THE MAYBRICK CASE. CHARGE OF POISONING A HUSBAND. A LIVERPOOL SENSATION.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 384, 13 July 1889, Page 6

THE MAYBRICK CASE. CHARGE OF POISONING A HUSBAND.

A LIVERPOOL SENSATION.

Great sensation has been causod in Liverpool over tho iuquost on James May brick, a leading mci chant, who died under circumstances reflecting great suspicion on his wife, who was arrested. Mrs May brick is aged 26, and her husband was 50 years. She is the daughter of a banker in Mobile, and stepdaughter of Baron Bogue, and is understood to have a private fortune. "Michael May brick, bi other of deceased, was the first witness callod. He is tho well-known baritone singer, who is equally famous as Stephen Adam?, under which name he has composed numerous ballads and songs. He stated that on the Bth instant be was summonsed to Liverpool by telegram, and was met by his brother Edward. They went together to the house of the deceased. They found him in bed attended by a nuroc. Mrs May brick met them, and followed them into the bedroom. He said to her that he had suspicion that his brother was not being" properly attended, and she asked what he meant. She said she had the most i%hh to nurse him, and had done so up to the present. Witness next day called in two doctors and another nurse. In consequence of a communication from the nurse, witness removed a bottle of brandy which was among 1 the medicines in the bedroom. He also took possession of a bottle of meat extract in the room, and gave them to the doctor. He found Mrs May brick changing oome whisky from one bottle to another, placing it in one with a wide neck, and changing the labels. He remon&trated with her, and asked her how she dare do it. She replied, "it was becau&e of the sediment in the bottle. "' Nurses weie again changed. Hisbrothersankrapidly,anddied on the 11th, having been very delirious the day he died. The children's nurse came to him and gave him a parcel of arsenic and a box. The parcel was in brown paper, and was labelled " Poison, for cats " in writing. In the parcel were al&o four small bottles, containing white fluid, The labels were scraped oil. There was also a pocket-hand-kerchief, or piece of linen, in the pavcel. The doctois refused to give a certificate for burial of deceased, and the police therefore were called in. Alice Yapp, a nurse gave evidence as to finding a number of papers soaking in a basin, though none had been used in fc the house for a long time. Mrs May brick gave her husband a cup, which she said contained mustaid and water and asked him to dunk it, as it would make him sick and give him 'relief. One evening Mis May brick gave her a letter to post. It fell into tho mud, and witness opened it to put it into another envelope. It was addressed "A. Brierley, Esq., Huskissonstreet, Liverpool," and was in pencil. She gave it to Mr Edwin Maybrick. The coroner read the letter as follows : — "Deaiest, — Your letter under cover to G. came to hand just after I gave them to you on Monday. I did not expect to hear from you so soon, and delay occurred in giving him the ncce&bary instruction. Since my return I have been nursing all day and night. He is sick unto death. The doctors held a consultation yesterday, and now all depends how long his strength will hold out. Both my brothers-in-law are here, and we are tciribly anxious. I cannot answer your letter fully to-day darling, but reiieve your mind of all fear of discovery now or in the future. M. has been delirious since Snnday., and I know he is ignorant of everything, even of the name of the street and also that he has not been making any inquiries whatever. The tale ho told me was a mere fabrication, and only intended to frighten the truth out of me. In fact, he believed mv statements although he will not admit it. You need not, therefore, go abroad on this giound, dearest, but in any case don't leave England until I have seen you once again. It \ou wish to write to me about anything do so, as all letters pass through my hands at present. Excuse thi3 scrawl, my darling, but I dare not leave the room for a moment, and 1 do not know when I shall be able to write to you again. In haste, yours truly, JTlorrie. " Witness ; further deposed to finding a packet containing white powder, labelled "'poison,' in a triple in the linen closet. Bessie Brierty, housemaid, said she remembered tho Grand National Steeplechase, and that her mistress was away from home during the week preceding. She returned on. the Thursday evening before the Grand National. On tho evening of that day &he heard loud voices in her master and mistress's bedroom. They were tho voices of Mr and Mrs Maybrisk. Some time after tho bedroom bell was rung sharply. She went to the bedroom, and her master told her to go for a cab at once. She Avent for a cab, but afterwards ordered the cabman to take the cab away. Other servants and nurses gave evidence as to the quarrel after the Grand National and to MrsMaybrick'scontinually mixingmedicine herself, letting no one else administer to her husband. Mrs Samuelson then stated she was One of a party which went to the Grand National with Mr and Mrs May- i brick. Mr Srierley wa3 also there and returned with Mvs Maybrick. Witness stated that Maybrick seemed to have disagreed, for Mrs Maybrick said to her, > " I will give it to him hot and heavy for speaking to me like that in public." At this point the inquest was adjourned for a week. The body is to be exhumed.

Laura— My dear, how can you say such flattoring things? I am quite positive I am not looking afc all like myself this evening. Jessie (a rival beauty) — Of course you aro not. Haven't X jusfc said you aye lookng charming ?