Trial of Robert Sawle Donnall, on suspicion of poisoning Mrs. Downing, his mother in law, tried at Launceston, March 31, 1817, at the Lent Assize, for the county of Cornwall, before the Hon. Sir Charles Abbott, Knt.

  • Donnall, Robert Sawle.
Date:
[1817]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Trial of Robert Sawle Donnall, on suspicion of poisoning Mrs. Downing, his mother in law, tried at Launceston, March 31, 1817, at the Lent Assize, for the county of Cornwall, before the Hon. Sir Charles Abbott, Knt. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Trial of JR. S. DonnalL About half past 8 on Monday Morning-, March 31, 1817, this important investigation Commenced ; the court and neighbourhood was crowded to an excess never before known, and about 9 o'clock the prisoner was put to the bar. The Prosecution was conducted by Serj. LENS, Mr. GAZELY and Mr. CASBERD. And the Defence by Serj. PELL, and Mr. GIFFORD. Mr. Casberd stated the charge to the Jury, and Serj. Lews* opened the case in an eloquent and humane speech, cf which the following may be considered the substance. GENTLEMEN OF THE JURY, You have heard the Indictment staled, charging this un- fortunate young man, icith the -commission of one of the great- est crimes known to the laws of God and of Society; and this crime is greatly magnified by the means resorted to for its perpetration ; from the situation of the prisoner as a Medical Marty these means can only be detected by a circum- stantial detail, the probability of ivhich you ivill have to judge of; as to the person who administered this poison, if poison was so administered, you can only have to draw your conclusion from minute events, for from the profession of the prisoner * he must necessarily be in possession of these drugs p for medical purposes, this therefore destroying one portion of evidence generally adduced on these occasions. In investigations of this nature it is an essential point to shew that thete was some cause which could influence in a degree, however slight, the mind of a man to perpetrate a crime of so black a cast, for these crimes are generally com- mitted, in the height of passion, or under the operation of B