COURT—­When she told you that water gruel would serve for her father on the Wednesday did she know that her father had been ill by taking water gruel on the Monday and Tuesday nights?—­She knew he was ill, but I cannot tell whether she knew the cause of it; and knew that the charwoman was ill before she proposed my giving him the same gruel, but did not oppose my making fresh for any other reason than that it would hinder my ironing.

[Sidenote:  E. Binfield]

ELIZABETH BINFIELD, examined—­I was a servant to Mr. Francis Blandy at
Henley, and had been almost three years.

When did you first discover his illness and hear him complain of unusual prickings in has stomach?—­About a fortnight before he died.

Did you ever hear Miss Blandy talk of something in the house which she said presaged his death, or something like it?—­I have often heard her talk of walkings and music in the house that she had heard.  She said she thought it to be her mother, saying the music foretold her father’s death.

Whom has she said so to?—­She has told me so.

How long ago?—­For some time before her father’s death; I believe for three-quarters of a year.

How long did she continue talking in this manner?—­She did till his death.  I have often heard her say he would die before October.

What reasons did she give for that?—­By the music, saying she had been informed that music foretells deaths within a twelvemonth.

Who did she say had informed her so?—­She said Mr. Cranstoun had been to some famous woman who had informed him so, and named one Mrs. Morgan, who lived either in Scotland or London, I cannot say which.

Did she express herself glad or sorry?—­Glad, for that then she should soon be released from all her fatigues, and soon be happy.

Did she talk of the state of health in which he was?—­Sometimes she has said he has been very well, sometimes ill.  I remember I heard her say that my master complained of a ball of fire in his guts.  I believe it was before the Monday he ate the water gruel.  I cannot particularly say.  I believe a fortnight before he died, then she said, Mr. Cranstoun had told her of that famous woman’s opinion about music.

Do you remember the first time one Ann Emmet was taken ill?—­It was about a month or six weeks before.

Do you know what Miss Blandy ordered her in that illness?—­I do.  She ordered her some white wine whey, and broth several times.  I made it two or three times, two quarts at a time.

Do you remember a paper being taken out of the fire?—­I do.  It was on the Saturday before my master died.  I took it out myself.

Should you know it again if you see it?—­I believe I should. (She is shown a paper.) I really believe this is it, which I took out of the fire and delivered it to Susan Gunnell, after which I had it again from her, and I delivered it to Dr. Addington and Mr. Norton.