The Sun.
London, England, 1857-07-06 00:00:00

THE GLASGOW POISONING CASE.
FOURTH DAY.--FRIDAY.
The evidence fir the prosecution was resumed
to-day by the examination of William Hart and
Peter Taylor Young, Joint Procurators Fiscal for
the lower ward of Lanarkshire. Their evidence
chiefly related to the mode of recovetiug and at-
testing the documents in the repositories of the de-
ceased, also to the preparation of the case and the
communication of copies. of the documents to the
prisoner's agents.
Andrew Murray, jun., writer to the Signet,
proved the accuracy of the print of the porti n of
the correspondence founded on by the Crown, aid
in the hands of couns-1 on both sides.
Rowland Hill M`Donald, controller of sorting
department, post-office, Glasgow, was called to
identify the post-marks on numerous envelopes.
Robert Monteith and Robert Sinclair, packers,
in the employment of Huggins and Co., d, posed
that they had addressed letters f r L'Angelier to
" Miss C. Hagart," both at India-street, where the
family resided before Whitsunday, 1856, at the
country house at Row, and latterly at 7, Blyths-
wood-square. L'Angelier did nut wish his hand-
writing to be known.
Janet M`Donald, postmistress at Row, remem-
bered letters coming to the post-office at Row in
1855 and 1856, addressed to " Miss Bruce ; to be
called for," and which one of Mr. Smith's servants
called for. Did not know of any person named
Miss Bruce.
Catherine M'Donald, Bridge of Allan, deposed
that the family had resided in her house there from
the 6th t,) the 17th of March.

We usually went to bed between 10 and 11, but I
cannot say if we stayed up longer than usual that
night. Miss Smith wished we might stay in the
kitchen a little. When she told me to open the
back door she said she was to see her friend. While
I stayed in the kitchen I did not know if he was
in my bedroom, but I have no doubt she was.
When we heard Miss Smith go to her room
we 1--ft the kitchen. We heard the door of Miss
Smith's bedroom open, but we did not hear
the back bedroom door open. When we went
we found our room door shut. There is a front
area to the house. The key of the door is sometimes
in the kitchen and sometimes in the boy's room. I
heard Miss Smith was to be married from her mo-
ther. This was before she was apprehended. I
think a good while before. I asked her what she
was to do with her other friend, and she told me
then, or sometime afterward, that she had given
him up. I asked if she had got back her letters.
She said, " No, Ido not care." I once, in India-
Areet, refused to receive letters for her. I also
refused at one time, in Blythswood-square, but I
don't remember if she passed any remark. She said
she could receive letters at the window. This was
before I had refused. I have seen L'Angelier in
Main-street, clo4e to the house. He was walking
slowly along. Tiiis was in the beginning of the last
winter. Miss Smith could have passed from her
bedroom to the kitchen or up stairs without being
overheard by us. I never saw any rats in our house
in Blythswood square. I remember Sunday, the
',.2d of March. I was unwell that day, and
kept my b-d in cm-equence. I got up between 5
add 6in the afternoon. I saw Duncan Macken-
zethat evening. He came between 7 and 8. I was

Dr. Robert Telfer Cortret—l assisted in the exa- at the family worship at 9, as also was Miss Smith.
mireteion of the body of M. L'Abgelier on the 31st Mackenzie remained below. I left Miss Smith in
of March, and concurred in the report then made. the dining-room, and did not see her ,again that
The conclusion we came to was that deceased had evening. I went to bed at 10.
_,_ Mackenzie left
died died from the effects of irritant poison. The mor- shor y before that time. We heard thing in the
bid appearance were of two kinds—one showing coulee of that night, and knew nothing of any
the recent and immediate action of irritant poison, stranger being in or about the house. I remember
and the other effects of some antecedent adminis Miss Smith leaving home unexpectedly on the
tration. The ulcers on the duodenum were such Thursday following. I remember her being at an
as I think an irritant poison administered a month evening party, between the Sunday and the Thurs-
before might have produced. I think ihe inflame- day. I cannot say if it was Wednesday evening.
mat orY action and ulceration were iudicative of the The key of the back door was kept that night in my
administration of arsenic. Jaundice is not a cern- bedroom. It was about Bin the morning that Miss
mon, but an occasional sympton of irritant p iison. Smith was missed. There was a key to the back
Extreme thirst is one of tile symptoms, and shows gate of the area, of which I had charge. It is a
itself very early. That is not a sywp om of Btitish wooden gate in a high wall. The key of the back
cholera in the earlier stages. A dose of arsenic door of the house generally stood on the wall. The
generally shows itself in batf an hour or au hour. back gate was sometimes locked, but more gene-
Longer periods have been known, bu they are un- rally "snibbed." The key of the low front door
usual. The early appearance of the symptoms would was always left in the lock, as also the key of
depend more on tire mode of administration and the bieh front door. It was the key of the front
the state of the stomach than the flu Lntity. It area gete that the boy kept. I had charge of
would operate more quickly, I think, if there had Mess Smith's bedroom. I never during February or
been repeated doses. I have re td of ca-es of March Faw the wa'er she washed in peculiarly black
murder in which large doses have beenadrninistered. or peculiarly blue.
