HC Deb 08 April 1902 vol 105 c1255
MR. COGHILL (Stoke-on-Trent)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to an inquest held by the Coroner for North-West Staffordshire, on the 18th inst., on a married woman residing at Port-hill, when the Coroner, in summing up, stated that it appeared that the deceased was a milliner, and had never been employed in the lead, and consequently could not have got this lead poisoning in the course of her trade; that it could not be difficult to find out where this load was obtained; and that if this had been done, and the person who supplied it knew for what purpose, he would find himself charged with manslaughter at least. And, in view of the fact that the jury returned a verdict to the effect that death was due to lead poisoning, brought about by deceased taking pills for a certain purpose, whether he will cause inquiries to be instituted as to the person who supplied the deceased with the lead pills.

* THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. RITCHIE,) Croydon

I understand that active inquiries have been made, but that no clue has been obtained to trace the person who supplied the pills.

MR. COGHILL

Has the right hon. Gentleman been able to ascertain if it was the practice of this woman to take these pills?

* MR. RITCHIE

was understood to reply that the inquiry had been directed solely to finding the person who supplied the pills.