Newton Abbot: Petty Sessions: John Henry Bibbings, chemist, of Queen-street, was summoned for contravening the Pharmacy Act by having on the 9th January sold to Mrs. Jane Pinsent a certain poison, to wit, prussic acid, and not conforming to the provisions of the Act entering the sale in a book, the purposes for which it was bought, the quantity sold, and failing to obtain the signature of the purchaser, (etc.) … to which he pleaded guilty. Sergt. Nicholls proved the charge. Defendant set up the same plea in defence he did before the Coroner, viz: that having known Mrs. Pinsent as a customer for five years, and she stating that she only wanted a small quantity to poison a dog, he was thrown off his guard, although he repeatedly cautioned her not to let anyone else have the handling of it, which she promised faithfully to attend to, besides which he was very busy at the time that be let her have it. He submitted that if it had been entered it would not have prevented what unfortunately occurred. The Chairman said the magistrates were prepared to accept the statement made by the defendant; still as caution to himself and others they must impose a penalty of £2, to include costs.
[see similar Exeter and Plymouth Gazette: Friday 25th January 1884 & Sheffield Independent: Wednesday 23rd January 1884]
Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive.
Referenced
GRO0470 Devonport: Jane Pinsent: 1847 – 1884