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104
"Mr. Long said that on Saturday, August 3rd, several children
were received at Guy's Hospital suffering from vegetable poisoning,
and it was found that they had eaten Kaloo nuts purchased from the
defendant Taylor. Information was given to the police, and the
same day Taylor was traced and his barrowload of nuts seized. The
nuts were found to be rancid and decomposed. He (Mr. Long) had
made extensive enquiries concerning Kaloo nuts, and this was the
first time that they had been introduced into this country. He had
seen several wholesale fruit importers, and they all agreed that
for the past fifty years certainly this kind of nut had never been
upon the English market. He also visited the Kew Museum, and
received every possible assistance. Information concerning the
Kaloo nut was given in a bulletin issued from the Royal Botanic
Gardens, Kew, in 1906. It seemed that the nuts grew in Central
China. Two varieties of oil were obtained from the seeds. One, a
yellow, transparent, thick oil, was used in Central China for varnishing
lighting, purposes, and in the manufacture of oiled paper. The
other was a thick, blackish liquid, and was used in coarser work.
The bulletin added that the oil had poisonous properties.
"Eliza Barber, aged sixteen, of 3 Little Britain, said she bought
a pint of nuts from Taylor for 1d. Upon his barrow was a placard
stating, ' The King of Nuts, Kaloo, from South America. First time
sold in this country. Delicious flavour.' He said they were better
than Brazils. She ate seven, and an hour afterwards became ill,
and had to go to Guy's Hospital. Her young brother ate two, and
he was also taken to the hospital.
"Mr. Long : His case was looked upon as dangerous ?
"Witness: Yes. They said that if he had been left an hour
longer he would bave died.
"Another girl named Annie Stevens, aged seventeen, stated that
she likewise purchased a pennyworth, and after eating six was
rendered ill.
"Chief-Inspector Bonner, M Division, said that upon receiving
information from Guy's Hospital he sent a message to all the
London police stations. As a result Taylor was found at Blackheath,
He gave every assistance, and seemed pleased that the
police had taken action.
"Dr. Millson, Medical Officer, observed that, apart from the
question as to whether there were poisonous qualities in the oil of the