He kept continually telling me that I should not be happy until she was out of the way. I asked him in the month of February if he could do anything to get her out of the way, and he said he would lay her on a sick bed and she would never get better. The first strychnia was got, as mentioned by me in my former statement, on the 10th day of February last, and for the purpose of killing cats. It was not got for any other purpose, and at that time I never thought of poisoning my wife. The whole of the strychnia obtained on the 10th day of February was used for killing cats. The second quantity of strychnia was got by me, I believe, on the Thursday or Friday following, but I wont be sure as to the day. The first and second quantities of strychnia were kept in the razor-case, which was placed on the mantelpiece in my bed-room. I did not when I got the second quantity of strychnia think of poisoning my wife. I should not have got the second quantity of strychnia but for the wish expressed by Mr. Morley's assistant to have the skin of a cat for a tobacco-pouch. I had before this given a book to Harrison, and on the day that Elizabeth Fisher left our house I had considerable unpleasantness with my wife about Harrison having that book. She had a bad opinion of Harrison, and I think feared him. I had told her when at Normanton that he had predicted her death at the end of February. On the Saturday after Elizabeth Fisher left, I took the paper containing the strychnia out of the razor-case, and put it in my waistcoat-pocket. I then went to my mother's house. In the afternoon I had previously called at Mr. Morley's for my wife's medicine. It was an effervescing draught in two bottles. At my mother's that evening I took the cork out of one of the bottles and touched the wet end of it with the strychnia. I then put the cork in the bottle again and shook up the draught. Before this I ought to have stated that I had during that Saturday afternoon put a very small quantity of the strychnia, perhaps half a quarter of a grain, in some jelly which my sister Jane brought from my mother's. My wife took a spoonful, and made a remark about how bitter it was, and she then requested Mrs. Fisher to take some. She did, and then remarked it was bitter as aloes. I then took a spoonful, but did not taste the bitterness. I then stated that I did not find the bitterness, and requested Mrs. Fisher to taste again, but she refused. I then took a second spoonful, and tasted the bitterness. I did not swallow any. The remainder was thrown away at that time. It was after this that I went to Mr. Morley's and my mother's. On that Saturday evening my wife took some of the draught in Mrs. Whitham's presence. Mrs. Whitham tasted it, and stated that it was bitter. The draught was not shaken that night before it was taken. My wife did not suffer from the effects of it at all. On the way from my mother's towards home on that Saturday I threw the remainder of the strychnia away. I cannot tell you the feelings of my mind when I put the strychnia into the jelly and into the mixture. I cannot describe them. I did not think at the moment when I put it in as to its effects or consequences. On the Sunday evening following, which was the 24th day of February, I went into Mr. Morley's surgery, and, there being no person in at the time, I took perhaps ten grains of strychnia and folded it in paper. When I got home I placed it in the stable. On the Monday morning I gave my wife her draught (the effervescing mixture) about half-past nine, and at ten o'clock she had the attack as mentioned by Mrs. Fisher and Mrs. Whitham. At the time my wife took that draught she complained very much of the bitterness, and added, that she would tell Mr. Morley about it. There were three or four doses left in the bottle after that draught was taken, and I broke the bottle in my wife's presence, fearing that Mr. Morley might taste it. The mixture was changed on the Monday. The mixture then given was very bitter. On the Tuesday night, or Wednesday morning, I applied the wet end of the cork of the medicine bottle to the strychnia, as before. I think there might

