James Merritt lived with his wife, Ann, in Pear Tree Place, Clapton, and worked for the East London Waterworks Company. The couple had been married for some seven years and a number of children had been born to the union. Unfortunately, two of those children had died, but the couple still had a son, also named James, and a daughter, named Ann after her mother.
On Wednesday 23 January 1850, Samuel Ketheridge, who lived in Cold Bath Lane, Hackney, and who also worked at the waterworks, walked home with James, after their shift had finished. They parted at around 9.15 pm and, at the time, James Merritt was suffering from nothing more than a slight head cold.
At around 8.00 am, the following morning, 24 January, Samuel called for James so that they might walk in to work together. The door was opened by Ann Merritt, who told Samuel that her husband was in the yard, being sick. James came in a few moments later saying that he had had a basin of broth for his breakfast and a nice hot cup of tea, but perhaps it had turned in his stomach and made him vomit. Still, he seemed to be rather better now and the two men then left for work, together.
By the time the two men reached Clapton Square, James was again feeling rather ill. He also said that a great thirst had suddenly come upon him. So bad was he that the two friends had to call into a nearby public house where James had 2d worth of rum and a little warm water and sugar.
At 11.15 am, Samuel called again at the Merritt’s house, where James had returned for lunch. To his surprise, Samuel found James eating nothing more than a bowl of oatmeal gruel, which he was unable to finish. Ann Merritt said she would keep it warm on the stove, but James seemed unimpressed, replying, ‘I don’t care what you do with it.’ James and Samuel then returned to the waterworks together but, by 1.15 pm, James was so ill that he told his friend he would have to go home.
Some time between 5.00 pm and 6.00 pm that evening, Samuel Ketheridge called again at James’ house, to drop off the tools he had left at work. Once again the door was opened by Ann Merritt, who told Samuel that her husband was upstairs in bed, and wished to see him. Once in the bedroom, Samuel saw that James was worse than ever and was now complaining of cramp in his feet and legs.
Later still that same evening, Thursday 24 January, at around 8.30 pm, Ann Merritt knocked on the door of the house next door, one occupied by Mary Gillett and her husband. A rather hysterical Ann explained that James was now very ill indeed. Mary and her husband then followed Ann back into her own house and saw James in his bed. He was retching violently and said that he had a burning pain in his chest and a violent pain in his stomach. As Mary Gillett gave James some water, her husband dashed off to fetch the doctor. A doctor did indeed attend and medicine was prescribed but it was all to no avail. At around 12.30 am, on Friday 25 January, James Merritt died.
The inquest opened on Monday 28 January and immediately the authorities ordered that a post-mortem should be carried out. This was performed by Dr Francis Toulmin, who was assisted by Dr Hacon and Dr Welch. Various internal organs were removed and sent for analysis. Those organs were examined by Dr Henry Letheby, who found arsenic in the stomach and liver. As a result, Ann Merritt was arrested and charged with her husband’s murder.
Ann faced her trial at the Old Bailey, on 4 March 1850. The first witness was Samuel Ketheridge who detailed the sickness James had complained of, on 23 and 24 January. He was followed to the witness stand by Thomas Denman, a plumber of Clapton Road, who said that he had seen James on Stamford Hill, on 24 January. He was vomiting violently and Thomas took him into a public house and gave him a small brandy.
James Ashby was another of James’ workmates at the waterworks. He had heard that James was ill and went to visit him at 10.40 am on 24 January. It was Ann who answered his knock and told him that James was in the yard, being sick. When James came into the kitchen, Ashby could see that he looked very ill. Ann had made her husband some beef and potatoes for his lunch, but he didn’t seem to want it. She then invited Ashby to eat the food, as she didn’t want it to go to waste. Ann then told her husband that he might be better off with some oatmeal gruel, which she then started to prepare for him.
Mary Gillett, the neighbour, was the next witness. In addition to detailing Ann Merritt calling at her house and asking her to come in and help with James, Mary was also able to say that she had been passing the house at 1.30 pm, on 24 January. The door was open and Mary looked in and saw that Ann was mixing some oatmeal into a bowl. Mary asked her what she was doing and Ann had replied, ‘I am thinning this gruel for Merritt to drink. He is very thirsty.’
