The Sun.
London, England, 1859-05-21 00:00:00

LIVERPOOL.

A public meeting was held at the Sessions-house
in Liverpool, yesterday (Friday), for the purpose of
considering a communication received by the Mayor,
from Colonel Wilson Patten, the Vice-Lieutenant
of Lancashire, relative to the formation of a volun-
teer. rifle and artillery corps. Mr. Preston, the
Mayor, presided.
Mr. W. BROWN proposed,
and Mr. BOTJSFIELD
seconded,
" That it is expedient that a volunteer rifle corps
should be established in this borough."
Major-General Bell also spoke on the resolution,
which was carried unanimously.
Mr. J. C. RWART, M.P., proposed,
" That, inasmuch as there are forts and batteries
in this town and port, it is also expedient that a
volunteer artillery corps should be established
therein."

He said every village in SwitzErland had its rifle
club, so that a large body of most excellent marks-
men were ready to turn out whenever the inde-
pendence of that country was threatened. He did
not dread an invasion from France, though he did
not place much reliance on the pacific intentions of
the French Emperor, except so far as his interests
were concerned.
Mr. J. TORR seconded the resolution. _

Major-General Sir W. F. WILLIAMs also spoke
upon the resolution. lie remarked there were the
best means in this town for carrying out what they
had assembled to advocate, there being a population
here about the most robust in the world, who were
most loyal to the Queen, and attached to their
institutions. There was an idea among some
parties that in raising a corps of this description
they would be placing weapons in the hands of
those whom they might have, cause to fear. God
forbid that he should entertain such a feeling.
He was sure that every rifle placed in the hands of
Englishmen would be only used in the defence of
their Queen and country. (Cheers.) With regard
to their river, there were hundreds, he might almost
say thousands of boats cutting about the waters in
every direction, every one of which was capable of
being armed in a most efficient manner, and they
could not imagine what a hornet's nest Avould be
thus sent round the heads of the enemy. He would
warm them against supposing that a volunteer rifle
force alone could stop an invading army, but would
be very useful as auxiliaries to a regular army.
The enclosed state of England .was wonderfully
adapted for the action of such corps as they were
now called upon to form, and with such a force as
he had described, acting jointly with a large volun-
teer corps, they might snap their fingers at the
united world. He left these shores to-morrow for
a country which numbered 3,000,000 of people, knit
to us by every tie, who were placed alongside of the
people of the United States. He trusted we should
treat them kindly, and then we might depend upon
it they would stand by us in the hour of danger.
The resolution was then put and carried.
On the motion of General Sir W. F. WILLIAMS,
a vote of thanks was given to the Mayor, and the
meeting broke up.

PORTSMOUTII.
A numerous and influential meeting of the inha-
bitants of tho borough of Portsmouth, convened by

the Mayor, was held on Thursday evening at the
Guildhall, to take the necessary steps for the for-
mation of a volunteer rifle corps, Mr. IL Ford, the
Mayor, in the chair.
A series of resolutions were passed for the for-
mation and future regulation of the corps, and se-
veral gentlemen addressed the meeting, which was
one of the most enthusiastic description.
After the usual vote of thanks to the Mayor for
his conduct in the chair, a voice called out, " Three
cheers for the Queen, being her birthday," which
was most lustily responded to,
Upwards of 50 names were enrolled before the
proceeding terminated.

7HE SUSPECTED CASE OF POISONING
AT RICHMOND.

[The following appeared in part of our impression of
yesterday] :
This morning Mr. Thos. Smethurst, lately holding a tern-
poraryresidence at 10, Alma-villas, Richmond, was brought
again before E. Penrhyn, Esq., and a full bench of magis-
trates, at the Richmond Court of Petty Sessions, charged
with the wilful murder of a lady, named Isabella Bankes,
by the administration of poison in small doses.
Mr. Sergeant Ballantine, instructed by Mr. Teesdale, of
the firm of Symes, Teesdale, and Sandiland, appeared for
the friends of the deceased ; and Mr. H. S. Giffard, in-
structed by Mr. Humphreys, attended for the accused.
The prisoner, a gentlemanly-looking man, wearing a
moustache, having been brought into court, was allowed to
be seated during the examination.

