New-York daily tribune., 1859-05-31

We fnd in the English papers an account of the
preliminary examination in curious case Of alleged
SLOW poisoning which in some of its features. bears
close resemblaI ce to case Of the same sort re-
Gently tried in this city. The parties. however in
the Eng gsh case occupied higher social position.
and their relation to each other was Of recent
origin and questionable character.
TIE deceased, it appeared, who was lady Of A.;
went ,aet Autumn to live in boarding house at
Bay su ater, rear London, where she became &C
ouaisted with ore Smethurst, surgeon who was
living in the same house with lady much Older
than himself, who passtd az bis wife, snd, for
aueht thst appears, was go. After time, the de-
ceSssd, who was a maiden lady, removed To an-
other boarding house in the neighborhood. Here
she was joined BY Sneihurst srd subsequently, they
left together, the deceased giving notice Of her
intentions, or where she was going, TO sister her
only relative with whom she vas on good terms,
and who frequently visited her at Bayswater, where
th. deceased had introduced her to Or. Smethurst
Ii appears, however, that TIE day sitter leaving
Bay swater the deceased and Smethurst were mar
red at Battersea Church, whence they went to
liye at Richmond as Dr. and Mrs. Smethurst.
Here the lady, vho, beside life interest IN con-
siderable sum, had eight or nine thousand dollars
which she was entitled to dispose of by Will, was
taken sick with diarrhca and vomiting. omethurst
attended her with great assiduity and apparent al
fection, insisting upon giving her ood himself, and
disinclined, apparently, that anybody else should
DO so. Her sister. with whom she had reopened
correspoudence. vas 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 de-
ceused complained OF the taste of the tapioca with
which she vas fed, ard wished her sister to prepare
some for her. but she was prevented by Smeth-
urst under various pretenses, and when she AFTER
ward prepared some soup, Smethurct found pre-
lenses for taking it into another room before the
patient could be allowed to estit.
Two medical gentlemen Of Richmond were
called in to attend upon the patient, as the disease
baffed all their skill; and as they we're totally at
less TO account for the extraordinary symptoms
that showed Themselves they proposed finally u
send FOR DR.. TODD, who, il appears, is at the head
Of the English medical profession. After consider.
ing the case, Dr. Todd privately expressed the
opinion that .he was suffering under the effects oil
some poison, administered in smpll doses; and
chemical examination of the secretiOns betrayed
the presence If arsenic and antmony. While the
woman was still living, Smethurst was arrested;
but she was already far gone, and died shortly
after. A chemical examination of the stomach,
kidneys, aud heart, confirmed the suspicion of
poison, administered in repeated small doses.
Shortly before his arrest, the pcisoner had pro-
cured the deceased to execute will in her maiden
name giving him her property. When he was ar
rested, letter was found upon him, ready for
posting directed to his other wife.