The Press. — London, England, 1857-07-11 00:00:00

not long after going to bed. I don't remember papa giving my sister a necklace lately, but he gave her one about a year ago. Cross-examined : I have seen my sister take cocoa. She never made it in her room, bat she kept the packet there. We had a fire in our bedroom. We went to bed that night the same time as usual. I remember the morning Made leine went away. I suppose abs came to bed that night, but I was asleep that night before it was her time to come. I missed her in the morning on awaking. Re-examined: I have seen my sister take her cocoa in the dining•room. Ido not know if she had been reoom. mended to take it. No other body in the house took it but her. I found my sister in bed when I awoke on the Mon. day morning about eight o'clock. This elosed the defence. On Wednesday the Lord Advocate proceeded to address the jury for the prosecution. His lordship, in a speech of some length, put together the different disjointed statements given in evidence, with the view of showing that while it was incontestable thst L'Angelier did die of arsenic, there was as little doubt that the poison was administered by Miss Smith. Tracing the whole history of Miss Smith's connection with L'Angelier, from the end of 1854 or beginning of 1855, the Lord Advocate, quoting freely from her letters, brought down the story to January, 1857, when, cooling towards L'Angelier, she had ac cepted Mr. Minnock. About four days afterwards she wrote to L'Angelier to return her letters. L'Angelier's refusal to restore the letters drove her distracted. She wrote to him the most passionate appeals entreating not to be exposed. L'Angelier threatened to show the letters to her father, and insisted upon an explanation. At length, upon the 13th of February, she appointed an interview. Upon the 11th she sent the page for prussic acid, which he did not get. The interview occurred, and the quarrel was made up. L'Angelier at this time was ignorant of the engagement with Mr. Minnock. From this day to his death the tone of her letters, the Lord Advocate argued, was quite changed. It was no longer despairing, it was as warm and affec tionate as of old, though at the very moment sbe was receiving the congratulations of her friends upon her approaching marriage with Mr. Minnock. On the 19th of February she fixed, and no doubt held, a sceoud interview with L'Angelier. In the middle of that night L'Angelier was seized with violent sickness. It passed off, and he remered. On the 21st February Miss Smith purchased sixpennyworth of arsenic on the plea of poisoning rats. On the 22nd L'Angelier saw her again, and on the night of the 22nd and the morning of the 23rd he was again seized with the very symp toms that he had bad before—the identical symp toms,in a somewhat milder form—namely, the green vomiting again, the purging again, pains again, the thirst again—everything, in short, one might expect in a case of arsenical poisoning. Upon the 25th of February Miss Smith wrote to him : You looked bad on Sunday night and Monday morning. I think you got sick with walking home so late, and the long want of food, so the next time we meet I shall make you eat a loaf of bread before you go. I am longing to meet again, sweet love. My head aches so, and I am looking so bad that I cannot sit up as I used to do; but I am taking some stuff to bring back the colour. On the 3rd of March, L'Angelier, after this second attack, proposes to go to the Bridge of Allan for the recovery of his health. Miss Smith, in reply, pro poses that he should go to the Isle of Wight. L'An gelier refuses on the sth by letter, and on that day Miss Smith buys a second ounce of arsenic. Some days elapse. L'Angelier goes to the Bridge of Allan, and the last letter she ever wrote to him, appointing an interview on the 19th, was sent after him the same day. On the 18th sha had made another pur chase of arsenic. L'Angelier got her letter too late to keep the appointment for the 21st; but on the evening of the 22nd he is seen in the neighbourhood of Miss Smith, and nothing more is seen or known of what be did between half-past nine on that even ing and four o'clock the next morning, when he was found dying on his own door•step, and with every symptom of poisoning by arsenic. The court, at the conolusion of this address, adjourned. On the eighth day the DEAN of FACULTY made an able speech in defence of Miss Smith, contending that it was not proved that she and L'Angelier met on the 19th of February, and particularly that it was not proved she possessed arsenic until the 21st of February, though all the druggists' shops in Glasgow had been searched, and her purchases had been openly and frankly made. The Crown must there fore choose between the horns of this dilemma : If L'Angelier was then ill from arsenic, some other hand than