Free A Burglar Caught by a Skeleton & Other Singular Tales from the Victorian Press by Jeremy Clay Page A

muscular tissue.
    The Evening Telegraph , Dundee, November 12, 1895

    Poisoned Lozenges
    Two boys suddenly died at Bradford on Sunday morning. Several others also were taken ill, and it was then ascertained that it was caused by eating peppermint lozenges bought in the market place on the Saturday from a person named Hardaker.
    The lozenges had been made by Mr Joseph Neale, of Stone Street, Bradford, wholesale dealer, who had used 40lbs of sugar, and 12lbs of plaster of Paris, as he thought, but which turned out to be 12lbs of arsenic.
    Mr Neale had gone to the shop of Mr Hodgson, druggist, of Shipley, near Bradford, and asked for 12lbs of ‘daft’ or ‘alibi’, which meant plaster of Paris, used for adulterating lozenges.
    Mr Hodgson was ill in bed, and directed the youth to a cask in the cellar, he went and there being two of a similar description, served his customer with arsenic instead of plaster of Paris. By this mode of adulteration, lozenges can be sold at half price.
    On Monday afternoon it was ascertained that 12 persons were dead, and that 50 adults and 28 children were ill. A great number of deaths are reported as having taken place in the country towns and villages around Bradford, in some instances three or four persons are dead in one family.
    The West Middlesex Advertiser , November 6, 1858

    Death in the Pot
    A brewer named Hare, residing in the Old Kent Road, was last week fined £200 by the magistrates of Union Hall, for having mixed copperas, opium, and other poisonous ingredients with his beer. By a singular coincidence, the beer in question had been expressly prepared for a beer-shop keeper named Death.
    The Leamington Spa Courier , February 16, 1839

    Horrible Proceedings at West Bromwich
    An instance of most revolting cruelty, with subsequent details equally horrible, has, it is reported, occurred at West Bromwich. It will be remembered that the School Board contest took place on the 27th ult.
    The result was made known the following Saturday night, when it transpired that the six nominees of the West Bromwich Liberal Association were elected, with one independent candidate and four out of five Churchmen, thus giving the former a majority of one, which, it may be added, was secured by five votes only. It is stated on reliable authority that a number of men, who denominate themselves Liberals, assembled at a public-house in Spon Lane, West Bromwich, and discussed the means they should adopt to celebrate the ‘victory.’ Report states that some of the party became intoxicated, and suggested that a dog should be laid upon the table ‘for supper.’
    Incredible as this may appear the proposal was carried out. A man went to the door of the public-house, and after a few minutes’ watching, enticed a dog – a half-bred retriever. This was taken into the house and killed with a sang froid air by some of the party.
    The next proceeding was to cook the carcase of the unfortunate dog. No difficulties appear to have been considered insurmountable, and it was decided that the animal should be roasted. Accordingly the process of ‘drawing’ the carcase, as would be done in the case of a hare, was carried out, a portion of the inside being carefully dressed for cooking. Provision for roasting the carcase was obtained, and the cooking was proceeded with, a number of the men watching it with the coolness of cannibals. The dog’s liver was fried.

    The cooking occupied about an hour, after which the carcase was placed upon a dish and removed to a room prepared to receive the company. The dish was put upon a table before some half-dozen persons, who ate the greater part of the dog’s remains, including the liver, all of which appeared to be disposed of with considerable relish. During this time commonplace conversation was indulged in, and the party left the house only when they could remain no longer, and went to their homes. Some of the men have since been too ill to work.
    Further Particulars
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