The important results of an elaborate investigation into the mysterious case of Elizabeth Fenning: being a detail of extraordinary facts discovered since her execution, including the official report of her singular trial, now first published, and copious notes thereon. : Also, numerous authentic documents; an argument on her case; a memorial to H.R.H. the Prince Regent; & strictures on a late pamphlet of the prosecutors' apothecary / by John Watkins, LL.D. ; With thirty original letters, written by the unfortunate girl while in prison; an appendix, and an appropriate dedication.

  • Watkins, John, active 1792-1831.
Date:
1815
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The important results of an elaborate investigation into the mysterious case of Elizabeth Fenning: being a detail of extraordinary facts discovered since her execution, including the official report of her singular trial, now first published, and copious notes thereon. : Also, numerous authentic documents; an argument on her case; a memorial to H.R.H. the Prince Regent; & strictures on a late pamphlet of the prosecutors' apothecary / by John Watkins, LL.D. ; With thirty original letters, written by the unfortunate girl while in prison; an appendix, and an appropriate dedication. 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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    condoling legal acquaintance, both attornies and barristers, were at their command. This trifling sum of five pounds, without the capability of its being increased by any efforts of the parents, with more than two-fifths of it devoted to a counsel, and the remainder to the procuration of such legal assistance as the precincts of a gaol afford, was the whole fund and means opposed to the great array of strength and influ- ence on the part of the prosecutors of Elizabeth Venning. Unaware herself of her almost entire destitution, she writes in one of her letters * :—“ But, thank God! ] shall stand my trial at the Old Bailey, where 1 shall have a Cou nsello r to plead for me ; so I have nothing to fe r /” How this trial was managed, with that well-known advo- cate, Mr. Gurney, against her; how her defence was conducted by Mr. Alley, her counsel; how he cross- examined the witnesses; how the RECORDER presided in the absence of the Judges; and how the trial termi- nated, have been already detailed. The Notes appended to it contain some questions, which do not appear to have been put to the witnesses either by the prisoner’s Counsel or the RECORDER. Were it prudent to indulge in a review of the Trial, and to consider (he concatenation of circumstances sworn to, and the truth and consistency of the evidence, the conclusions would be of a very alarming tendency, and probably lead to ulterior results, that no one but a legal adviser dare contemplate, w ithout the risk of expressing feelings that ought not to be lightly hazarded. But there is a counter-circumstantial FACT, deposed AGAINST by Mrs. Charlotte Turner, and her housemaid, Sarah Peer, upon the Trial, that ought not to be for- gotten— the fact that the COALS were delivered upon the day of the poisoning. This FACT was.denied by both the mistress and the maid upon their oath t. They * See the Correspondence, Letter XII. t See Trial, p. 17. Q. 39, and p. 39. Q. 110 and 111.