the prisoner's must have administered it; if be was not., the whole foundation of the case was shaken. After maintaining that the evidence dis proved their having met on the 22nd of February, the second occasion on which she was charged with attempting to poison, he referred to the absence of all proof whatever that they had met the night before the death of L'Angelier. Tho appointment pro Ade for Saturday, not Sunday. Hiss Smith THE P lEt . ES S, JULY 11, 1857. went to her bed late that night with her sister, and there was not a tittle of evidence that the house was disturbed or approached in the course of the night. She could have had no motive to destroy L'Angelier while be had such letters in his possession, and every circumstance in the case spoke strongly against the probability of her committing a foul and delibe rate murder. After referring to the probability of L'Angelier's death being the result of suicide or arising from other causes, he called on the jury not rashly to tear aside the veil of mystery in which Providence had wrapped this man, and in an eloquent and affecting peroration prayed them to bring their hearts as well as their minds into judg ment in this case. The LORD JvsTrcx•Cr.Exx commenced his charge to the jury. He said poisoning by arsenic was almost always a secret crime, and was generally to be proved by circumstantial evidence ; that evidence, however, must be complete, distinct, and satisfactory, and must exclude the possibility of innocence or of un explained mystery, and they must not supply any defect in the prosecutor's case by suspicion or pre sumption against the accused. They must be satis fied that the accused had the purpose and the oppor tunity ; they must be satisfied the parties met that night. They might have a strong suspicion they did so, or the probabilities of the case might favour that view; but unless they could by just, satisfac factory, and inevitable inference conclude that they did meet, a link remained wanting in the case, and the catastrophe and its alleged cause were not found together. The numerous theories for the defence might not be of much value, but their failure could in no way strengthen the case for the prosecution, which must be of itself complete and conclusive, and carry conviction to their minds. His lordship had read over nearly a half of the parole evidence, when the court adjourned at six o'clock till Thursday. THE VERDICT. The interest manifested daring the whole of the eight days this extraordinary trial had lasted was greater than ever upon the last morning. Crowds of people outside the court who had not been success• ful in obtaining admission were trying every means in their power to gain an entrance into the court, and the police had the greatest difficulty in keeping a space clear for those who were personally engaged in the trial. As early as seven o'clock Parliament-square was densely crowded, and as the hour of opening the court approached the crowd increased to such an extent that it was difficult to reach the top of the High-street. The court opened at ten o'clock, but for some time previous that portion not appropriated to the public presented an extraordinary appearance. The jury entered the court shortly before ten o'clock, and upon their lordships' arrival the prisoner was placed in the dock. Her appearance was much the same as it was at the commencement of the dial. There was, how ever, a slight shade of sadness in her expression, but no trace of that anxiety and deep mental suffering to be expected in a woman charged with such a dread ful crime, and with her life in such imminent danger. During the continuance of the summing up, notwith standing the strong remarks of the Lord Advocate with reference to the damaging points in the evidence against the prisoner, she presented that coolness and indifference she has all along exhibited in a most re markable and extraordinary manner. The LORD JUSTICE-CLERK, in a very audible voice, resumed his summing up, and, having called to the recollection of the jury the point at which the court adjourned last, proceeded to read and comment upon the whole of the evidence adduced both on the psrt of the Crown and for the defence. He, in conclusion, earnestly impressed on the jury the importance of their fully considering all they had heard, and said that the case now only awaited their verdict. Unless they thought that clear conviction was brought to their minds it would be their duty to acquit her. They were not to proceed upon suspicion, or even strong suspicion, but there must be strong conviction in their minds; and if there was any reasonable doubt it was their duty to give the prisoner the benefit of that doubt ; but if they came to that clear conclu sion of her guilt they were not to allow any sugges tion made for the defence to deter them from doing their