Q. If at that time Captain Donellan had insinuated to you any suspicion of poison, whether you would or not have taken the shroud from the body?
A. I verily believe, had I known the tendency of the enquiry, I should have sat there for a month rather than have left the body unopened.
Q. Should you at that time if the suspicion had been disclosed have proceeded to open the body?
A. I should have attended the opening of it.
_Mr. Newnham._ I understand you to say that when the body was opened, the external appearances did not contribute in any way to your forming a judgment one way or other?
A. Nobody would attempt to form a judgment upon the external appearances altogether.
Mr. _Bradford Wilmer_ sworn. Examined by Mr. Wheeler.
Q. You was sent for to Lawford-hall at the same time Dr. Rattray was?
Q. When first you came there did you see Captain Donellan?
A. I did. He desired us to walk into the parlour; after we had had some refreshment we were told that the coffin was unsoldered, and we were desired to walk up stairs.
Q. Was any thing said to you at that time as to the means by which Sir Theodosius Boughton had died?
Q. When you did go up stairs, what part did you see of the corpse?
Q. We have learned from Dr. Rattray that you did not proceed any farther, how happened that?
A. The body was so extremely putrid, that I declared my opinion to Dr. Rattray that the proposed enquiry could give no sort of information.
Q. Supposing it had been communicated to you that Sir Theodosius Boughton had died by poison, should you have been satisfied without opening it?
A. I should then have opened the body at all events.
Q. You afterwards did open it at the time Dr. Rattray has spoken of?
A. I was present at the opening of the body, by Mr. Bucknill.
Q. Have you been employed in any experiments with Dr. Rattray?
Q. Without going into every particular of Dr. Rattray’s account, do you and he concur in general as to the effect of that medicine?
A. I wish you would be more particular in that question.
Q. Do you agree with Dr. Rattray in what he has said respecting those experiments at which you was present?
A. I do in general; but as Dr. Rattray has not described the appearances which were visible upon the dissection of the horse, with your lordship’s permission I will read my minutes. “On the 20th of March, one ounce of the laurel water was given to a young greyhound; while Dr. Rattray held the mouth open, I poured the water into the dog’s throat; as soon as it was swallowed the Doctor released its head to observe the effects of the poison, when, to our great surprise, he fell down upon his side, and without the least struggle or any perceptible motion (except what the doctor has explained about the dropping of the lower jaw) expired. On the 22d of March, in the presence of Sir William Wheeler, a pint and a quarter of laurel-water was given to a mare aged twenty-eight years. Within a minute from the time it was swallowed she seemed affected; her flanks were observed to heave much, and a trembling seized her limbs; in two minutes she suddenly fell down upon her head, and in a short time after was very violently convulsed; the convulsions continued about five minutes, at the expiration of which time, she laid still, but her breathing was very quick and laborious, and her eyes much affected with spasms. At this time four ounces more of the water were given her, after which she seemed much weaker, but without any more return of convulsions, and in about fifteen minutes from the time of her first seizure, she expired.”