A Chart and 2 Volumes: A Chart on Poisons and First Aid by Mathieu Orfila (1800) with a Volume containing 2 Famous Legal Trial Cases regarding Peers of the Realm and their defence (1760, 1765), and a Volume containing 3 Trial Cases of Poisoning (1856, 1865, 1865)

1) ORFILA, Mathieu Joseph Bonaventure (1787-1853) 'What to do in Cases of Poisoning and of Accidents. By Professor Orfila of Paris: with additions from Beck & Christison' Pub. LONDON: Medwin, n.d. but ca 1800.
Orfila was a Spanish born, French toxicologist who became Royal Physician to Louis XVIII in 1816. He became President of the French Academy of Medicine in 1851.
Large folded chart on canvas, in sunned purple buckram cover with printed title on label, spine cracked. Good condition with minor some foxing, tanning and marks. (Folded down size: 100x180mm).
Bookplates: T Baker Surgeon & KF Russell tag (180x100mm)
2) HOUSE OF PEERS 'The Trial of Lawrence Earl Ferrers of the Murder of John Johnson' (1760). 'The trial of William Lord Byron for the Murder of William Chaworth' (1765). Two cases bound together. Both pub. LONDON: Printed for Samuel Billingsley, 1760 and 1765. Collation: 1) Title, [2] leaves blank, 55pp. 2) Title, 47pp.
Lord Ferrers (1720-1760), who shot his steward, was the last member of the House of Lords to be tried by his peers for murder and to be executed, with, according to popular mythology, a silk cord rather than the usual hemp rope. The trial required Thomas Kirkland MD to be a witness. William Lord Byron, the poet's great uncle, took part in a duel with his cousin Mr William Chaworth on 26th January 1765 at the Star and Garter Tavern in Pall Mall. The dispute arose over the preservation of game. Chaworth died from his wounds the following morning. Byron was found Not Guilty of murder but Guilty of manslaughter. Claiming 'the privilege of peerage', instead of insanity, he was discharged after payment of the fees.
Quarter leather with marbled boards, shelf wear. Some heavy foxing and tanning. Chaworth Trial 1 page repaired. KF Russell tag (355x225mm).
3) Three Part Bound Volume of: a) [JARVEY, William Andrew] 'Trial of Captain Jarvey on a Charge of Poisoning his Wife. Supreme Court of New Zealand, District of Otago and Southland. Criminal sittings in Dunedin. Before His Honor Mr Justice Chapman'. Pub. NEW ZEALAND: Supreme Court of New Zealand. Printed at 'The Daily Times' Office, Princes Street Dunedin 1865; b) Trial of Dr E.W. Pritchard (1865), reprinted by William Kay, EDINBURGH 1865, by special permission, from 'The Scotsman'. 'Carefully revised by an eminent lawyer' and c) Trial of William Palmer (1856 - 9 years prior). LONDON: J. Allen 1856 'transcribed from the shorthand notes of Mr Angelo Bennett of Rolls Chambers, Chancery Lane', Copyright Edition.
Medical Experts were required in testimony for these trials. Captain Jarvey was executed in 1865 for poisoning his wife with Strychnine. Dr Edward William Pritchard was the last person to be publicly executed in Glasgow for murdering his wife and mother-in-law with poison. William Palmer was known as the 'Rugeley Poisoner' and was publicly hanged for poisoning several people including his friend John Cook, his brother and mother-in-law with strychnine.
Quarter leather with faded marble boards, title to spine, shelf wear and flecking. Original pages from 2 volumes with pasted-in newspaper clippings and owner's notes added. Blank pages added at the end. Some foxing, tanning and curvature to volume, glue waves and rough edges.
Belonged to John Drummond Kirkland, first professor of chemistry at University of Melbourne, who went to New Zealand as expert witness after John Macadam died. He has annotated the newspaper cuttings in a number of places.
Also includes the newspaper cutting of the trial from NZ newspapers collected by JD Kirkland. Signed JD Kirkland Govt Anal Labt Melb Uni 1865. JD Kirkland signature in 3 places, 'J. Pownceby Book Binder' tag, KF Russell tag (210x140mm)



PROVENANCE:
Collection Late Kenneth F. Russell (1911-1987), Professor of Anatomy and Medical History, University of Melbourne.

Estimate $300-600