The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1857-08-01
4 Scotch Burdoll Caee.

4 Scotch Burdell Csse.
The English public have had a case Of al |
eyed murder a. exciting and which has alb |
sorbed the public attention of the country to
as great degree as the famous Burdell case |
has that in the United States. A young
Scotch girl in Glasgow by the name OF Made
line Smith, daughter of wealthy family,
moving in the higher circles of society in her
native city, became cnamoured of q poor
French clerk in aware house, named L'Ange-
iier, living on salary of el5o year. Know
ing that the lady's parents would forbid such
connection for their daughter. tho intercourse
between the girl and her lover was clandes-
tine. Occupying room on the ground floor
of her fathers house. she received his visits
first at her window, and Afterwards in her
room. The amour has been continued for
two or three Year,, and had proceeded to
point, which under the Scotch law, consti-
tuted an irregular marriage, and gave the
young man the legal right to claim her as .
wife and forbid o marriage with any other
person. Within the last year, the ardor Of
found more wealthy lover, moro accept
able to her parents. She Immediately evinced
an ardent wish to be released from the con-
nexion with her old affianced. He, however,
persisted in holding her to her engagement.
and threatened exposure if she encouraged
the new sutton. She importuned him ear
nestly for release and begged for return
of her letters. He was memorable in deman =
| ing q fulflment Of their engagement and a
continuance of their former clandestine and
illicit intercourse. She affected to yield to
his demands and professed to him to have
given up the thoughts of another connexion.
In these subsequent interviews the young
man partook Of refreshments with her, ate
which be was on two occasions attacked with
violent pains, and his health was so seriously
affected, that he retired to the country to res
tore 1t. Soon after his return in March las
on night, on which it was known to his
| friends he had had an interview with Mis-
Smith, he was found at the door of his lod-
gings in agonies, doubled up. speechless, and
unable to move. He died before morning
with all the evidence Of having been poison
ed by arsenic. Miss Smith had on severa
occasions purchased arsenic, bat as she alleg
ed for her complexion. She was arreste,
and her trial has just terminated in her &c
quittal; the government being unable to ad
duce any proof that she had met him or hat
had any intercourse with him on the fata
night. The jury were obliged to render
verdict of acquital though the public convic
ton il unanimous almost against her.
She is only 81 years old, and is Represented
as beautiful, and fascinating in manners
During the trial she preserved the highes
degree OF self possession and impressed al
with establishment at her powers Of will an,
nerve. No old veteran could have maintain
cd so much GOODNESS and displayed such forti
tude under like circumstances. Eager crowd
gathered in the streets to catch glimpse o
her as she passed from the prison to tn
court, and the Halls of justice were cramme
with spectators to watch the appearance q
the wonder. ul prisoner. ''There she sits
says one of the Scotch papers, "refusing mes
1
cell, with her smelling bottle in her littl
dainty hand, which she never uscs-a splen
did specimen Of physical power, and of sue
endurance as only will Of terrible strengt
could attain. When she is called up to plead
she says, in clear, sweet treble-no trace {
huskiness or emotion, perceptiblein the voice
no trembling on her tongue, Not guilty
The Dean of Faculty, her leading counse
bids her good morning, or says a word to h
when the proceedings close for the day, an
she smiles so cheerfully that you listen
hear her laugh. Whoever speaks, counsel
witness, must &c sensible of the fixed, pens
trating glance Of her large dark eyes. HI
head IS perpetaaily turning from the gentle
man of the long robe to the responsive Wi
, ness box. as the questions are put and ar
, swered. That she has we'll cultivated tas
is evident from her neat and exquisite drcs
Her bearing exhibits her strength of mind
After her acquittal her family determine
. to emigrate from Scotland, and the famo'
|, prisoner was expected to arrive in the Asi
. on her last trip; and large crowd of Ne
1 Workers assembled on the arrival of Il
, steamer, to give the lady reception, b
they were disappointed in finding her amor
). the passengers. As evidence that she mo-
! cd in the upper tendon of her native city,
$ is stated that only day or two before b
: arrest, she was conspicuous as an attendal
q at an evening party at sir Archibald Allison
residence.