be from half a grain to a grain of strychnia on the cork when I put it in the bottle. I shook the mixture up. There were then only two or three doses in the bottle. I don't remember my wife having any attack on the Wednesday. She took her mixture on that day. On the Thursday I got another bottle of medicine from Mr. Morley's, and I again applied the wet end of the cork to the strychnia as before. About the same quantity of strychnia adhered as on the former occasion. The last dose of that mixture was taken on Friday night, at ten o'clock, and my wife was taken seriously ill in half an hour, but she had no arching of the back on that occasion that I recollect. Mrs. Fisher is mistaken, I think, on that point, but her statement in other respects is true, I believe. On that Friday night I got another bottle of medicine from Mr. Morley's. This mixture was directed to be taken four times a-day. I did not put any strychnia into that mixture or medicine, and I did not put any upon the cork of the bottle. Mrs. Whitham gave a dose out of that bottle in the afternoon of Saturday. The strychnia was in the stable, where I had first placed it, and there was no strychnia in the razor case on that day, nor during any part of that week. I was drinking at Sutcliffe's public-house on that Saturday, and I was more or less affected by liquor all the afternoon and evening. About three o'clock in the afternoon I went into the stable and took about a grain and a-half of strychnia out of the paper, and put it in another paper, which I placed in my waistcoat pocket. I put that strychnia into the wineglass, which contained a little water-I believe the water which was left in the glass by Mrs. Whitham after giving my wife the third dose in the afternoon; but I have no recollection as to the time when I put the strychnia into the glass. I gave the mixture in the evening, in the presence of Mrs. Whitham and Mrs. Wood, as stated by them in their evidence. I poured the mixture into that wineglass which contained the water and strychnia. I did not put the strychnia into the wineglass in the presence of Mrs. Whitham and Mrs. Wood, or either of them. I know that I put the strychnia in before, but I cannot remember how long before giving the medicine. I did not, when I gave the medicine on the occasions mentioned, think of the consequences of giving it; but when I saw my wife suffering from the attack on the Saturday night, it flashed across my mind that I had given her the strychnia, and that she would die from its effects.

I was muddled before this, and didn't know what I was doing. When the thoughts of her death crossed my mind, I immediately regretted what I had done, and I believe if Mr. Morley had come in at that moment I should have told him what I had given her, so that he might have used means to restore her. I cannot disguise the anguish I felt when I returned from Mr. Morley's and found my wife dead.

"Palmer's case first called my attention to strychnia, but I never should have thought of using that or any other poison for the purpose of taking my poor wife's life but for Harrison, who was continually telling me that I should never have any happiness until my wife was out of the way. I felt my situa tion immediately after seeing my poor wife's corpse, and I then feared a postmortem examination taking place within twenty-four hours after death, as I understood that Professor Taylor had stated that strychnia could not be detected after that number of hours had expired. Harrison had told me that I should marry a lady for my second wife having auburn hair and light complexion, as I before stated to you. I did think that when my wife should die that I would make Mrs. Whitham an offer of marriage at a suitable time. I did not think that what I was doing would cause my wife's death, and I did not give the strychnia with a view to destroying my wife to get Mrs. Whitham. Mrs. Whitham always treated me as a neighbour, and no more, and I wish to add that I believe her evidence against me is strictly true.

"I have not the slightest recollection of my wife ever stating that she wished

her friends to have a post-mortem examination, as stated by Elizabeth Fisher, and I do not believe that my wife ever made any such statement to Elizabeth Fisher, or any other person. I once told my wife when she was ill, some weeks before her death, that if she died there should be a post-mortem examination. I said this because she told me her friends would blame me if anything happened to her. She immediately objected, and requested that I would never consent to such an examination, and added, 'My uncle Bishop will see that you have not one.'

"I continued to believe in Harrison's power for some weeks after I was committed to prison. I believed that he had the power to save me until June or July. On the day when I wrote the letter commencing Dear Devil,' I was in a low, desponding, and queer state. I can't describe my feelings. I during that day thought of committing suicide. The instrument which was found upon me on the search made that day would have been probably used for that purpose. In the evening of that day I wrote that letter, but I cannot tell you my feelings at that time. I did feel certain that the devil would come to me that night according to my request. I wrote that letter, but never intended it to be seen by any person. When they commenced to search me for the instrument I tried to conceal the letter, but the deputy-governor accidentally saw it, and took it away. I did not write that letter in consequence of any suggestion from any person or persons, and never mentioned that letter, or the search which had been made on the 24th of April, to Mr. Barret, my attorney, until within two or three days of my trial, and then only because he stated that he had received information on the subject on the Saturday before my trial. I have only to add that the verdict of the jury was just and correct, and that I freely forgive every person who has been concerned against me, as I hope to be forgiven. "WILLIAM DOVE.

"Condemned Cell, York Castle, August 7.

Signed in my presence, J. M. BARRET, 5.30 p.m."

