The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1857-07-22
DAILY DISPATCH.
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Romance and Crime--Extraordin :
nv Case.

4
ny Case.
case of alleged poisoning Of young French
| man bya young English woman, Is just now occu-
pyingt the attention more less Of all England
The trial is now IN progress before the High Court
of Judiciary Of Edinburgh Miss Madeleine Smith
stands charged with the murder Of NJ LAngeIlier.
whom she had encouraged in "A secret attachment
Her parents occupy good position at Glasgow and
the young man, who clerk. with insufficient
means, would not have been accepted by them
The girl, however, met him clandestinely, and cor
responded with him. and proicssed her affection in
the most unqualified and extravagant terms II
now appears that after oftheir latest meeting
the Young man was frequently attacked with ago
nizinE symptoms, which at last resulted in death
Among his effects were found the letters of Miss
Smith, one Of which had urged him 10 pri-
vste meeting few hours previously. An exani-
nation Of the body developed abundant traces of
arsenic.
Miss Smith is proved to have purchased arsenic
and openly admits the fact. as she used il for her
complexion She bought il in company with
friends and unhesitatingly affixed her name to the
register Of the chcdists, who were told bt her that
II MAS TO poison rats. After her intimacy and cor
rcSPondence with the young Frenchman. her fami-
~ arranged match for her with person in much
better position She accepted this new offer but
I
disposition, and would be likely to expose her when
| the affair became known to him. This indeed
he ultimately threatened. Miss Smith yainly i'm
piored him 10 return her letters She then re-
ne"ed her Expression of affection. and invited
hin' TO meet her The allegation is that this was
snare 10 enable her 10 destroy him She is charc-
rd With administering arsenic in chocolate or cof
fee.
The SCOTSMAN says that the court is filled with
hobiemen, barristcrs and the aristocracy In
speaking OF the trial that paper adds:
The pcrsonal appearance of Miss smith. tn. cen
tFA nSure III this remarkable case il the point on
winch most attraction seems to be fixed in The.
court by the spectators with which it is thronged
ana winch Il much talked of among the less uriyi-
legged outside world Eager crowds gather in th,.
early morning, AT the goal and in Parliament
square, to catch glimpse of the prisoner AS she il
tak"n Ia the court. In the evening thousands ia
gamer IN the streets 10 the cab in which she is
borne back from the court to the prison Every
day srrs hundreds At the door of the cnurt yyhn
would willingly cxpend gniuets in obtaining Il look
at the young lady.
In the midst OF all this excitement. passine-
through the eager crowd from and ia the pr.i.nr
seated at the har with hundreds of eye. tixsd sion,
Oily upon her, Madeleine Smith is the only unnIoy-
cd, cool parsonage to be seen. From the first mo-
ihFnt 10 the last she has preserved that undauuted
tctant attitude of perfect repuse which has stru,k
every spectator with astoRishment. She passes
from the cap to the court room, or rather the cell
beneath the dock, with the air Of "a belle entering a
ballroom. She ascends the narrow staircase lead
Ing into the dock with cool iSunty air and nm
YeIled countenanc", the same perpetual smie-nr
smirk rather, for it lacks all the elements Of ce
uine Smiie-the same healthy glow OF color, and
the same confident ease. The female turnkey Mt
her side looked much more Of the prisoner f,r
While She IL still, and scarcely ever lifts her eyes
Miss smith never ceases survey ing all that goes on
around her-"ttChlnE every word of every Witness
-r"turnInS every stare with compound interest,"
slHncing every second minute at the lown-turn.d
ne sid n
upon the reporters Immediately behind her To spe
how they get along with the notetHking which IL
carrying her name and deeds into every British
home. When Judges and juryuIrn retire for lunch
sh" refuses even much II small packet of
sandwiches. Other, may be thirsty amid the hot
excitement, but when the female attendant offers
her glass II water She will not have it,
There she sits, refusing meat and drink or a mo-
mcnts retirement in her cell, with ii smelling bot
tie in her dainty little hand, which she never
uses, sllend"d specimen of physical power. and
Of such endurance rs only will Of torrihle
strength could attain. When She is called up to
plead She says, in clear, sweet trebe-no trace of
husklncss or Of emotion peTceptible in the voice
no trembling on her tongue--"N0t guilty" The
dean OF Faculty, her leading counsel. bids her good
morning, or says word 10 her when the proceed
ines Close FOR the day. and she smiles 50 cheery
that you listen TO hear her laugh Whoever speak y
counsel or witness, must be sensible of the fixed
penetrating glance of her large dark eye. Her
head is perpetually turning from the gentleman of
questions are put and answered.
She has well cultivated taste that il evident
SheiS elegant without show. A rich brown silk
gown, with Il large brooch low set in the breast;
white straw bonnet simply trimmed with white
ribbon: ii white cambric handkerchief and A hottl.
of smelling salts i'll her kid-glUvrd hand-such is
the inventory far as ! can furnish it, Her hair
of "hlt she has rich prOtusion, is quietly ar.
ranged III the fashion prevalent before the Eugenis
style, although the smallness OF the bonnet Which
n of the most fashionable make, neCesstate- the
Leading of two ebony hraids across the crown of
her head. Miss Smith il about five feet two inches
IN height. She has an elegant figure and can nei-
ther be called stout nor slim. She looks older
than her years, which are Il. | should have guess
cd her age to he "a. Her eyes are deep set large
and some think beautiful; but they certainly do
not look preposseEsing. Her brow is of the ordi-
nary size, and her face inclnes to the oval Her
nose is prominent, but is too long be taken az
type for the Roman, and too irregular to remind
one of Greece. Her complexion. in spita of prison
lite lie clear and fresh. Her checks well color
cd, and the insinuation that rosy hue is impaired
by artificial means, made by some portion of the
press, does not seem we'll founded.