The Sun.
London, England, 1859-07-08 00:00:00

THIS DAY.

(Continued front The Sun of Yesterday.)
Miss Louisa Bankes livo at 10, Langhart-villas,
Maida-hill. I saw my sister after her death ; the person
pointed out to me was my sister. Her age was 43, and she
was unmarried. We did not live together. 1 recollect her
going to live at a boarding-house, No. 4, Rifle-terrace,
Bayswater, in the autumn of last year. I recollect her
leaving that house and going into a boarding-house in Kil-
dare-terrace in the same neighbourhood. I was in the
habit of seeing her at both places. Ido not know that she
had a disposition to relaxation of the bowels. When I
visited her at Kildare-terrace, I was introduced by her to
Dr. Smethurst. She was in a very good state of health at
that time. Some time after, I met her with Dr. Smethurst
in Kensington-gardens, and the deceased left him
and came and spoke to me. I saw her the even-
ing before she left Kildare-terrace, but I do not know the
date. I did not hear from her again until I received a letter
from her en the 9th of February, 1859, and from that date
until the 19th of April I received letters from her. I re-
ceived this letter, signed "T. Smethurst." I have received
similar letters from Smethurst, and have spoken to him
afterwards about some of them. The letter was then
read :

" Strictly private and confidential.
"Dear Miss Bankes,—Your dear sister Isabella wishes
we to request the favour of your calling upon her as early
as convenient, as she is really. very ill and desirous to see
you. She also wishes me to say that you will greatly
oblige by coming alone, and ask for Dr. and Mrs. Smet-
hurst ; say that you have called to see your sister, and that
you will breathe not a word of the contents of this note to
any one. She further wishes me to say that she cannot
ask you to remain ; she simply solicits seeing you for the
present. The rail from the Waterloo-station about every
half-hour, and Richmond from the White Horso-cellars,
Piccadilly.
" I remain, dear Miss Bankes, yours faithfully,
" THOMAS SMETHURST.
" 10, Alma-villas, Richmond-hill, April 18, 1859."

I went down there and arrived between two and three
o'clock. I saw Dr. Smethurst 'before I saw my sister. She
was very ill, and much changed front the time I had seen
her last. I remained there some hours, but not in the room
all the time. I was never alone with her. I did not ex-
press a wish to be alone with her. Ido not think she gave
me any account of the nature of her illness. She was not
able to tell me. Dr. Smethurst said she had been suffering
from sickness and diarrhoea. I have a relative, Mr. Lane,
of St. George's Hospital, and I proposed to Dr. Smethurst
that he should come and see her; but he said he had better
not, for my sister did not wish it. That was in her pre-
sence. Dr. Smethurst was once out of the room for two or
three minutes, and then I was alone with her. While he
was in the room he said lie did not think the money she had
received under her father's will was as much as she ought
to have had. I left her about five o'clock. She expressed
a wish that I should come soon and see her, and I promised
to do so. While I was there I noticed some tapioca in a
cup in the cupboard. My sister said she did not like it be-
cause it had a disagreeable taste. She said she should like
me to prepare some for her, and I said I would do so. I
did not do so becaise Dr. Smethurst said the milk had not
come. I afterwards offered to make some, and he said it
would interfere with the landlady. I proposed to get some
isinglass, but he did not seem to wish it, though he said
nothing. She said that he was very kind, and that he
watched her so tenderly that she was quite happy.
They occupied one bedroom, but I made no remark about
it. She said if I would wait a little and be quiet it would
be all right. I left, and got a letter from him before I
went again. The following is the letter :
.___

"My dear Miss Bankei,—We are in receipt of yours of
yesterday's date, for which we are greatly obliged. After
your departure dear Bella had a very bad evening and night,
and that purely from the excitement of seeing you and the
fatigue consequent thereon. Vomiting and sickness set in
at a fearful rate, which of course prostrated her greatly.
Her doctor, therefore, at once forbade any visitors for the
present, or he would not be responsible for the effects at-
tendant thereon. Last night was a good one, but lam
sorry to say a trying one. She is now, however, again
better, and I am happy to say recovery is really expected
by 1311. I will write again shortly. Dearest Bella sends
her kindest love, and, with kindest regards, believe me
yours faithfully.

" THOMAS SMETHURST.
" 10, Alma-villas, April 21, 1859."

