Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-05-08
EXTRAORDINARILY TRIALOFTHE REV.
SAMUEL SMITH AND HIS WIFE.


Our readers recolect, no doubt, the extraor-
binary case of the arrest of a clergyman and
his wife, in England, in February last, for an
attack on COrydOn contractor, near the Yale
Station, on the Midland Railway. The case
was tried at the Oxford Circuit, Gloucester,
during the second week in April, and resulted
in the conviction Of the husband and his SEN
tence to four years penal service. The wife
was set at liberty on giving bail for her good
behavior. 1t will be recollected that Mrs
Smith had written letters to a man named
Leach, who vas an old sweetheart telling him
that her husband was dead. &c, and that final
ly Leach made an appointment to meet her at
certain station on the Midland Railway, and
accompany her home; and after leaving the
train that evening, she took him across a COM
mon, where she pretended to lose her way,
when the husband, who was lying in wait at
tackled him and beat him severely During
the trial the Reverend prisoner made the fol-
lowing extraordinary defence and confession
The Rev. Mr.. Smith then in a most impress
sive manner, addressed the jury from written
statement which he held in his hand. He said
he should have to tell the Jury of his shame
and of his wrongs, and to give the history of
his marriage. He would not conceal the truth
but would reveal every circumstance that might
lead the jury to a right conclusion. In Sep
tember, lSiS, he first met his wife and proposed
marriage. Being told that she had been in
service at Swan and Edgar's and was going to
at once, but for his circumstances, but be had
been obliged to labor for his support since the
age Of fifteen. He had gone to Cambridge
where had gained scholarship, and became
senior optime in 1913. lie married his wife in
July, 1919; but did not take her home be-
cause, as master of the Bishops school at Bris-
tol, be had but f100 year. He therefore
thought ii better to leave her for time with
her friends in Kent, where he engaged to pay
for her board. His wife wanted to come to him.
but as he was still reading for holy orders he
could not receive her in his lodging, and pro-
posed that she should go to board at a milli-
ner's at Bristol
After stating some more circumstances the
prisoner went on to say that ultimately his wife
came to live with him at Clifton in lodgings
which he took for her. In 1851 she was confined
at her friend $ house in Kent and again in 81
then he took a house, when third child was
born, in 1854 He then resigned his situation
at Bishops College, and opened a school of his
own, when he had fourth child born. He did
duty In several places in the neighborhood, and
was making about t400, whom this calamity
came upon him, and a terrible disclosure was
brought to his knowledge He had often OBJ
served that there was a melancholy about hi.
wife, and she would sigh on his bosom and tell
him she was not worthy of him. He had often
complained of her staying SO much in Kent.
and thought there must be some reason for her
melancholy, though he could not tell what it
was. She once told him of letter she had re-
ceived from the man Leach and mentioned
other circumstances which tended rather to ex-
cite his jealousy; but he overlooked it, as she
continued TO bear him children and managed
the house we'll. At length, on the 22d of JAN
uary last, she told him something which made
him very unhappy, but he said be would for
give her if she would take an oath that nothing
had happened since their marriage. She then
knelt down and told him all the circumstances
under which the prosecutor Leach induced
her to meet him at Canterbury, and that Leach
afterwards met her in London, and promised
that If she would go and live with him he would
marry her in seven years.
The prisoner then proceeded TO give graphic
description of his WIFE on her knees with her
children round her, implOring his forgiveness
The idea racked his mind that perhaps the
children were not his own. His wife, however
assured him that she had never done anything
wrong since she had been living with him; anu
as he believed she had told him the truth he
promised to forgive her after that discovery
lie dwclt upon the wrongs which had been
done him till be forgot everything but himself
But he told bis wife that he would forgive her
II she would bring the man to Bristol, in order
that he might retallate. lie designed, as he
Leach had lured his wife to w WhitstabIe for
his own purposes, he (the prisOner) would lure
the prosecutor to Iate, and then give him
SOUND thrashing. 1t was under his directions
his wife wrote the letters, which he dictated
he then stated how he had insisted on his wife
writing the letters, and Disgusting herself, as
she had done, on the promise which he made her
that he would not do Leach any serious injury
He bought the revolver for bis own protec-
tion In case the prosecutor should draw a knife
upon him but he sOlemnly denied that he had
ever intended to the pistol aggressiyely
against Leach, for, had he done So he would
not have acted as he had, So as to lead to his
detection. His only object was to do what he
had done, viz to give Leach good beating
in order to solsce his outraged mind. LIE
owned that he could not justify his conduct,
which he should always deeply lament; but be
hoped his conduct would be justly appreciated
by the judge and jury, who could not blame
him for the burning indignation which had
overcome his whole being. lie iRplored the
jury to put themselves in his place, and ask
themselves what redress the laws of the land
aud courts Of justice could have given him.
lie took the law into his own hand, but who
could deny that he had sinned against human
nature, OF that Leach had had more than he
deserved! The jury might find him guilty of
an assault if they would, but he imploTed them
not to find him guilty of felony, which would
ruin his prospects in life, and deprive his chill