), and one-half of this extract was placed within a 
wound made in the skin of a rabbit. In four minutes the animal was seized with the 
