Part 10 (2/2)

Did you ever hear Miss Blandy tell Dr. Addington that she had given your master some of that powder?--I heard Miss Blandy tell the doctor she had given my master some of that powder before in a dish of tea, which, she said, he did not drink, and she threw it into the street out of the window, fearing she should be discovered, and filled the cup again, and that Susan Gunnell drank it, and was ill for a week after.

When was this?--This was on the Monday before my master died.

Do you remember what happened on Monday, the 5th of August?--Yes. On that day I and two washerwomen were in the wash-house. Miss Blandy came in, and said, ”Betty, I have been in the pantry eating some of the oatmeal out of your master's water gruel.” I took no notice of it, but the same day, in the afternoon, I went into the pantry, and Miss Blandy followed me, and took a spoon and stirred the water gruel, and, taking some up in the spoon, put it between her fingers and rubbed it.

What was it in?--It was in a pan. When my master was taken ill on the Tuesday in the afternoon Miss Blandy came into the kitchen, and said, ”Betty, if one thing should happen, will you go with me to Scotland?”

I said, ”Madam, I do not know.” ”What,” says she, ”you are unwilling to leave your friends?” Said I, ”If I should go there, and not like it, it will be expensive travelling back again.”

Did she say, ”If one thing should happen”? What thing?--I took no further notice of it then, but those were the words. On the Monday morning before he died she said to me, ”Betty, go up to your master and give my duty to him, and tell him I beg to speak one word with him.” I did. She went up. I met her when she came out of the room from him. She clasped me round the neck, and burst out a-crying, and said, ”Susan and you are the two honestest servants in the world; you ought to be imaged in gold for your honesty; half my fortune will not make you amends for your honesty to my father.”

Cross-examined--Had Mr. Blandy at any time, and when, previous to the 5th of August been ill?--About a twelvemonth before he had been ill some time, but I cannot tell how long.

What was his illness?--He had a great cold.

Did he take any physic?--I believe he did once or twice.

Can you tell the time?--I believe it was the latter end of July or beginning of August.

Who made the whey and broth that were sent to the washerwoman?--My fellow-servant made the whey; I made the broth.

Was she a kind mistress to the washerwoman?--She was. She had a greater regard for her than any other woman that came about the house.

About this music, who did she say heard it?--She mostly mentioned herself hearing that.

Was this talk when Cranstoun was there?--I heard her talk so when he was there and in his absence.

Was it when she was in an angry temper only that she used those words to her father?--I have heard her in the best of times curse her father.

Was Susan Gunnell very ill after drinking that tea?--She was, and continued so for a week.

KING'S COUNSEL--Was it at the time Susan was ill from drinking of the tea that Miss Blandy asked you about her taking the gruel and said it would do for her? And did she say anything else?--Miss Blandy said she poured it out for my master, but he went to church and left it.

PRISONER'S COUNSEL--Have you had any ill-will against her?--I always told her I wished her very well.

Did you ever say, ”d.a.m.n her for a black b.i.t.c.h; I should be glad to see her go up the ladder and be hanged”?--No, sir, I never did in my life.

KING'S COUNSEL--Did you and the rest of the family observe that Mr.

Blandy's looks were as well the last six months as before?--Miss Blandy has said to me, ”Don't you think my father looks faint?”

Sometimes I have said, ”He is,” sometimes not. I never observed any alteration at all.

[Here Dr. Addington is appealed to by the counsel for the prisoner.]

PRISONER'S COUNSEL--Do you, Dr. Addington, remember Miss Blandy telling you on Monday night, the 12th August, that she had on a Sunday morning, about six weeks before, when her father was absent from the parlour, mixed a powder with his tea, and that Susan Gunnell had drank that tea?--I remember her telling me that Monday night that she had on a Sunday morning, about six weeks before, when her father was absent from the parlour, mixed a powder with his tea, but do not remember her saying that Susan Gunnell had drank that tea. I have several times heard Susan Gunnell say that she was sure she had been poisoned by drinking tea out of Mr. Blandy's cup that Sunday morning.

Did not Miss Blandy declare to you that she had always thought the powder innocent?--Yes.

Did she not always declare the same?--Yes.

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