Mr. Ballantine said it would be in the recollection of the
court that when he last had the honour of appearing he
carefully avoided alluding to the allegations that had been
made against the prisoner, but since that time Dr. Taylor had
made an analysis of all things found on the premises belong-
ing to the prisoner, which it would be recollected had been
removed previous to his return, and the secretions of the
deceased. The learned gentleman then entered at some
length into the report of Dr. Taylor, during which he re-
marked that certain bottles had been found that contained
different kinds of liquids, some of which contained arsenic
in combination with other medicines, the nature of which
was to work through the human system in the most rapid
manner. Traces of antimony and arsenic had also been
found in small particles in the stomach of the deceased.
Dr. Julius was the first witness, and his former evidence
having been read over, in answer to further questions he said
—When I first went to attend deceased, Dr. Smethurst
told me she had previously been in perfect health, and had
been in the habit of walking seven or eight miles a day,
so that the attack was quite sudden. He told me he was of
opinion she was suffering from bilious diarrhoea. I believed
such to be the case, and I simply administered chalk mix-
ture. My mixtures were chiefly to allay irritation of the
bowels, which was excessive. I have witnessed the de-
ceased vomiting and screaming violently. There was
intense thirst. It was continuous, and she made
a daily complaint of it. It first occurred to
me that there were some other causes at work which I
was not aware of. This occurred to me on the 13th of
April. When I first saw blood in the motions I had been
four or five days in attendance. That decidedly is incon-
sistent with bilious diarrhoea. -Up to the 18th of the month
there was a continuous increase of blood in the motions.
I saw the deceased daily after that. The symptoms ap-
peared to be the same, only increased in intensity. Dr.
Smethurst told me he used to administer 10 drops of opium
with an enema. He said it would control the
diarrhoea. He told me he always administered the opium
himself. There was not what I should call a bilious mo-
tion after the first week I saw the deceased. Other me-
dical assistance was called in, and the opinion was that
the deceased was dying. I had had some former conversa-
tion with the deceased. Dr. Todd never saw the deceased
without Dr. Smethurst was present. I sent some pills to
the deceased. Each pill contained a quarter of a grain of
sulphate of copper and a quarter of a grain of opium. A pill
was ordered to be taken three times a day. On the Friday fol-
lowing Dr. Smethurst told me " the pills" had been taken,
and had had a most terrible effect. It was as if she had
taken a coal of fire. That there had been intense vomiting
and fifteen motions the day after. There was nothing in
the pills to produce that result. I saw the lady again on
Sunday. She was then in a very weak and exhausted
state, suffering from nausea and great activity of the
bowels. I only saw the deceased two or three times
in the absence of Dr. Smethurst. He appeared
to me as a medical man. On the Friday when I saw her
she was then in a very prostrate condition. On the Sun-
day following I spoke to a magistrate about the circum-
stances, and on the Monday night Dr. Smethurst was taken
into custody. I.gave directions that a nurse should be sent
to the deceased immediately. I saw the deceased after
Dr. Smethurst was taken into custody. She was very ill,
and I thought sinking. I felt it my duty to go to Dr.
Taylor previous to going to the magistrate. I sent him an
_evacuation. The lady died on Tuesday morning from ex-
haustion. I have a careful record of all the medicines sent.
Mr. Ballantine—Was there any arsenic in the medicines
you supplied ?
Witness—l am certain there was not.

Mr. Ballantine—Or antimony ?

Witness—No, none whatever.
Mr. Ballantine—Or chlorate of potash ?