On the following Monday, 28 January, just before the inquest opened, Mary had been talking to Ann and the latter had said, ‘You know Mrs Gillett that Annie (her daughter) and me ate the remains of the gruel.’ A few days later, once it was known that poison had been found in James’ body, Ann had also remarked, ‘I am innocent. He was a dear, good husband, and it was not likely that I should do such a thing.’
Doctor Francis Toulmin had been called to the Merritt house at some time between 10.30 and 11.00 pm, on 24 January. He had found James in bed, with acute pains in his stomach and severe cramps in his legs. His pulse was also very weak. Dr Toulmin had returned to his surgery and sent back some medicine, but the following morning, he was informed that James had died.
When he called to view the body, on the morning of Friday 25 January, Dr Toulmin had remarked that a post-mortem would be necessary. Ann Merritt immediately objected. She explained that she herself had no concerns about such an examination but James, when he was alive, had objected to such things and she could not now agree, out of respect for him. Surprisingly, perhaps, Dr Toulmin did not press the point and only carried out the post-mortem when requested to do so by the coroner.
Doctor Henry Letheby had examined the internal organs from the post-mortem, on 29 January. He detected eight and a half grains of white arsenic in the stomach and smaller traces in the liver. In his opinion, it was most likely that the fatal dose had been taken some two to three hours before death, though he was not able to state that as a certain fact.
James Urrey was the secretary of the Clapton Benefit Club. He testified that James Merritt had joined the club on 2 February 1848. According to the rules of the society, had James lived until 2 February 1850, his widow would have been entitled to death benefits of £10. However, since he had actually died on 25 January, she was only entitled to the reduced figure of £7 10s.
Constable Alfred Andrews had called at the Merritt house at 9.30 am, on 25 January. At the time, Ann was talking to her neighbour, Mrs Gillett and at one stage, Andrews heard her remark, ‘I don’t think there is any necessity for a coroner’s jury, as my poor dear husband died a natural death.’
Frederick William Ground was an assistant at his father’s chemist shop, in Church Street, Hackney, and Ann Merritt was a regular customer there. On 19 January, she had called at the shop, and asked for 2d worth of arsenic so that she might poison some rats or mice. At first, Frederick did not wish to serve her as his father was not present in the shop but Ann explained that they knew her well and she had bought arsenic before. Finally, Frederick agreed to serve her but, as he was about to measure out 2d worth, Ann said; ‘I want it in two separate pennyworths; one for myself and one for my sister who lives at a distance and cannot procure it.’ Frederick then measured out two separate 1d worth packets and wrapped them both in a larger packet which he clearly labelled ‘Poison’.
Inspector James Coward had called at Ann Merritt’s house at 10.30 am, on Saturday 22 February. He asked her if she knew of any arsenic being in the house. Ann replied that she did not. Coward then asked if her husband had used arsenic in his work. Ann said he hadn’t. Finally, she was asked if she had recently purchased any arsenic and again she replied in the negative. At that point, Coward invited Frederick Ground into the room and he confirmed the purchase of 2d worth of arsenic. Ann now had nothing to say and was arrested on a charge of murder. Later, at the police station, she remarked that she had combined the two parcels of arsenic into one large one, and thrown away the package marked Poison. Her husband had been fond of taking soda powders for his digestion and it was obvious to her that he had taken the arsenic by accident, mistaking it for one such soda powder.
One of the final witnesses was Constable Richard Clark who had accompanied Inspector Coward to Ann’s house. After her arrest, Clark was left alone with her for a short time and heard her say, ‘I suppose I shall be hanged.’
The final piece of evidence was the statement Ann Merritt had made in the magistrate’s court. In this she had said, ‘I have nothing to say, but that I never intended him to take it.’
‘When I bought it I did intend it for myself if he came home as he had done for several nights past, for I could not live with him as I had done. He came home very comfortable, and I thought no more of it, until the Sunday following, when I burnt it, as it came into my mind that he might take it instead of the soda.’
‘As for my giving him anything, it never entered my head. What I said about hanging, was, if I should be hung that minute, I should be hung innocently of giving him anything to do him any harm.’
In the event, the jury found that Ann was guilty as charged, though they did add a strong recommendation to mercy. There could only be one sentence, however, and Ann was duly condemned to death. In due course, though, the jury’s recommendation was implemented and the sentence commuted to one of imprisonment.