510 
CASE  OF  POISONING  BY  STRYCHNINE,  ETC. 
discovered,  and  there  was  none.  Dover's  powder  was  to  a  cer- 
tain extent  traceable,  because  there  was  that  which  indicated 
the  presence  of  opium.  Therefore  it  is  suggested  that  strychnine 
was  substituted  by  mistake  for  James's  powder,  the  strychnine 
bottle  being  in  most  dangerous  proximity  to  the  James's  powder. 
It  was  to  be  regretted  that  the  arrangement  since  made  by  the 
firm  of  Clay  and  Abraham  with  respect  to  their  drugs  and 
poisons  had  not  been  made  before  the  death  of  the  deceased,  as  in 
that  case  the  accident  would  never  have  occurred. 
The  jury  after  consulting  together  about  five  minutes,  returned 
a  verdict  of  "Not  guilty,"  and  the  prisoner  was  immediately 
discharged. 
CASE  OF  POISONING  BY  STRYCHNINE. — ACTION  AGAINST 
THE  CHEMISTS  FOE,  DAMAGES. 
Liverpool  Assizes. — Nisi  Prius  Court,  August  17. — (Before  Mr.  Baron  Pigott.) 
Lingard,  Administratrix,  v.  Clay  and  Abraham. 
This  was  a  special  jury  cause,  brought  under  Lord  Campbell's 
Act,  for  the  recovery  of  damages.  The  circumstances  which 
were  the  cause  of  action  have  excited  considerable  attention, 
and  gave  rise  to  a  trial  for  manslaughter  during  the  present 
assizes.  Mr.  Attorney-General  James,  Q.  C,  Mr.  Aspinall,  Q. 
C,  and  Mr.  Samuell,  were  retained  for  the  plaintiff ;  Mr. 
Temple,  Q.  C,  and  Mr.  Quain,  were  counsels  for  the  defence. 
When  the  case  was  called  on, 
Mr.  Attorney-General  James,  addressing  his  Lordship,  said — 
We  are  going  to  take  a  verdict,  my  Lord,  for  £1500. 
His  Lordship. — A  verdict  by  consent,  is  it  ? 
The  Attorney-General. — If  your  Lordship  will  wait  for  one 
moment,  it  is  necessary  to  say  a  few  words.  The  action  is 
brought  under  Lord  Campbell's  Act,  and  as  there  must  be  an 
apportionment,  no  doubt  the  jury  will  take  what  we  suggest. 
The  verdict  will  be  for  £1500;  £500  to  the  widow,  and  £500 
each  to  the  two  younger  children.  The  eldest  child  comes  in 
for  some  property  by  the  death  of  the  father. 
His  Lordship. — You  must  give  the  eldest  child  something. 
The  Attorney-General. — Yes,  my  Lord,  we  will  give  him,  say, 
£1 ;  though  I  don't  know  that  it  is  necessary. 