Witness—Certainly not.
Mr. Ballantine—This bottle with a mixture and Dr.
Julius's label on it was found in the prisoner's house. Did
it come from your surgery ?
Witness--Assuming it to contain chlorate of potash and
arsenic, it most certainly did not. I saw apthous spots on
the tongue. This effect would be prosluced by any exhaust-
ing disease.
Mr. Ballantine—l believe you have received a letter from
Dr. Smethurst since he has been in Horsemonger-lane
Gaol ?
Witness—Yes. I hold it in my hand.

Mr. Ballantine—Read it.
Witness then read the letter as follows :

" Horsemonger-lane Gaol, May 5.
" Dr. Smethurst will feel much obliged by forwarding, as
above, by return of post, copies of the prescriptions of the
following medicines prescribed and dispensed by the firm of
Julius and Bird (required for defence) :
" 1. The sulphate of copper and opium pills (Dr. Todd).
" 2 Nitrate of silver.

" s. The bismuth mixture.
"Also please to send him word if arsenic is kept by them
in the surgery, or what other part of the premises ?
" To Dr. Julius and Mr. Bird."
I sent the following answer :

" May 5, 1859.
" In answer to- Dr. Smethurst's communication of the
sth inst., Dr. j;ulius begs to state that Donovon's and
Fowler's solution of arsenic are the only preparation of that
mineral nature kept-in his surgery or in any other part of
his house." . -
A number of other letters from the accused to Dr. Julius
for the recepts, from which the medicines sent to deceased
were prepared, and also when the evacuations were taken
to Dr. Taylor, were also read.
Witness, in answer to further questions, said—l have not
prescribed antimony or arsenic in any of the medicines I
supplied. .
Mr. Giffard, for the accused, cross-examined the witness.
He said—l have a correct record of the medicines I have
supplied to the deceased. At first I attended her alone.
The violent retchings were after taking food or medicines,
but when it was given in my presence it was given by Dr.
Smethurst. Dr. Smethurst gave the details of the case of
the deceased _to Dr. Todd, and gave them correctly. Dr.
Todd's prescriptions were perfectly in accordance with my
treatment for the purpose of allaying irritation.
Mr. Bird's former evidence was next read over. It was
to the effect that there had been arsenical poisoning.
Mr. Ballantine—l will ask you this question. Having
watched the symptoms-of the deceased carefully, can you
account for their arising from. any natural or known
causes ?
Witness—l cannot.
Mr. Ballantine—Would arsenic or antimony, or both of
them, produce effects similar to those you witnessed?

Witness—Yes.
Mr. Ballantine—Did the prisoner ever allude to any
disease of the womb ?
Witness—Never.
Mr. Ballantine—You have heard the deceased complain of
her throat. What did she say ?

Witness--She complained of an uneasy sensation in her
throat as if a ball were there.

Mr. Ballantine—Did Dr. Smethurst make any remark ?
Witness—Yes. He said it might be caused from hysteria.
I coincided, because I believed it might be caused by what
was going on.

Mr. Ballautine—Would that be a symptom given by a
person suffering from metallic poison ?
Witness—That would not be such a description as I could
expect.

Mr. Ballantine—llave you any opinion as to the cause of
death of Miss Bankes ?
Witness—l have.
Mr. Ballantine—Whtit is it ?
Witness—That she died from the effects of irritant

poison.
Mr Ballantine—Have you ever had a conversation
with Dr. Smethurst about Miss Bankes' sister being pre-
sent ? _ . _

Witness—l recol4ct that the prisoner told me that her
sister's presence always excited deceased, and I think
said, under those circumstances it would be better she
should not come.
By Mr. Giffard—l said the deceased ought to be kept
quiet. I thought. possibly the deceased might be suffering.
from hysteria; but I formed no decided opinion. I at this
time thought the lady was suffering from poison.
Mr. Caudle, the assistant to Dr. Julius, said—l have
held that situation for m arly two years. I made up the
prescriptions ordered for Mrs. Smethurst (Miss Banks
From after the 29th of April Dr. Julius superintended.
d
the making of the medicines himself. Either he or Mr.
Bird were always present when they were made up. Th
nzeclicineswere correctly entered in the daily entry. I never
mixed any arsenic with Mrs. Smethurst's
medicine. I
knew where it was kept. It was in a cupboard apart from
the ordinary medicines.
We kept Fowi er's and Donovan's
solution of arsenic—no rther. I never mixed antimony
with the medicine, I kuow we have chlorate of potash.