I cannot say I hive heard of 80 grains, but I have Cross-examined—l think it was soon after Miss
read of cases in which the authors describe the doses Smith pointed out her friend that I knew of the
as being large. correspondence. It was in April or May of 1856
Cross-examined—Twenty grains would certainly the family went to Row. It would be a good while
be a very large dose. It wou!cl be a large dose to before this I knew of the correspondence. After I
be administered, and certainly a very laree quan- received some of the letters I declined to take more.
tity to be found in the stomach. I cannot tell of Her mother found out thtt something was going
any case of homicidal adusiuistratioii ier whi la so on, and forbade me to receive any letters. The fa-
large a dose was given. I state upon the authority mly came back from Row in Nov. last. Ido not
of Dr. Taylor that jaundice is a symptom. (Shown remember how long it was after the family's return
Taylor's work, and asked to point out the passage.) that this gentleman came to the house, but it was
Ido not know the fact except from reading. Ithink a good while. Irememberthe familygoingto Bridge
Taylor refers to Christison as hie authority. of Allan. It was a good while before this that he
The Dean—No, not Christisou, but Marshall. came. I could not say how long. Ido not remem-
If you can give me a single line except the one now ber the time Mrs. Smith told me that Miss Smith
shown me, in which Taylor refers to Marshall as was to be married, but it was before we went to
his authority, namely, at page 62, I entreat you to Bridge of Allan. The interview of the gentleman
show it to me. with Mies Smith might have been in the lobby.
Witness—l am not aware that it is mentioned in Her youngest sister slept with her, and she would
any other part of the article than the page to which be in bed by that time. My present husband was
you allude, but I would require to read it over, pretty frequently about the house at that time—
The Dean—But surely when you come li re to several times iu the course of a week. Duncan
sweir, as a man of skill, that jaundice is a sympt ,m Mackenzie went out by the back door on the Sun-
of arsenical poisoning, you are prepared .o give me day night. I saw him to the outer gate and
a better answer than that. Do you know there is " suibtred it." I have no reason to suppose I did
a life depending on this inquiry ? Pcay keep that not lock the inner door as usual. After leaving
in mind. Miss Smith in the dining-room I did not see her
Witness—l know jaundice to be a secondary that night. She gave me no reason to suppose she
symptom of arsenical poisoning by my reading. had had any meeting. Ido not know if Miss
The Dean—And is there any reading that you Smith and Miss Janet went to bed together that
can condescend on, except what I have pointed out night. The luck of the back door makes a con-
to you ? siderable noise when it is turned. It is close to
Witness—Nothing. my bedroom. The window of our room looks into
Cross-examination resumed—The u'cera might the back area, and is secured by iron stincbions.
be produced by other causes than irritant poieon. By the Court—When the family went to Bridge
I never saw ulcers in the duodenum except in this of Allan the servants were left at home. I saw
case, but I should conceive that any cause of in- Miss Smith when she came back on the Thursday
flammation of the upper intestines would produce from Row. She had a smell carpetbag with her.
them.
It was not very small, but it was such as a lady
Re examined—The presence of jaundice would might carry. It was in India-street that I was de-
not sway me very materially iu the view of arsenical. sired by Mrs. Smith not to receive letters for Miss
poisoning. I have made a great many post wor- Smith, but I did receive some afterwards.
tem examinalions. The Lord Justice Clerk—l suppose in reality, as
Dr. Penny recalled and re-examined for the Mackenzie was visiting you, you were willing to
Crown.—l have made experiments as the effect of oblige the young lady 1 (A laugh.)
the colouring matter in ttie arsenic of Murdoch and Charlotte M‘Lean—l was cook in Mr. Smith's
Currie, as to how far the colouring matter could be family for six m inths, up till last Whit-Sunday. I
afterwards, detected. I administered Murdocli'a never saw any gentleman visiting Miss Smith with-
to a dog, andet found no difficulty in 01. tecting the out the knowledge of her family, nor had beard of
soot in the stomach of the dog. I administered it. I never got letters to deliver or post to M.
