Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-05-10 00:00:00

THE SUSPECTED POISONING OI
AT RICHMOND.

Saturday bein

nuniher of persons- assembled at the Court.:
house, with a view of being present at the re-examination
of Dr. Smethurst, who stands charged with the wilful
murder of a lady. named Isabella Bankes, with whom
he was living, by the administration of arsenic in small
paper.

he court day of the Richmond Petty

Sessions.

reportec

quantities
Owing, however, to the analyses of the stomach not
being completed the case was further adjourned.
decease of the unfortunate lady, additional
facts have come to light. It appears that about a week
since a solicitor in the town completed the will of the
deceased in favour of the accused, and which, it is believed,
will be produced in evidence at the next examination, and
the result of the post-mortem examination proved that the
deceased was enceinte. The following are the entice facts of
this'extraordinaly ease, which have not yet appeared : The
ifiaj, .1*
being nine years her senior, and both being possessed of
considerable property. Dr. Smethurst and his wife were
residing at a boarding-house, in Bayswater, as was also the
deceased. An intimacy sprung up between Dr., Smethurst
and the deceased, which led to an elopement, and
after visiting Brighton and other fashionable places, they
at length came to Richmond, about nine weeks since, and
resided first at Richmond-green, and latterly at No. 10,
Alma-villas, Richmond-hill, where the deceased now lies.
On the 3rd of April Dr. F. G. Julius was called in to attend
the deceased, who was suffering from diarrhoea and vomiting.
He believed she was suffering from bilious diarrhoea, there
being nothing to lead to suspicion. He administered various
treatments in conjunction with Dr. Smethurst, and with his
sanction. On the 18th he became pazzled, and requested
his partner, Mr. Bird, to go in, the result being that an
opinion was formed that something was being given
to keep up the irritation. The deceased got worse, with
constant vomiting and diarrhoea. Dr. Smethurst removed
the vomitings and evacuations from the room. Nothing.
apparently, could exceed his care and attention. Dr. Dodd
with Dr. Smethurst's sanction, came down from King's
College, and prescribed in accordance with the treatment
already pursued, and the medicines were calculated to allay
the irritation, but the symptoms became aggravated. On
the following Friday, during Dr. Smethurst's temporary
absence, a portion of an evacuation just passed was placed in
two bottles, and sent to London for analysation, and on
Reinsch's preliminary test being applied, viz., the intro-
duction of fine copper wire into the liquid, the wire became
crusted with a substance which proved the presence of
some metal. The bottles subsequently fell under the notice
of Professor Taylor, who, upon testing, finding the presence
of arsenic, sought the magisterial authority for a full analy-
sation, which, being obtained, the following letter to Dr.
Julius was the result :
" 15, St. James's-terrace, Regent's-park, May 2.
e made a further exa-
mination delivered to me by Mr.
you",Sliert,t-e—rlonf
yesterday's
dwaitteh, hheav
of the liquid No.
Buzzard yesterday evening:, and I have now to report to
you that this liquid contains a small quantity of arsenic.
The liquid consists of watery mucus, bile, albumen (from
serum), and a small quantity of the colouring matter of blood.
The arsenic is a combination with these matters. It is such
a liquid as accompanies arsenic when this substance is a
cause of poisoning. Considering the symptoms from
which Mrs. Smethurst has suffered (as described to
me by Mr. Buzzard), and the discovery of arsenic
in the evacuations of the bowels, I am of opinion
that this lady is suffering from the effects of
arsenal poison, taken in small doses ; and, according to the
advice which I have had occasion to gisitnevnemiceinaiiasstieminialanrd cases,
I would suggest that she be immediately placed under the
care of some trustworthy person, by whom alone all articles
of food and medicine should be administered. I believe
discharges from her
thataa nd dop
adoption
her
no lifewo
ft
hweisl
el
passing de
precautions,pfreonmd thehttperonina t
arsenic
her body,
bowels.—l am, sir, &c.,

Since the

ChemistryF nE D
a.
" Professor of
in Guy's Hospital."
naTAYLOR,Medical l I.
JurisprudenceD
'
The Coroner has signified his intention to communicate
with the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in
order that Dr, Smethurst, who is under remand in Horse-
monif,er-lane gaol, may be present at the adjourned stage of
the inquest. Mr. Serjeant Ballantine, instructed by Mr.
Teesdale, of, the firm of Symes, Teesdale, and Sandilands,
is retained to watch the proceedings on behalf of the friends
of the deceased. The circumstances in connection with this
case have awakened so much interest among the inhabi-
tants of the locality, that applications have been made for
tickets for admission to the future stages of the proceeding.

Mr. William Forsyth, Q.O , of the Northern Circuit, has
been appointed standing counsel to the Secretary of State
in Council for India.
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