It is kept in crystals tixi an eight-ounce phial. -I never
mixed chlorate of potash in. any medicines supplied to Mrs.
Smethurst. The bottle produced is like those we used. I
sent out a mixture on the 14th of April. The mixture was
not of the same colour as that now in the bottle.

Mr. Ballantine—Supposing this bottle contains chlorate
of potash and arsenic, did it come from your surgery ?
Witness—Certainly not.

Mr. Ballantine—You had charge of the evacuations
before they wore sent toLondon?

Witness—Yes ; I sealed them with a Turkish impression
from the ring of Dr. Julius. Mr. Julius, jun., took them
to London.

By Mr. Giffard—The bottle of antimony, in our surgery,
was " Cartwright's antimony." We have none in solution
except antimony wine.
Mr. Julius, jun., was called, and merely proved the con-
veying the bottles containing the evacuations to Mr. Buz -
zard's, and there delivering them to a female servant, Mr.
Buzzard being from home at the time.

- Catherine -Murray proved receiving the bottles and
delivering them to her master, Mr. Buzzard.
Mr. Buzzard, a medical gentleman residing at Great
Marlborough-street, London, said—l took the bottles to
Dr. Taylor for examination. He refused to do so without
authority. He, however, said he would try Reinsch's test.
It was done, and the bright copper wire, which was im-
mersed in the mixture, became coated with a grey sub-
stance, which prayed the presence of some mineral poison.
Thomas Macintyre said—l arrested the prisoner. I took
away all the bottles containing medicine and handed them
to Dr. Taylor. They were never out of my possession
until I gave them to Dr. Taylor. I found the small case
of homceopathic medicines (produced) in a box, the key of
which was found on Dr. Smethurst.

The witness then produced 27 bottles of different sizes,
containing liquids, and several small packets found at Dr.
Smethurst's.

Dr. Julius was here called and selected one numbered 27,
which was similar to that sent from his surgery to Mrs.
Smethurst.

