New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-07-25
THE TRIAL OF MADELEINE. SMITH.


we published a short abstract a few days ago. Not
the least important part Of the evidence against the
prisoner would seem to have been the contents Of her
two hundred letters produced the trial but TO the
contents Of which, az they had not been published we
were unable in our former article particularly TO REFER
In summing up the case against the prisoner the Lord
Advocate contended-and indeed it was not disputed
on the other side-that some of these letters (which
were admitted by the Court part Of the evidence
in the easel, furnished unmstakable proof of guilty
connection between the partes-f indeed, the Scotch
law would not rather, should presume look upon
the fact of such connection merely the consum-
nation Of marriage which, by the law of that coun-
try the parties are competent to enter into by their
own mutual pledge without the presence OF witnesses
or the Intervention of a magistrate.
Upon the foundation Of these letters the Lord Advo-
cate. in summing up the case to the jury presented
the following history of the relations of the parties
This Young lady returned from Lond IN boarding
school at the age Of Il. She met Laughter in 1854,
or beginning of 1859 In 1851 he had been poor, but
had worked his way up to comparatively respectable
posi,icn-fked by all those who CAME III contact with
hiu-spken of by his landlades, employers and
oLe,s az honest aud steady. An attachment arose,
which was forbidden by the parents; and it was only
right to say that the letters at that time were in
per and dutiul spirit The attachment was after
u,
TIRE ate ned show the letters to her father
There was nothing dishonorable in this-the dishonor
would have been in allowing her to become the wife
of any honest man. She implores to get her letters
back. She then bought arsenic Ther her letters re-
sumo all the aidOr Of passion she lie engage e be
married to another man; and LAngeiei LED OF
poson II the truth be such that no reasonable IN.
can doubt the guilt then, Incredible the story may
be, ard fearful rs would be the result OF the
verdict. that verdict must be given. In occult
cafes the ends of justice would be perpetually
de fea ted if there were 10 conviction except some
witness saw the deed done and in cases OF
poison, that remark spilled with peculiar force, rs
po,on il no. likely to be administered before wit
iesses He would now consider the evidence in de-
tail. gong in order of time, beginning with the 18th
of April 1856. The letter of that date arks to See the
prison er the first night her father is off in order that
they might "speDd an hc,Ir of brs." On Friday, the
I'd May she writes that her father had been in bed;
but would make no di6erence-L Angeler was to go
Ia The gate at l0l and wait for her on Tuesday the
9Th May. The next letter was Wednesday morning.
the 7th May-trusng he got home SAFE and containing
the most unmistakabe evidence Of their having had
guilty come ction the night before. The language was
rot to be mistaken. That date Was the commencement
Of the tragedy From that time down to the end oil the
year sic continued to write in strain he would not
RI MISUNDERSTANDING an utter overthrow Of the moral
sense and exhibiting picture which he did not Know
ever rad parallel. fit u said that Angeler had his
own share in corruptiDg it could have been but small
share He then referred to the etter OF the ~ III
containing unmisakable illusions and invitations to
further come cop and arguing that then intimacy had
Lot been Grimm al she his wife. Again che says
she could not see him till the nights were longer. He
tbtn referred to the letter, obviously 10 September
1876 in which she aludes to Minnoch, which she did
fIeque nily afeiward, obviously preparing the de-
ceased to learn that she inclined to favor that gentle
He then quoted the letter written before the prs
went to ByhswOod square, saying that she could
lot admit him, owing to her room being on the same
fcor the front door-a difficulty which the Jury
would see bad been got over. She so arranged az 10
tor and hus hlr
which was below the level Of the pavement should
be the depostory of the corresponds in support
which his lordshp quoted the letter advising
the deceased TO use brown envelopes, as being les
liable to be seen when dropped down to her window
The July were then requested to examine plan OF
the louse the Lord Advocate arguing that entry could
be Outlined 10 both flats without disturbing the
sleepers in the bedrooms. lie then quoted the first
letter from Blytbswood square, telling LAngeiler
TO come and drop in letter at o'clock, and saying
she could let him in at the front door afdIng
that she would not let chance pass He called par
tcular attention TO the fact that she could give ad
mission at the front door without disturbing the fam
lily. He then came to the letters from when II ap-
reared that there serious intention OF the parties
10 elope. Letter No. 70 18th DeceGbei) showed she
was geDg to concert, and that her biother ana ST.
Ter bad Issued invitations TO party letter oil tue
10Th compaiLed that the deceased bad msrepresente1
her as to the circumstances under which Mnnoch sd
accompanied her 10 the concert and that he always
d, ubted her word. There was evidence here that
after the first few weeks of her Intercourse her feel
iIgs toward LADgelior changed She says In another
/, tier that b,r coolpess began when they came to
Glasgow in. November. TIE letter No. ~ was OF
great consequence referring to meetings In yths.
wood-square House; from internal evidence 1t must
have been posted shout the I'D December. Then
came letter inviting him to the house II her father
and mother went to Edinburgb-she could let him In
there was no danger. That meant, You shall come
into the house does it not mean, you nave been IN
the house The correspondence thus lar proved
A.. latin of Iah IA
no eve could have seen it without the character
of the prsOne. being blasted she speaking as being
actually the dece DIS wife, aud engaging not even to
flint with Nr. MLIoch in that position We're the par
ii, at the end of 1885, On the 9th January, 1857 she
writes wishing she could have him with her in bed,
but she has also observation to the effect that she
could not him. ard that he must just leave the note
and 60 away. "Whsn we she Il meet again cannot
tell.f On Saturday, the 10TH she writes hoping he
lad got her note, fearing that there was Lot much
chance Of meeting him again at that tme and Using
the strongest terms Of endearment-perhaps in ten
days she could hlp again the same as last
On Wednesday, the 18th, she writes that che does not
rec that there is any chance for them getting married
at Edinburgh, and that che had dlned with Min
pcch aid liked him. On Monday the 18TH she writes
"A manifest chill having come over her expire ssions-
saving that she forgot she would not be at home
10 receive her letter, but that G. H. would take it
IT, ard that she bad loved him when he was at the
window the night before-sO that the jury would OBJ
that she hai been at tue window with hun on the
Iight Of sunday, the 18th January. lhe envelope
Of letter No ", Friday, 23d January, contained
another letter bearing date Sunday; but 1t is 10
pencil, and probably IN MI envelope at all
Ii speaks Of him having just left her. The true date
is obviously Sunday the 18th, u proved by her let
ter Of the l9lh The next cate is Wednesday, the
2Ist January. She asks why there was no letter on
Monday night, and saying she could not see him on
1huncsy. The next was Thursday. saying the mar.
rage must be put o-that there was no chance till
March. On the 18th tue prisoner accepts Mr. Minnoch
II IL hu he N sItI
documents were only envelopes and then cane two
tters OF the deepest possible consequence but be-
fore reading them they must mark Mr.. kennedys evil
denct, that in February Laughter had said with tears
tlhf Miss Smith Ind hruken III hecause there Was d