I had written to my sister, addressed to Dr. Smethurst. I
received that letter, and in consequence did not go down.
Subsequently I received this letter :
"My dear Miss Bankes,—Bella's dearest love and best
thanks for your kind attention, in which I cordially unite.
She has not yet got over the emotion of meeting you, poor
dear, and is still looking forward to a very early interview ;
indeed, she would like to name Monday next for your taking
a chop with me, but I think it would be more desirable to
say the middle of next week,- for the doctors even this
morning, have prohibited anything of a nature which might
try her very weak powers, since it would be impossible to
bear up against shocks to the nervous system, and on these
grounds alone she is ordered to keep her room, in order to
treasure her health. The aspect pf affairs is favourable if
great care be observed, and we three doctors have every,
hope of a successful termination. I shall not fail to call for
the jelly. I purchased some very beautiful yesterday, and
dearest Bella has partaken of two or three glasses of it, and
I think, with benefit. Dearest Bella says she would rather
not see uncle Lane; however, we will talk this matter over
at our next meeting. With every kind wish, in which
dearest Bell unites, believe me yours faithfully,
THOMAS SMETHURST.

" April 23, 1859."
I still did not go down, and received the following letter :
" My dear Miss Banker,—Dearest Bella requests me to
thank you kindly for the jelly; poor thing, she tries her
very best to eat it. It is, however, I imagine, too
sweet for her taste, especially as now, with constant
nausea, sometimes it is retained on the stomach, at others
it is speedily vomited. I obtained some from town, which
is not so sweet, but this she puts aside for yours. I very
much regret tb say that she has not once properly rallied
since seeing you. Her nervous energy must be very low
indeed, or this would not have happened. Still we have
every hope of a good recovery. To-day I have insisted ou
having a consultation with Dr. Todd, of King's College
Hospital, the first physician of the day, with her two regu-
lar medical attendants, who are also the first doetors in this
town. She is still ordered quietude, and all visitors to be
excluded for the present; therefore dearest Bella begs of
you to wait a.little longer than was anticipated before call-
mg on her. As soon as I have got Dr. Todd's opinion I
will send pau a few lines on the subject. With our united
love, believe me yours faithfully,

•
1411:LOMAS SIIETHURST."
[ wrote a letter to him, and in reply received the folloWing
Letter :

"My dear Miss Bankes,—We saw Dr. Todd, from Lou
daily don, last evening as late as 10 o'clock, in consultation with
Dr. Julius, of Richmond, our dear Bella'sattendant. He not only acquiesced in what is beingdone,
medical
but recommends a perseverance in the treatment with ' some
slight addition of his own prescribing, and entertains
pro-
bable hopes, like the rest of us. The bilious vomiillg t
entirely arrested, but sickness still prevails to a greate ex •
are
tent, with occasional violent retchings, which almost shake
k
her very life out of her, and the bowels continue to act
eight or ten times in the 24 hours, spite of all we can do.
This action is very different from what is usually called
diarrhoea, and is the result of impaired bowels and congested
liver, which must have existed for a very long period. I am
Berry to say there is no appetite, the only thing which
raises a fear in my mind, for how nutrition is to be obtained
equal to the loss of strength under the circumstances does,
I confess somewhat puzzle me. Nevertheless, there are
still good and improving points from which we trust to
build our hopes upon. I much regret the state of the case
will not yet admit of even your seeing her for the present,
since any or the least anxiety only tends to debilitate her
nervous system. We both anticipate very shortly seeing
you here. Dearest Bella sends her kind love and best
wishes in which I beg to join, and believe me yours very
faithfully, "T. SMETHURST.
" April 29, 1859
The next letter I received was as follows :
"Dearest Miss Bankes,—ln reply to your favour of yes-
terday's date, I am exceedingly sorry to say dear Bell has
passed a wretchedly bad night; passed 15 motions in the
24 hours, and of a very bad description. There is now so
much blood in the stools, and besides which there is an
entire want of appetite, consequently I have a great dread
for the result. She read your kind letter, and agrees with
me that it will be better that you should be near to us, so
'that if you will run down as early as convenient you can
then tale a room or rooms near at hand. It will indeed be
a source of comfort to me to have you with us. I much re-
gret there is no accommodation in this house for you, as we
occupy all there is to let, and have not room enough for
ourselves. Dearest Bella sends her kindest love, and, with
every good wish believe me yours faithfully,
" April, 30, 1859." T. SMETHURST.
I received that letter on Saturday and went down on Sunday.
I found my sister very weak indeed much weaker than I
had previously seen her, and scarcely able to speak. I re-
mained with her ten minutes and then went downstairs. Dr.
Smethurst was present the whole time. I brought some
soup with me, and he said it was too strong: He took
some of it and put some hot water to it, and then took it
outside the door and said he would cool it. He brought it
in again in about a minute, and gave the
it but bdecease a
ht it
s
quantity of it in a teaspoon• took roug
up directly. I took her some arrowroot after the soup, and
Dr. Smethurst gave it to her. He got it from outside the
door, the same place he had taken the soup to. She took
a spoonful of arrowroot, and became sick again and retched
very violently when she threw it up. A second attempt
was,made to induce her would the soup, and with the same
result. Dr. Smethurst not let me remain with my
sister as she was too ill Todd's betr it. He said she was much
metewsince taking Dr. pills. The next day he sent
to town to get some medicine, and when I brought it
down he said he had changed the treatment and would not
give it to her. He did not know the police had been com-
municated with, but they were in the housd. Smethurst
was greatly agitated, and said that Dr. Julius had accused
him of poisoning my sister. After this I gave her some
arrowroot, and she did not vomit it. A nurse had been
sent for, and was with her at that time. I gave her arrow-
root several times, and she never did on any one occasion
vomit it. She took food and arrowroot from me during the
eight, and was perfectly sensible, and she had no return of
the retching. She appeared better, and on the Tuesday I
gave her some brandy and water, and after that she sank
into a state of unconsciousness, and I never saw ber again
alive. She died that day.
Cross-examined by Sergeant Parry—On hiturn from
arrest Dr. Smethurst was much agitated; he said Dr.
Julius had been saying be had poisoned my sister. He
kissed my sister when he went into her room. When he
was away some medicine came. I never saw the nurse give
my sister any medicine. I heard my sister retching when
the nurse was with her. Dr. Smethurst never afterwards
interfered with the administration of medicine. In ray
first visit I don't recollect my sister saying he, meaning
Dr. Smethurst, is so kind to me that it is quite a treasure
to be his. I don't recollect her latterusingthead occasional
worasdsio.nal
heard her say he was very kind. My sister
bilious attacks. I recollect her going to Dr. Bartlett for

