Fishtoft, Boston just 48 miles south of Grimsby, a strange death of arsenic poisoning had the community spellbound in 1875. How did Thomas die of poisoning? Suicide or murder? I have summarised some of the court testimonies of some of the witnesses. Take a look and then, I leave this for you to decide.
The location : Fishtoft, Boston, Lincolnshire
The victim : Thomas Green aged 36. He was described as a hardworking man, well respected. He was a Cottager.
His son : George Green aged 12
The accused : Ellen Green aged 32 and her friend John Bonnett, a trolley man, railway worker
The Courts : Session House, Boston and Lincoln Court
The sister : Ellen’s sister, Sarah Stopper
Comments
The third paragraph to the sixth subheading, Police Sgt Henson on Ellen's statement, appears critical.
But how does one find about the last sentence in "On the Saturday morning before he [Thomas] died, he called her [Ellen] into the room and said, “I have done this to myself. I put the arsenic in the kettle when it was boiling on the fire. I done it once before. I put it in the pitcher but my heart misgave me and I threw it away. I have done it because I heard something at Boston that I could not bear”?
Good morning Derdriu
I have scoured the records and can't find what happened to them at all. Today is my last day working for the holidays so once Christmas is done I shall be on the trail.
Your sentiments are correct. I would have hated to have been on that jury and would have certainly decided with caution.
Veronica, Thank you for the history lesson and product lines. Certainly, I'd not want to have been on the jury for this one. It's a bit complicated, what with two different statements supposedly made by the victim, one implicating his wife and the other himself. Is there any indication anywhere as to what happened to Ellen, George and John afterwards?
BSG
Thank you and yes indeed very good point. I think the number of possibilities made even Victorian " justice " have second thoughts.
Regardless, there are no winners in this situation and how the child grew up living with tis knowledge I have no idea.
While the water is suspected as the source, so could be the tea. Perhaps the leaves had become tainted.
That is because I ate heartily, as usual.
I am a historian first, a travel writer second and a food writer third. :)
I didn't notice you not eating on Saturday evening. :)
A food writer doing an article on poisoning! And to think, I dined at your house on Saturday! Only joking. A well-researched article.