The concluding portion of the letter addressed by Dove to Mr. Barret on Friday evening was as follows:

"I would wish to remark, that I committed the crime through the instigation of that bad man, Henry Harrison, of the South-market, Leeds. Had it not been for him I never should have been in these circumstances.

"I remain, respected sir, yours respectfully,

"J. M. Barret, Esq."

"WILLIAM DOve.

STATISTICS OF CRIME.

A BLUE BOOK lately published contains tables of criminal offenders in the year 1854, preceded by explanations and calculations from the pen of Mr. Redgrave of the Home Office. It appears that the total number of commitments during the twenty-one years from 1834 to 1854 amounted to 196,864, of which 29,359 took place in 1854. The commitments of 1854 exhibited an increase of no less than 8.5 per cent., and exceed the average of the ten preceding years by 7.5 per cent.

This increase is unhappily general, only six of the English counties being exempted from its influence-viz., Yorkshire, Cambridge, Cumberland, Lincoln, Oxford, and Salop, where a slight decrease appears. In the metropolitan counties the increase was considerable-viz., in Middlesex, 13:4 per cent.; in Surrey, 128 per cent.; and in Kent, 11.9 per cent. Lancashire shows an increase of 80 per cent.; Derby, one of 249; Notts, one of 311; Leicester, one of 365; Warwick, one of 147; and Worcester, one of 13.9. In Essex and Herts-agricultural counties-the increase was respectively 13-4 and 23.2.

In North Wales a decrease of 20 per cent. is reported, and in South Wales an increase of 141 per cent. It is satisfactory to add that the increase is confined to the least grave classes of crime, and that violent offences have, on the whole, declined. In murder, manslaughter, and infanticide the aggregate decrease is 13.6 per cent. There is an increase in the unnatural crimes, but a decrease of 76 per cent. in rapes and attempts to violate the person. In the newly-defined offence, "assault and inflicting bodily harm" (14 & 15 Vict., c. 19), the numbers are 237 per cent. less. There has been an increase in burglary and violent robberies, and the robberies without violence include above four-fifths of the commitments for indictable offences; and in this large class the increase of 110 per cent., observes Mr. Redgrave, shows how largely the increased commitments of 1854 are made up of the less grave offences. Picking pockets forms an exception to this increase; while there is a large and progressive increase in larcenies by servants and frauds. Malicious offences against property do not comprise 1 per cent. of the total of the commitments. In forgeries, the number of commitments has been stationary, except as regards bank notes, in which offence an increase of 33 per cent. is reported, progressive for the last ten years. Coining is also on the increase, probably owing to the frequent refusal of the Mint to prosecute. There is a marked decrease of offences against the Game Laws. Perjury has been on the increase since the alteration of the law of evidence. Of the 29,359 offenders committed, 6,274 were acquitted and set free, 38 detained as lunatics, and 23,047 convicted of the crimes charged against them. Of these 23,017 convicts, 49 were doomed to death, 310 to transportation, 2,108 to penal servitude, 20,388 to imprisonment, and 192 to be fined or whipped. The decreased proportion of acquittals in 1854 is very remarkable, the increased commitments having added exclusively to the convictions. The effect of any diminution in the severity of punishment has not been confined to the offences to which it immediately referred; but has practically operated as a reduction of the whole scale of punishment. Of the 49 persons sentenced to death, only five expiated their crimes on the scaffold. It is sad to observe that the constantly increasing proportion of female committals only slightly decreased, while the actual number committed increased. In 1854, the proportion was 29 2 females to 100 males; in 1853, 29-5; and in 1852, 25-7. In 1842 it was only 21-6. In 1854, 14,673 prisoners were tried at County Quarter Sessions, 3,119 at the Middlesex Sessions, 5,394 at borough sessions, 4,571 at the assizes, and 1,512 at the Central Criminal Court.

To Correspondents.

Our Foreign Abstract of Psychological Literature will appear in the next Number.

CASE OF MR. SNAPE.-In this case the grand jury ignored the bill of indictment, and of course all proceedings in the matter have ceased.

VACANT APPOINTMENTS.-Cornwall County Lunatic Asylum, caused by the resignation of Dr. Boisragon; and County Lunatic Asylum, Bucks.