bilious attack. I recollect her being sick on several occa-
sions when riding in a carriage., She was sick whilst riding
in Dr. Jackson's carnage. I remember telling Dr. Smet-
hurst that I thought my sister very fragile. Dr. Hoffman
also attended my sister at Ramsgate. It is about three or
four years since my sister resided with me. My father did
die of diarrhoea. I cannot say it was diarrhoea, it was said
to be a complication of diseases. When I first went to
Richmond I dined with Dr. Smethurst. Many members of
our family suffer from frequent bilious attacks. My uncle
died from dropsy. He never suffered from jaundice.
One of my sisters died of consumption. There is
a contingency that my sister would come into a large sum
of money had she lived. It was to the survivor of myself
and sister.

Re-examined by Sergeant Ballantine—The bilious
attacks I have spoken to were only occasional—merely for
a day or so.
By the Lord Chief Baron—l never had any conversation
with my sister relative to her position with Dr. Smethurst.
Mr. Frederick Senior examined by Mr. Bodkin—l am a
solicitor, residing at Richmond. The prisoner called at my
office in April. He was a stranger to me. He called on me,
he said, to see whether I would come up the hill, and draw
up a will for a lady. I said, "Yes, I'll come directly,"
He said, "No, not to-day, to-morrow. The lady was too
ill that afternoon." He showed me the paper now put into
my hand. He said, " This is what the will will be. ' On
the Sunday morning, he called on me and said he must
trouble me to come, as the lady had passed a very bad
night. He told me to come about ten in the morning. The
medical man came at half-past and he wished all over by
that. I said I should like a medical man to be present as
the lady was so ill. [le said, there's no necessity for that,
as the lady was suffering from vomiting and diarrhoea, but
was perfectly sensible. I was showninto the parlour. He said
he thought he ought to tell me before I went up stairs' that
although he was living with the lady they were not man
and wife. I then went upstairs into the bed-room.
Smethurst went in first. Miss Bankes was in bed. He
said, pointing to me, " My dear, this is the gentleman who
has come to make your will." She bowed, and then handed
me the same paper the prisoner had shown me on the
Saturday. I asked if the paper contained her wishes, and
she replied "Yes." I read it over to her, and asked her if
it was correct. She said, " Yes ; but she wished to leave
a brooch to a friend " I then left the room with the in-
structions. The paper now put into my hand is the will.
The prisoner was with me all the time I was drawing it up
in the room below. I asked him to get a witness, and he
said he would get the landlady's daughter, if she would do.
He said he supposed she need not be told it was .a will. r
said, "Yes, she must ;" and he replied, "Oh, very well."
He then left the room, and in a short time returned with
the young woman. I said to her, " This lady wishes you
and Ito witness her sign this paper." Dr. Smethurst said
you have not told her it is a will. I then held up the paper and
said to the lady, "Is this your will ?" She replied, "It
is," and it was then executed. I then left the room, and
Dr. Smethurst accompanied me down to the parlour.' I
advised him to have it executed again on the Monday, but
I never was sent for again.
The will was then read, by which the deceased left all her
property to her dear and beloved friend, Thomas Smet-
hurst, for his own use absolutely.
Cross-examined—I am certain the lady had a thorough
knowledge of all that was done. I read the will over to
her slowly, and then asked if all was correct, and she
replied, " Yes, it is."
Miss Bankes was recalled, and Treoved the draft of the
will to be in her sister's handwriting,
Dr. Julius was then called anal gave similar evidence to
what has already appeared in Vie Sun.