Mr. Ballantine ordered this cork to be withdrawn, and
then asked Dr. Julius to ascertain whether it was similar
to the medicine ordered to be prepared for Mrs. Smethurst.
Dr:Julius tasted the liquid, and said itlwas. It contained
both quinine and gentian.
Mr. Willta.m Easter, clerk of St. Mark's Church,
i Ken-
nington, produced the book of marriages celebrated n that
parish. There is an entry of a marriage between Thomas
Smethurst and Mary Durham, on the 10th of March, 1828.
Mr. Ballantine said he wished the evidence to be taken
down, ashe would deal with the handwriting by and bye.
A considerable delay here occurred Owing to the absence
of Dr. Todd. After waiting until nearly half-past two,
and that gentleman not arriving, Mr. Ballantine said he
would proceed with the examination of Dr. Taylor, but that
gentleman would prefer hearing Dr. Todd before he (Dr.
Taylor) completed his evidence.
Professor Taylor then took his place, and his former
deposition was read. In answer to questions put to
him by Mr. Ballantine, he said —On the sth, 7th,
and 9th of May I received about 40 bottles
to analyse. I have examined the whole of the
bottles, and I do not find arsenic in any of them excepting
one. The whole, with the exception I have mentioned,
merely contained medicine—nothing of a noxious nature.
The phial marked No. 5 was unlabelled. It contained 355
grains of chlorate of potash. It is a salt used for making
lucifer matches, percussion caps, and detonating powder.
It is used occasionally in dysentery, diarrhoea, cholera, and
scarlet fever. It is an innocent salt, there being
nothing poisonous in it. Its nature is diuretic. It
passes rapidly through the kidneys into the urine.
It tends to purify the system from all noxious matter. If
poison was given in a small quantity of the mixture the
surplus quantity would be carried off with the urine. I
have never in all my experience heard of it being mixed
with poison. It is soluble in cold and warm water. Bottle
No. 21 was half full when I received it. It looked
like water. I tasted it. It is like cooling saline
mixture; no smell:; it is pleasantly saline. I detected
nothing wrong in tasting. I evaporated some on
glass, and examined some by the microscope. I found it
was not tartar emetic. I applied every test for arsenic that
I considered proper. All the tests failed to show the
presence of arsenic. The tests informed me there
was something in the liquid I had never met with be-
fore. There is a test called Iteinsch's, it is generally suc-
cessful in detecting arsenic in liquid, the arsenic
being deposited during the boiling on copper wire. The
wire I inserted in the liquid disappeared altogether. I
then, finding that it disappeared fast, plunged in a piece
of copper, and did not let it remain in so long as the former
piece. I dried and heated the copper gauze, and I ob-
tained arsenic. The gauze is partly destroyed by the test.
Having ascertained this much, I thought it important Dr.
Odling should be present at further experiments. We then
sought to destroy this noxious agent which was baffling
us. We put in piece after piece of copper until we removed
all the chlorine, and on the last piece of gauze the arsenic
was deposited. I have no doubt chlorate of potash was
present. I extracted it in crystals. I calculated there was
about a grain of arsenic in an ounce of the mixture. That
is of agr sin to a teaspoonful. The bottle would contain,
supposing it to be full, 6oz.—that would be 48 teaspoonsful.
I was struck by the fact elicited, and I then referred to a
memorandum of the medicines prescribed, and I then
found that the bottle had contained quinine, sulphuric acid I
prussic acid, chloric nether, and an infusion of gentian.
found out that not one of those substances were in it.
The taste was such that no one would suspect its deadly
nature. The quantity of arsenic was so small that it might
be mixed with any liquid, and swallowed without the
slightest knowledge. The bottle was half full when I re-
ceived it. It is my opinion that if the mixture was admi-
nistered continuously, the effect would be to produce nausea,
vomiting, pain in the bowels, with purging ; and if doses
were repeated, it would ultimately produce chronic in-
flammation and ulceration of the bowels, and the discharges
would contain blood and mucous. If it was continued,
such a source of injury,would succumb to no treatment at
all, and: would lead to death by exhaustion. The arsenic
I produced was what is called white arsenic. It is not a
medicinal preparation. With respect to bottles Nos. 1 and
2, containing the evacuations—l took No. 2 first to search
for copper. There appeared to be a slight trace of copper
mixed with the blood. The other, No. 1, only contained
biliary matter.
Dr. Todd having arrived, the examination of Professor
Taylor was interrupted, and his examination commenced.
He said, when I first saw the deceased she was in much
pain and had a terrified look, and was much emaciated.
She looked younger than she really was. I examined the
abdomen, and discovered a remarkable contraction of the
abdominal muscles, which appeared to me to indicate ex•
treme irritation in the intestines. If I made the slightest
pressure I found she resisted immediately with force, and
that it increased the rigidity of the muscles. She had a
small, quick pulse, and evident indications of great exhaus-
tion. She complained of a disagreeable sensation in her
throat as if she had a ball there. I had received ample
information about her case from Dr. Julius. Dr. Julius
and'Dr. Smethurst told me she had long been suffering
from diarrhoea and from vomiting. A number of remedies
had been tried. I heard they had tried bismuth and nitrate
of silver. Nitrate of copper had been talked about, but not
tried. Opium had been tried. I understand, and it made
a deep impression on me, that the accused was impatient of
the continuance of remedies ; he suggested frequent
changes. After every change the symptoms were worse—
particularly after the nitrate of silver. I retired from the
room to consult with Dr. Julius, and I said to him at once
that I had a strong opinion that it was a case of arsenical
poisoning. It was my strong suspicion that such was the
case. I had not materials on which to form an
opinion, but I had, as I said before, a strong suspicion.
It was my belief that some irritant was being introduced
into the system, which prevented the diarrhoea yielding to
the proper remedies.
Mr. Ballantine—You have not examined the viscera ?
Witness—No.

