The Sun.
London, England, 1859-08-18 00:00:00

T HIH D EDIT I ON.

SUN OFFICE, Seven o' Clock.

CRIMINAL COURT.-( THIS DAY.)

(Before the Lord Chief Baron.)

I TRIAL OF DR. SMETHURST.—FOURTH DAY.
Dr. Richardson, whose cross-examination was not con-
cluded when the Court adjourned last evening, was re-
called.
In answer to questions put to him by Mr. Sergeant Bal-
lantine, he said—l have practised as an accouchier. I have
attended cases since 1854. I have seen cases of pregnancy
accompanied by sickness and dysenteric diarrhoea.
Re-examined by Sergeant Parry—I refused all remune-
ration for the evidence I gave in Palmer's case. I was
asked to. give evidence by Mr. Sergeant Shee. On that
occasion I consientiously described the symptoms of
angina pectoris, and my description was never questioned.
I am acquainted with cases of pregnancy, accompanied by
vomiting, purging, and burning sensation.
The Lord Chief Baron—How many cases ?
Witness—l know of one personally, and others from
reading.
Sergeant Parry—From your general knowledge—
The Lord Chief Baron—l don't think you are entitled to
proceed in such a course. No question has been asked in
cross-examination to entitle you to enter into cases within
the general knowledge of the witness. I think it totally
unnecessary, and a needless occupation of the attention of
the jury.
Sergeant Parry—None of the jury have complained of a
needless occupation of their time.

The Lord Chief Baron—l am bound to see that it is not
done. It is now the fourth day of the trial, and time muse
not be thrown away.

Sergeant Parry—lt matters not whether it is the fifth or
fiftieth day of the investigation. I have a duty to perform.
It makes no difference to me.
The Lord Chief Baron—But it does to me and also-to the
jury. lam bound to see that there is no needless waste of
time. One of the gentlemen last night found it necessary
to seek medical aid, and it is with difficulty that he is in
Court to-day.

Sergeant Parry—l deeply regret it, but I must do my duty.
The Lord Chief Baron—So must I; and I'll take care
you don't do more.

Sergeant Parry (to witness)—Do you believe, from all

the symptoms you have heard described, and also from
your general knowledge, that the deceased lady died from
natural causes..
Witness—l do.

Dr. Julius Rogers--I am a Doctor of Medicine. I
filled for 17 years the office of lecturer at the old St. George's
School of Medicine. I was examined in Palmer's case. I
know a chemical called chlorate of potash. It is in itself a
perfectly innocous salt. If slow doses of arsenic and am-
monia were administered I don't think chlorate would
eleminate it. If it did it would carry away the poison
before it had time to acts It would bd administering
poison with an antidote. I don't think it would eliminate
poison. I know chlorate of potash is used as a wash for
the mouth. If arsenic and antimony were given in small
doses for some considerable number of days and death
ensue, I should most certainly expect to find arsenic in the
tissues, particularly in the liver and kidneys.

Sergeant Parry—You have heaad Dr. Taylor speak to
finding poison in the blood. Do you believe it possible to
find traces of poison in the blood without finding it in the
liver ?

Witness—Most certainly not.
Sergeant Parry—You have made certain experiments
with bismuth ?
Witness—l have.

Sergeant Parry—Have you found arsenic in it ?
Witness—l have.

I he Lord Chief Baron—ln what quantity ?

Witness—About half a grain to an ounce.

The Lord Chief Baron—And an ounce contains 480
grains.

Witness—Yes.

Sergeant Parry—ln cases of slow antimonial poisoning,
supposing it to continue for some weeks, would it produce
a cold clammy perspiration ?
Witness—Yes ; a deathlike coldness.
Sergeant Parry—Would slow arsenical poisoning produce
a softness of the liver ?

Witness—l should think so, from the records of Dr.

Taylor.

Cross-examined by Sergeant Ballantine—l was called in
Palmer's case to prove that strychnia must have been found
in the body and in the blood if it had been administered.
I have had some anxiety about the effect of poisons, and
have practised it upon animals to relieve myself of the
anxiety. Dr. Richardson, the last witness, was also a wit-
ness for the defence in Palmer's case.

Re-examined by Sergeant Parry—l think using untested

copper for delicate experiments is decidedly wrong. I use
electrotype copper—that is, pure copper, and nothing but
copper. I think it would be most dangerous to conduct
experiments for the detection of poison with untested cop-
per, more especially where a; man's life is concerned.
confined my evidence at Palmer's trial to a toxicological
fact—that, if strychnine had been administered, it ought
to have been discovered.

The Lord Chief Baron—Brother Parry, we don't want
to try that case over again.

