Sarah
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The Bath Chronicle. Thursday 23 Jul 1829
Page 3 Column 3
MURDER. - On the 12th inst. an inquest was held by Mr. CAINES, at Withypoole, in the parish of Dulverton, on the body of Mary REED, about 30 years of age, wife of a labourer of that parish, whose death was occasioned the preceding Monday by poison mixed in cream, alleged by her to have been given by Abraham REED, her husband, also aged about 30. REED and his wife had been married about twelve months, and lived unhappily. On the 5th inst. she was taken ill, and said she had been poisoned; and on being asked what she had taken for breakfast, replied, “Bread and cream.” On being asked, if all the cream was eaten, her husband said, he had thrown it way, and dashed the cup to pieces. Deceased continued ill, but no medical man was called in, and she expired on the following day. The jury returned a verdict of Murder, and that the death of the deceased was occasioned by arsenic being mixed with cream, and given her by her husband, Abraham REED; whereupon he was fully committed to Wilton House of Correction, to take his trial at the next Assizes.
<NOTES: Abraham REED son of Betty REED, married Mary BREWER>