duty. The learned judge having reminded the jury of the oath they had taken, concluded by beseech ing an All-wise and All-seeing Providence to direct them to a right verdict. The jury then retired to their room. The appearance of the court at this particular moment it is impossible to describe, many of the spectators being moved to tears by the impressive and earnest address of the learned judge. In Scotland, when a jury have agreed upon their verdict a small bell is rung. Upon this signal being given the most breathless silence prevailed, and in a short time afterwards the jury reappeared in court, when the Clerk of the Court, addressing the jury, said—" Gentlemen, have you agreed to your ver• diet?" [675 The Foreman, in a firm tone : We have. The Clerk of the Court : How say you, gentlemen; do you find the prisoner guilty or not guilty ? The Foreman : We find the prisoner " Not guilty" on the first count, and " Notiproven " on the second and third. A loud and long-continued burst of applause followed the announcement of the verdict, but was suppressed. During the awful moments between the return of the jury into court and the giving of their verdict the prisoner betrayed not the least emotion, but on its delivery she gave a heavy sigh, which appeared to give her much relief. - The excitement produced outside the court when the verdict became known was immense. Miss Smith was at once released from custody. SECOND EDITION. SATURDAY AFTERNOON. LATEST INTELLIGENCE The German jouri els hint that great political results may originate in the meeting of the Emperor of Austria and the King of Prussia. It is said his Majesty will endeavour to bring about a reconcilia tion between Austria and Russia. This event, it is asserted, is sure to take place, as it is only a question of time and of a change of Ministry at Vienna. Intelligence from Constantinople, of the 3rd inst., is to the effect that at that date Lord Stratford de Redcliffe had received despatches from Lord Claren don proposing the judicial and military union of the Principalities. It was said that the Persians were still at Herat, of which they bad extended the fortifications. The Shah of Persia has conferred the honour of the Order of the Lion end Sun, with the title of Kahn, upon Captain H. B. Lynch, C. 8., in token of his regard for the manner in which Captain Lynch brought about the treaty of pease between this country and Persia. The Cortes of Portugal have sanctioned a new Concordat with Rome, but with certain modifications. Despatches from Spain state that Govern meat is exceedingly anxious about maintaining tranquillity. Madrid is reported to be agitated. The Greek Government have abandoned their in tendon of sending General Kalergis as ambassador to Paris. The Queen of Greece leaves for Germany immediately (Athens, July 4). The French Government has not yet decided who is to replace M. de Morny at St. Petersburg. Some further details of the burning of the steamer Montreal, carrying Scotch emigrants to Canada, have been received : The steamer was nearing Cape Rouge, when flames were discovered by some of the passengers, who in giving the alarm caused the wildest panic to prevail, and a general rush for safety. The officers of the boat endeavoured to restore quiet, but this was found impossible, as the flames, despite the efforts of those in charge, spread rapidly, and were soon beyond all human control. A large number of the passengers had already jumped overboard and were drowned ; others were burnt on the vessel, while a few succeeded in reaching the shore by swimming. There were in all about 500 passengers on board, and. out of this number only 175 are known to have been saved, leaving 32.5 to be accounted for. Hopes are entertained that the majority of them have been rescued, but it is cer tain that at least 200 have perished . Cape Rouge, the scene of the heartrending disas ter, is between Quebec and Montreal. His Royal Highness the Prince of :Wales, travel ling incognito, arrived at Brussels on Wednesday morning. The Prince afterwards visited the battle field of Waterloo, and then proceeded on his journey to Germany. The two Houses of the Clergy of the Province of Canterbury met yesterday at Westminster. The business transacted was almost exclusively of a formal character, such as the presentation of reports, giving notices of motions, &c. At the end of the day's sitting the Upper House adjourned and the Lower House was prorogued. Her Majesty and the Prince Consort, accompanied by the Princess Royal, Prince Frederick William of Prussia, and the younger members, leave Bucking ham Palace on the 16th or 18th inst., for Osborne, to pass a few weeks at her Majesty's marine resi dence. It is not expected that the Queen and Court will return to town until after the contem plated visit of the Emperor and Empress of the French.