Wilful murder

Mr. George Rousseau, a domestic in the establishment of his royal highness the Prince of Wales. On the coroner’s inquisition, John Phillips, esq. surgeon to his royal highness’s household, stated, that on the 9th inst. he was called upon to visit the deceased, whom he found in a state of great agitation, with excessive vomiting. Deceased complained of great giddiness in his head, and declared that his palate was affected with the taste of copper, and that he was poisoned. He was removed from Carleton-house, to Clapton, when his fever increased, and he died on the 16th. Witness added, that after opening the body, doctors G. Pearson, G. Blaine, and himself, were of opinion, that the primary complaint was in the head, witness added, he understood that the deceased had taken milk, as was his usual custom; he was shortly afterwards seized with violent sickness and pain. The vessel in which the milk had been boiled was examined, but no traces of poison could be discovered, nor could it be discovered that poison had been taken by that which Was excreted from the stomach; still he thought nothing could have produced the effects which were exhibited upon the stomach and brain, but arsenick, corrosive sublimate, or some mineral poison. Charles Peck, esq. his royal highness's maitre d’hotel, deposed, he had been in the habit of visiting the unfortunate gentleman from time to time, until his removal; he always declared he had been poisoned, and intimated a sort of suspicion that an officer employed under him had been the cause; but he observed, shortly after he was seized with the symptoms above described, he had desired the suspected party to taste some of the milk; he had done so, and was seized with the same symptoms as the deceased. Mr. John Gascoigne, the clerk of his royal highness’s stables, affirmed, the person referred to by the deceased was of a respectable and moral character. The jury returned their verdict — wilful murder against some person or persons unknown.