A complete report of the trial of Dr. E. W. Pritchard, for the alleged poisoning of his wife and mother-in-law. Reprinted, by special permission, from the 'Scotsman' / Carefully revised by an eminent lawyer.

  • Eminent lawyer.
Date:
1865
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A complete report of the trial of Dr. E. W. Pritchard, for the alleged poisoning of his wife and mother-in-law. Reprinted, by special permission, from the 'Scotsman' / Carefully revised by an eminent lawyer. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    PREFACE. DPv Edwaud WiLLiAJvr Peitchaed is a native of England, where he be- came a member of the Koyal College of Surgeons in 1846. He voyaged in the Pacific and Northern Polar Seas, and went to Egypt and other coun- tries bordering on the Mediterranean. He was afterwards located at Filey, in Yorkshire, and married a Miss Mary Jane Taylor, daughter of Mr Michael Taylor, a retired sUk and lace merchant, residing at the Grange, near Edinburgh, by whom he has five children,—the eldest about thirteen years old. He latterly settled in Glasgow, about the year 1859, where, in consequence of many contributions to medical science on the subjects of cancer and gout, the influence of vegetable medicines on diseases, and others, he soon became known as a man of superior attainments. His popularity was also greatly enhanced by his activity in connexion with public insti- tutions,— among others, the Glasgow Athenmum, of which he became director. While thus in the enjoyment of a popularity and success apparently due to merit and activity, the attention of the public was attracted to him by a horrible circumstance which occurred in his house on the 5th of May 1863. He was then living in No. 11 Berkeley Terrace, Berkeley Street. The occur- rence, as set forth in the columns of the Glasgow Rerald of 6th May, w'as as follows;— Lamentable Occurrence—Young Woman Burned to Death.—Yesterday morning, a melancholy accident occurred in the residence of Dr E. W. Prit- chard, situated No. 11 Berkeley Terrace, Berkeley Street. The house, which is at the north side of the street, consists of two flats and attics, the servant’s sleeping apartment being in the top flat fronting the street. About three o’clock, one of the constables stationed in the vicinity of the dwelling observed J;he glare of fire through the attic window, and immediately pro- ceeded to the front door and rung the bell. The door was ojjcued by Dr Pritchard, who slept in a bed-room on the second floor, and who had been wakened a few minutes before the bell rung by his two sons, who slept in an