Three of those ragged little urchins who spend their time in antics about Covent Garden Market, and pick up any unconsidered trifles that come within reach, were placed before the Bow Street magistrate charged with having stolen about 12 oz. of a poisonous drug called belladonna, and administering it to other boys, whereby their lives were endangered.
It appeared that a herbalist in the market packed in a hamper two jars containing belladonna made into a salve, and left it outside his shop to be at hand for the carrier who was to call for it. The pack age attracted the attention of the young prowlers, who took an opportunity of cutting open the brown paper cover and helped themselves to about 12 oz. of the luscious prize, which on inspection and tasting they took for Spanish liquorice. One of them, seized with envy at the success of the operating thief, exclaimed, “You shall not have it all,” and snatched away a portion of the booty, which he immediately swallowed; and in consequence became delirious and had a narrow escape from death. The plunderers now converted the compound into that popular beverage, liquorice water, by aid of the pump at hand: and dispensed the deadly draught to all applicants at the easy rate of a pin a drink. Their customers, of course, suffered in proportion to their greediness or their “realized property" in pins; but though some were seriously ill, fortunately none died.
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