Mr. Ballantine—From the symptoms would you think
that a post mortm examination would give:arsenic as the
result if the posion had been given ?
Witness—l must decline answering that question, as it
will involve me in another part of the caso with which I do
not wish to interfere.

a teaspoonful of a mixture containing
chlorate of potash and the eighth part of a grain of arsenic
were administered, what effect would be produced?
Witness—lt would keep up continual irritation, and if
kept,up continuously death would ensue through exhaustion.
I decline involving myself any further in this investiga-
tion, but have no objection to, hear the report of the post
mortem examination, and then give an opinion.
Mr. Palmer, assistant-surgeon to Charing cross Hos-
pital, here read his report of a post mortem examination of
the deceased.

Dr. Taylor said he had also seen the intestines, and
found the larger membranes were entirely destroyed by ul-
ceration. He also found antimony in the kidneys, in some
blood taken from the heart, and some in the jar in which
the viscera was sent to him. No antimony was found
either in the liver or spleen. No arsenic was found in the
viscera.

Dr. Todd said the details he had heard confirmed him in
the suspicions he at first entertained.
Dr. W. Odling, of Guy's Hospital, corroborated Dr.
Taylor in all he had said, and coincided in his opinion.
This closed the case for the prosecution, and
The Chairman called on the prisoner to know whether he
had anything to say in answer to the charge.
Mr. Giffard said, if the opinion of the bench was that his
client would be committed for trial, he would reserve his
defence.

The prisoner was then formally committed for trial.

FROM THE GAZETTE OF LAST NIGHT

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, MAY 17.
This day had audience of her Majesty the Prince Michael
Obr6nowitch, only son of the Prince of Servia. His High-
ness was accompanied by Prince Alexander Vogorides, the
Charge d'Affaires of the Ottoman Porte : to which audience
his Highness was introduced by the Right Hon. the Earl
of Malmesbury, her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State
for Foreign Affairs, and conducted by Major-General the
Hon. Sir -Edward Cust, K.C.H., her Majesty's Master of
the Ceremonies.

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, IlkY 13.
This day had audience of her Majesty :—His Excellency
the Count do Persigny, Ambassador from the Emperor of
the French, to deliver his credentials . to which audience
his Excellency was introduced by the Right Hon. the Earl
of Malmesbury, her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State
for Foreign Affairs, and conducted by Major-General the
lion. Sir Edward Cust, K.C.11., her Majesty's Master of
the Ceremonies.

DOWNING-STREET, MAY 18.
The Queen has been pleased to appoint Edward Newton,
Esq., to be-Assistant Colonial Secretary for the Island of
Mauritius.

WAR-OFFICE, MAY 20. •
The Queen has'been graciously pleased to give orders for
the appointment of Rear-Admiral 'Sir Michael Seymour,
K.C.8., late Commander-in-Chief of her Majesty's Naval
Forces in the East Indies and China, to be an Ordinary
Member of the Military Division of the First Class, or
Knights Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of
the Bath; and of
Captain the Honourable Keith Stewart, R.N.,
Captain Sir Frederick Wm. Erskine Nicolson, Bart., R.N.
Captain Harry Edmund Edgell, R.N.,
Captain Sir Robert John Le Mesur:ee M'Clure, Knt., R.N.,
Captain George Sumner Hand, R.N.,
Colonel Thomas Lemon, Royal Marines,
Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur Sandys Stawell Walsh, Royal
Marines,
Lieuten int- Colonel Edward Rocker, Royal Marines,
to be Ordinary Members of the Military Division of the
Third Class, qr Companions, of .the said Most Honourabie
Order. . _ _