arsenic,coourede by myself with indigo to another L'Angelier. I never knew of her receiving such
dot', and I had no difficulty in detecting the inei- letters come addressed to Miss Bruce. I remember '
go in that case. I administered to another dog a one night Christina Haggart asking me to remain
1
portion of the arsenic sold by Mr. Currie, and I longer in the kitchen, as some person was speaking
detected black particles in the stomach, but could to Miss Smith. I afterwards heard her go into her
not undertake to identify the arsenic found with bedroom, on which we went to her room. I was at
the arsenic given. I fund carhop iceous parti- family worship on Sunday night, the 22d March,
des, but could not and-rtake to say that they are and left Miss Smith upstairs. I did not know of any
of thernAltas sufficient to identify any particular pers rn being in during the night. I heard no noise.
description of arsenic. I could not detect no ar- Cross examined—lt was near 11 that night when
senic in the brain, Kit I found it in the stomach, we went to b- d.
as well as in the texture of the stomach. Duncan Mackenzie—l was married recently to
Cross-examined.-1 made myself acquainted with- Christine Haggart. I was visiting her on Sunday
the'qualitY of the colouring matter in Curie's ar- the 22d March. I left about 10 by the hack gate. I
senic before administer ine, it to the d ig. The par- was in the way of visiting her when the family lived
tides found in the dog's stomach bore a close re- in India-street. She once pointed out a gentle-
semblance to the colouring matter, both in their man to me at the lack door of the house, but she
physical appearance and their chymical properties. did not tell me his name or anything about him. ,
Their appearance and properties were, indeed, Cross-examined—I spoke to this gentleman. I
identical. was coming up to the house, and he asked me if I
Christina Haggart, or Mackenzie—l was mar- was going in. He asked if I knew Christina. Heo
tied to Duncan Mackenzie since the end of March asked me to ask her to go out to speak to him. She
last. I was previously servant in the family of Mr. went out. I did not hear what they said. I was
Smith. I was two years in their service last Whit- not jealous about this, but she was afraid I might
sunday. Miss Smith was the eldest of the fernily. be. I had al, tter afterwards, signed "M. Smith,"
Miss Bessie is a grown up young lady, perhaps , telling me it was her friend I had seen, and hoping
about two years younger than Miss Smith. I think nothing would arise between us in consequence. I
Miss Janet will be about 12 or 13. John, the did hot preserve the letter. I never saw that gen-
eldest son, will he about 16 or 17., and was in an tleman again. I was frequently about that house
office in Glasgow ; and Jarnesis two years younger. af erwards, and subsequently about the house in
He was till the end of March at a school in Edin- 1 Blythewood-square, but never saw him again.
burgh. The family had a house at Howaleyn Row. I James Galloway deposed to having seen L'Ange-
The first winter I was with them they lived in lier going tip Sauchiehall-street on Sunda
ty, y, Merch India-street, Glasgow. While they were living 22, abo 9 o'clock. That would be in the direction
i
there Miss Smith pointed out aFi each gentleman ! from Franklin-place to Blythswood-square.
to me, but did not tell the his name. I never heard 1 Cress-examined—He was walking rather slowly.
his name, that I remsmeer, till I was examined. i Mary Tweedle deposed to his calling at Mrs.
Miss Smith told tie he was a friend of hers. Parr',, St. Vincent-street, at 20 minutes past 9.
See pointed him out to me from the window He called for Mr. M'Alester, who was not in.
one day he was p sesing. The photograph shown me Blyths wood-square is 5 minutes walk from there.
appears to be a likeness of him. He once came into Thomas Kavan, night constable, Glasgow police.
the house at India street by the back gate, which —My heat in March last included the north and
MissSmithrequested me to open for him. The family east sides, of Blythswood-square and thus included
were all at church except the youngest sister. She Mr. Smith's house at No. 7. (Shown photograph
took him into the laundry. They shut the door of L'Angelier.) I have seen that person more than
after them. He remained about half an hour. once. I saw him at least two months previous to my
He came back at night afterwards on several CCCA- being examined about him. I saw him in Main-
sions—three or four times.. He came about ten street. As well as I can recollect it would be 10 or
o'clock. This was beLre the tour the family re- 11 o'clock. He was staeding at the lamppost nearthe
tired, but, so far as I remember, they were not at Earle. He once accosted me and said, "It's a cold
home. Ott these occasions be stood at the back- night, polieewan; do youstnoke 1" I said "Yes,"and
gate, and d'd not come into the house to my letiow- he gave me two cig.rs. Wheulsaw him he wasabout
ledge. I sometimes opened the gate when he was the breadth of this courthouse from Mr. Smith's
not, there, that he might come in, and. sometimes house. I i ecollect having seen him some 10 or 12
when I went out, at Miss Smith's desire, to open days after the first time. 'He was passing along
it be would be there waiting. Miss Smith gene- the garden side, on the north side of Blythswood-
rally went out to him. Tilt' I°lck door was a good square; going east towards West Regent-street.
