The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-07-26
The Case OF Madeleine neutrality-suspicious.
MurderS.

The Case OF Madeleine neutrality-suspicious.
The English papers are full of the trial of Miss
Madeleine Smith, late belle of Glasgow, and the
daughter of an architect in good practice there
She was tried for poisoning her lover, French
man named L'Augelier, whose mistress she had
become; and whom, apparently, she had reason
to desire to be rid Of, in order to marry a mer-
chant who offered her marriage, 1t vas proved
that she had fallen in love with, aud become the
mistress of the deceased: it was shown that when
the merchant began to pay his addresses to her,
she iried to break off with LAngeiier, but found
him reluctant to do so; that she then, after writ
ing several cold and repulsive letters to him,
suddenly changed her tone, became as endearing
as ever, appointed a rendezvous, met Rim, and
spent an evening with him; that previous to this
interview she had bought arsenic on two different
occasions; that five days after the interview
L'Angelier disd in slfferings similar to those
which arsenic would produce; that arsenic was
in fact found in his stomach. On this evidence,
which was very voluminOus, and comprehendea
various other matters Of minor import, but al
tending to fasten the crime on the culprit, the
Scotch jury found a verdict of Not proven"
I'VE must observe e, pGsasm that the Scotch law
permits the jury to render enc of three verdicts-
"Guilty Mot guilty and "Not proven"
The latter is sort of oompromise between the
former il means that the jury believe CT suspect
the prisoner to be guilty Of the offence charged,
but do not find the offence sc fully proven as to
warrant o verdict Of guilty. A prisoner who
has been set at large on verdict OF "Not
proven" may be tried again, if new faets are
discovered.
seems to be very little reason for doubling The
circumstanial evidence, end the evidence of
motive are positively overwhelming one can
only account for her escap. on the ground that
the well known sorupulous conecientiousnes9'o
the ScotcS jury discovered some weak link in the
chain of evidence against her. But IN the eye Of
the British public, she standr as fully convicted
Of murder 40 If she were under sentence Of death.
And we are not surprised to hear that she in
tends to ssek in this country a refuge from the
scorn and indignation which are leveiled at her
in her own.
IL is impossible to dwell on her case without
recalling to mind that other cause esabye, which,
a few weeks ago, directed the eyes of the world,
to this city. In thu. case as in this the victim
relations with the woman who was sus-
Hcted of the crime; in that case as in
this, the pric,aer escaped, and the crime went
anp1nished. From the reports of the trial
which are before us it would appear however
that the two cases were differently viewed by
ire public; wien Madeleine Smith Yves acquitted
the applause was long and vociserous when
Mra Cunningham was acquitted, general sem
ti:,ent Of disappointment may be said to have
pervaded the public 1iad-not ro~much, per-
haps, from a belief in her guilt, as from feeling;
that there had seen vsy sad failure of justice
Whether the contrast may be accounted for by,
the superior attractions Of Miss Smith, who il
test OF public sentiment in Glasgow and New
York, il is a curious phenomenon.
There never was so false and foolish an adage
as sbat commonly given in the words" Murdsr
win out" Murder will not out in at least half
the cases, it remains concealed ard uupunishsd
for years. But just God has wisely ordained
that the punishment Of the haltcB and the axe
sball be Sigh. and trivial In comparison With
the tortures Of romcrss and dread of discovery
We do not envy the murderers of DIR. Burdell
ana NJ. LAngclier; they have saved their rscks
Il is true; whether they are bes. saved, a few
years will emile them TO decide