The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-09-16
An English Poisoning Case.

A trial has lately been finished in Eng
lend, presenting SO many curious features
and remarkable Developments as to fairly
entitle it to place among the causes celebres.
The facts, as related by the Manchester
Guardian, are chiefly these:
A Mr.. Smethurst, who passed himself off
as surgeon, but whose name does not ap.
pear on the Medical Register, had been
married to woman considerably his senior.
In 1857 the Smethursts were residing at a
boarding house in London, at which Miss
Isabella Bankes lady about forty-three
years of age, also took up her temporary
abode. Miss Bankes was in possession of
some one thousand eight hundred pounds,
and she had also life interest in sum of
five thousand pounds. An intimacy soon
sprang up between Smethurst and Miss
Bankes indeed so notorious did the fact
become that the landlady demonstrated with
the unfortunate woman, who at once left
the house. The change Of residence did not
however, serve the unhappy connection
which had been formed, and on the 9th of
December, 1858, Smethurst, ignoring the
fact that he had wife still alive, led Miss
Bankes to the alter.
They afterwards went to live at Rich
mond and on the 18th of March last the
lady was seized with Illness DR.. Julius and
DR.. Bird were called in, and treated her for
diarrhea. All their efforts to stop the purg-
ing and vomiting were, however, unavailing,
a circumstance which, as matter of course,
greatly embarrassed them. 1t was observed
that Smethurst was constantly in attendance
upon the poor woman, that he always ad-
ministered her medicines, and that he was
most active in prompting the medical men as
to her symptoms, and the proper mode of
treating the case. DR.. Julius and DR.. Bird,
under the impression that be was properly
qualified surgeon, deferred to his opinion for
some time, but at length suspicion arose in
the minds of both that the woman was suf-
terng from tbs effects of some irritant poi
son. Dr. Todd, of London, was at length
called in, and his impression on seeing her
was, that she was being slowly poisoned.
He therefore, obtained some secretions,
which were analysed by DR.. Taylor and DR..
Gliding, who detected the presence of poison,
and Smethurst was arrested.
The lady died on the Ord of May, and a
post nlortenl examination resulted in the de-
lection of antimony in the system. DIR. Tay-
lor and DR.. Gliding had no DOUBT whatever
that death was attributable to the admins
tration of irritant poison and the jury,
taking into account the motive urged by
the prosecution, accepted this poison as cor
rect, Notwithstanding the evidence to the
contrary of DR.. RichardiOn and one or two
- 10 rlx, in
Palmer's defence. The motive assigned for
the commission of this crime was Smethurts
wish to obtain possession of the deceassd's
property. When writhing almost in the
agonies of death, the poor woman was con-
fronted with an Attorney, whom Smethurst
had called in to assist in the melancholy
task of completing her will. Smethurst
produced draft in his own handwriting,
and Miss Bankes signed the document in
her maiden name-making over all her
property, with the exception ola ring, to
the prisoner. When Smethurst was taken
into custody, letter was found on his per-
son, addressed to his first wife. This letter
had been written on the day before Miss
Banke's death, and informed Mrs. Smethurst
that he would send her check for G5,
should anything Unforeseen prevent his
leaving Richmond before the 1ltb. The
conduct of the prisoner during the trial was
calm and collected, and he strongly protest.
ed his innocence. The Lord Chief Baron,
however, as strongly expressed his belief in
the prisoners guilt. The execution will
take place on Monday, the fifth Of Septem-
Der.
LONDON is about to spend $4,000, 900
on draining her streets, on keeping her filth
from flowing into the Thames, and on saving
it for agriculture. The Philadelphia Foe.
ming Bulletin says that this is probably the
most extensive, the most useful, and in all