way from the laundry, bu-, they might have gone He was passing opposite 5 and 6, which are west of
in there without my seeking it. I once pointed this No. 7, and he was going east. I saw him again a
gentleman out to Duncan Mackenzie, my present' fortnight or three weeks previous to the time I was
husband. I said he we.: a frieed of Miss Slid h's, examined. I saw him at the corner of West Regent-
but Ido not remember if I mentioned his name. I street coining towards Blythswood-square. It might
have spoken to that gentleman. He onge Made me a be between 9 and 10 o'clock. I Lever saw him again.
present of a dress while we lived in In dia-stree te He Cross-examined—l was examined on the 2d of
did not say what he gave it for. Never sa w him that I April. I was on my beat on Sunday the 22d March.
rememberintheneighbohrhoodofßowaleyu Ie tters lam quite sure I did not see him that night.
were sometimes addressed to me for MiSe Smith at
were conning Wm y ung, photographer, Eleleusburgh (shown
India-street. She said thy
from the photograph found in L'Angedier's lodgings).—
her friend, and aeksd me to rec ive the'in I I lade this photograph. It is a portrait of Miss Ma-
thought she meant M. L'Angelier. I could, not deuline 'South. It was done in September, 1856, at
tell the number of letters that came in that way. her desire.
I gave them all to Miss Smyth. Letters came to Mrs. Towers—l am sister to Miss Perry, who
Rowaleyn addressed in tile same we
called for letters addressed to Mies Bruce atl Row_
lives in" Glas ow. Ililvein Chester, but 't March
Smith
aleyn, which I gave to Msa &lase misspest. my husband and lived at Portobello, near
eluilturgh. I remem tier L'Angelier coming to visit
me let lets to post, I think to L'Augelir-r, iii tiiere. He dined with us. 11.0 talked of his health
has given
but I could not reel the eaeee. I have porn d almos • the whole time He said he had been given
jeteers to his address, from Inclia-streee from cocoa anal
Blythswood-s Inure and from Rewaleyn. I enee disagreed with
coffee,hibmut,aaftder Lakin; them they had
ha7cl been very ill.
delivered a letter to 'he same eddies-, in Franklin- He said he had not I.:ea: et
id to them. He
place. I left it nit the house. In the Bly- ltswood- made the remark that heatchconsurt he had beenpoi-
square house there is a hacedoor, opsning to tl:e sorted. This was after Speaking
Was said. or asked about who had
wee in the back lane. Mae Sini:h esked me once cecoa. Nothing of the coffee e.nd
to open that bicle door. It was a good Long time poisoned him.
before she was apprehended. I (wild not say how James Towers, husband of last witness—l was at
resided in
gelier at
many w* eke I thiak it was not so much as two 'o• e time a merchant in Glaseovr,
months before she was apprehended. It was at eight Portotiello in March last. I had metnett'teur
his
.
she asked tee to do this— pi et 10. I was if, her r :orn my sister-in-law's in Glasgow. 1 rem
which was on the
Isenae.erioiO lai-
rastl e kitchen, when ing with us in March. He told us he had d
she asked me,
co,kleapt in the room_ next the violent bilious attack or jaundice. H
mie is Had two attacks after taking cocoa or coffee, back door. The
Charlotte M‘Letn. I
olept with me. 11
ern
but said he thought himself - saw no one there. 1 leftl''led the back gaie, , poisoned after taking th
it 0 e
p n and into the came cocoa and coffee. I remarked who would poison -hime
said a
haverhHa uyee
house. I also left the back ae
-d was after that
or what object could there be for thHatet butla I—de'
I went into the ki7chen. oi, or of the house ()pen.
not recollect he made any answer.
then I met Mis 4 Smith in thegor,a7 into the kir-
quite well.
told us 'no
n rreing to return to Glasgow, and
wards the bace door. I then hearere°' going to
ing through the gate. I did not h.oolatepe tom- g7ngb to Bricltte of Allan. He 100.k.0
Car
Aee and cocoa at
Smith went to. I did not bear the door of
Miss 1 understorid 'he had taken the
vas dinner and
close& I was in the kitchen hilt' alt hour or
charlotte 11.1ean was in the kitchen talked
ate a
lute. . a good deal. He oertailt/y was of a talkative