Sergeant Parry—No, my lord. I had another question
on my lips, but I abstain from putting it.
Dr. John William Lewis Tuticombe, examined by Mr.
Gifford—l am a doctor of medicine, and was formerly prin-
cipal pupil of Professor Liebig. I have received the great
Prussian medal. I read the description of the post mortem
ex mination of Isabella Bankes. In my judgment her
death is compatible with natural disease. I have met with
cases of pregnancy accompanied with vomiting and diarrhsa.
The Lord Chief Baron—ln its early stages?
Witness—Yes; I have known such symptoms to attend
all its stages.

Examination continued—l think, taking the whole of
the circumstances connected with the death of the lady,
they are incompatible with slow arsenical poisoning. I
also think they are incompatible with antimonial poisoning.
I agree with Dr. Richardson and Dr. Roberts, and I
quite concur with them in their opinion. Ii death was
occasioned by arsenic or antimony I most certainly should
expect to find it in the tissues. I attribute Miss Bankes'
death to diphtheretic dysentery.
Sergeant Ballantine—Have you seen any of the cases
of diphtheretic dysentery in London ?
Witness—Yes ; two.

Sergeant Ballantine—And both cases recovered ?

Witness—No ; one died.

Sergeant Ballantine—Was the body opened ?

Witness—l quite recollect it was.

Sergeant Ballantine—Will you tell me of the exact lo-
cality in which that circumstance occurred ?
Witness—ln Stratton-street, Bloomsbury. -

Sergeant Ballantine—ls diphtheric dysentery mentioned
in any particular book, Hooper's or Copeland's Dictionary,
for instance ?
Witness—l don't know those books.
Sergeant Ballantine—Or Hooper's " Va.de Mecum,"
edited by Dr. Guy ?
Witness—l don't read such books.

Sergeant Ballantine—You don't read such books ?
Witness—No, they are compilations.
Sergeant Ballantine—Where did you say you were a
lecturer ?

Witness—At the St. George's School of Medicine.

Re-examined by Mr. Giffard--I have analyzed grey
powder. I find it to consist of ten distinct substances,
among them arsenic and antimony. I also examined bis-
muth produced from M'Culloch and Squires. I found anti-
mony and arsenic in it.

The Lord Chief Baron—Do you agree with the opinion
of Dr. Richardson and Dr. Rogers ?

Witness—l do.
Sergeant Ballantine—Do you think the poison in the
grey powder caused the death of Miss Bankes

Witness—No.
Sergeant Ballantine—Or had any effect on the symptoms
of the deceased ?

Witness—Not the least.
Sergeant Ballantine—Had the poison in the bismuth
anything to do with it?

Witness—No. •
Sergeant Parry—Did- you ever hear the absurd ougges.
ion that it had except from my learned friend P
Witness—Never.

Sergeant Ballantine—Then why was the analysis made f

Dr. Francis Webb—l am a doctor of medicine of the
College of Edinburgh, a physician in practice in London,
and a lecturer at the Grosvenor School of Medicine. I have
paid great attention to the evidence in this case, and I am
of opinion, from all that I have heard, that the deceased
died from natural causes. In very severe cases of vomiting
in early pregnancy he had known it neces-ary to procure
abortion. I think the copper, nitrate of silver, and bismuth
most incorrect medicines to administer during early preg-
nancy. I consider that Miss Bankes died from dysentery,
made worse by early pregnany. A large proportion of the
knowledge of poisons is derived from experiment on the lower
animals. Chlorate of potash is used as a wash for the
mouth in cases of foul breath. I think if arsenic or anti-
mony were mixed with it, it would not in any way affect
its action. In case of slow arsenical or antimonial poison-
ing, to find poison in the tissues, I agree with Dr. Taylor
that finding it in the liver would be the great criterion. I
have heard a description of the small intestines and stomach,
which is not, in my judgment, compatible with slow arseni-

cal poisoning. In cases of slow irritant poisoning, the
coating of the stomach is very much inflamed, and pro-
bably, ulcerated. I should not expect to find the lungs
perfectly healthy in cases of slow arsenical poisoning.
I am of opinion that Miss Bankes died from natural disease.
Sergeant Parry—You have heard Dr. Taylor say that
ho found 100th part of a grain of arsenic in two teaspoons-
full of a certain mixture and by multiplying it by the num-
ber of teaspoonsful in the bottle, he so arrived at the total
amount of the poison therein contained. What value do
you attach to such an opinion ?
Witness—l consider it a mere guess, and of no im-
portance whatever.
Cross-examined by Sergeant Ballantine—Dysentery I