Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-06-07
CASE OF SLOW POISONING.

we hnd IN the English papers an account Of
the preliminary examination in a curious ease
OF alleged slow poisoning, which, in some of its
features, bears n close resemblance to a case of
the same sort recently tried in New York. The
parties, however, in the English case occupied
a higher social position, and their relation to
each other was of recent origin and questionable
character.
The deceased, it appeared who was lady of
43, went last Autumn to live in n boarding
house at Bayswater, near London where she
became acquainted with one Smethurst, a sur
ge0n, who was living in the same house with
lady much older than himself, who passed as
his wife and, for aught that appears, was So
After time, the deceased, who was maiden
lady, removed to another boarding house in the
neighbOrhOod. Here she was Joined by Smet-
hurst and subsequently they left together, the
deceased giving no notice of her intentions or
where she was going, t0 a sister. her only reIa-
tive with whom she was on good terms. and
who frequently visited her at Bayswater, where
the deceased had introduced her to Dr. Smet-
hurst. 1t appears, however, that the day after
leaving Bayswster the deceased and Smethurst
were married at Battersea Church. whence they
went to live at Richmond as DIR. and Nus Smet-
hurst Here the lady, vino, beside life inter
est In a considerable sum, had eight or nine
thousand dollars which she was entitled to dis
pose OF by will, was taken sick with diarrhea
ana vomiting Smethurst attended her with
great assiduity and apparent affection, in
sistlng upon giving her food himself, and
dislnclined, apparently, that anybody else
should do SO. Her sister, with whom she had
reopened a correspondence was informed of her
sickness but also. that though her sister desired
to see her, she did not wish her to stay. On
this visit the deceased complained Of the taste
ol the tapiOca with which she was fed, and
wished her sister to prepare some for her, but
she Was prevented by Smetburst. under various
pretenseS, and when she afterward prepare,l
some soup, Smethurst found pretenses for TAX
ing 1T into another room before the patient
could be allowed to eat it.
Two medical gentlemen of Richmond were
called in To attend upon the patient, rs the
disease baffled all their skill; and as they were
totally at a loss TO account for the ;extraordi-
nary symptoms that showed themselves they
proposed finally to send for DIR. Todd who it
appears, is at the head of the English medical
profession. After considering the case, DIR.
Todd privately expressed the opinion that she
was suffering under the effects of some poison,
administered in small doses; and chemical
examination of the secretOns BETRAYED the
presence Of arsenic and antimOny. While the
woman was still living, Smethurst WAS arrest
Ell; but she was already far gone, aud died
shortly after A chemical examination of the
stomach, kidneys, and heart. confirmed the
suspicion Of poison, administered in repeated
small doses. Shortly before his arrest the
pOiSOner had procured the deceased to execute
will in her maiden name, giving him her
property. When he was arrested. a letter was
found upon him, resdy for posting, directed to
his other wife.