Page:Facts, failures and frauds- revelations, financial, mercantile, criminal.djvu/256

214 FACTS, FAILURES, AND FRAUDS. was poison that he had to get at Mr. Maitland's. He thought it was some ingredient in a hair-wash which his master was going to mix in the two bottles which had been placed on the sideboard. After nine o'clock Mr. Sadleir rang the bell, and asked him if anything had come from Mr. Maitland's. Witness said there had not. Mr. Sadleir said he supposed Mr. Maitland had not the article by him, and had to send out for it. Witness said he had, for it had been sent for at seven o'clock. Mr. Sadleir wished him to go for it, but witness got the kitchenmaid to go, as he had to attend to the tea, asking her at the same to post a letter which Mr. Sadleir had written to Mrs. Sadleir, in Ireland, his sister-in-law. She returned from Mr. Maitland's in about half an hour with a bottle wrapped up in paper, accompanied by a note, both which he took upstairs and laid by Mr. Sadleir's side on the table. Mr. Sadleir was then sitting with his back to him and apparently reading, and did not speak to witness. He had lived with the deceased upwards of eighteen months. The deceased was a temperate and sober man. He only drank a glass or two of sherry with his dinner. He had not of late noticed any change in the deceased's manner. The deceased was much occupied in business. He had not complained of his head at all, or of not being able to sleep, nor was he under medical treatment. He came home unexpectedly to dinner on Saturday evening. He seldom dined at home, but usually at his club. He left home in a cab on Saturday morning, with a quantity of papers with him, as he was accustomed to do. Before getting into the cab he returned to his room upstairs, as if he had forgotten something. Again, before he had left in the cab many minutes, he returned, and went upstairs for a few moments. He left in the cab again, and did not return until the evening. He had never before made any attempt on his life to witness's knowledge. He always spoke civilly to witness, especially of late, when witness had got used to his ways.

Hannah Bishop, a woman of middle age, said—I acted as kitchenmaid to the deceased. I went to the shop of Mr. Maitland, the chemist, at the request of the preceding witness, for a parcel on Saturday night last, between nine and ten o'clock. I saw Mr. Maitland's assistant, who asked me if I was going to give it to Mr. Sadleir himself? I said I should give it to the butler. He asked me again whether I was going to give it to Mr. Sadleir. I said I never saw the gentleman (meaning Mr. Sadleir), but I would give it to the butler. The assistant cautioned me particularly about its being poison, and asked me not to let it he about at all on any account, but to take it up to Mr. Sadleir immediately. I gave it to the butler, and did not hear anything more about it. When I went to Mr. Maitland's, I took a letter to the post, which was given me by the butler. It was addressed "Mrs. Sadleir, Clonocody, Clonmel." I believe she was the deceased's sister-in-law. I have lived three years in his service, but I very