Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-09-08

The English Poisoning Case

A trial has latcly been finished In England ,pre-
sonting 80 many ouriohs features and remarkable
Developments as to fairly enttle II 70 . place
among the causes cetcbyes. Tho facts, - related
by tho Manchester Guardian, are chiefly those:
A Mr.. Smethurst, who passed himself OF as .
surgeon, but whose name does not appear ON the
Medical Register, had beon married 70 woman
considerably his senior. In 1857 the Smethursts
were residing at clearinghouse In London. d
which Miss Isabella Bankes, lady about furty-
three years VI age. also took up her temporary
abode. Miss Bankes was in possession Of some
El,S00, and she had also . life interest in a sum
Of $4,000. An intimacy soon sprung up between
Smotharst and Miss Bankes indeed, 20 notorious
did this fact become that the lnndlady remonstrat-
cd with the unfortunate woman, who at once left
the house. The change of residence did NOT, how.
ever, sever the unhappy connection which had
thurst, ignoring the fact that he had wife still
alive. led Miss Bankes to the altar. They after
wards went to live at Richmond, and on tho 18th
March last the lady was seized with illness. DIR.
Julius and Dr. Bird were called In aud treated her
Cor diarrhoea. All their efforts TO stop the purg-
ing and vomiting were, however, unavailing. acir-
cumstance which, ~ u matter OF course. greatly
embarrassed them. 1t was observed that Smeth-
urst was constantly in attendance upon tho poor
woman. TINT he always administered her medi-
cines, and that he WINS most active in prompting
tho medical men as to her sypmtoms. aud tho pro-
pr mode Of treating tho case. Dr. Julius and
Bird under tho impression that he was piopel-
ly qualified surgeon, deferred to his opinion for
some time, but ut length a suspicion arose in tho
minds Of both that tho woman was suffering from
tho ottoets Of some irritant poison.
DIR. Todd. Of London, was ut length callod In,
aud his impression on seeing her WAS that she was
being .lowly poisoned lie, therefore, obtnined
some secretions, which were analysed by pr. 'rny-
lor and DR.. Oding who detected tho presence VI
poison, and Smethurst was arrested. The lady
died ON tho Sd OF May, and post norton examna-
ton resulted in tho detection Of antimony IN the
system. DR.. Taylor aud DR.. Odling had no doubt
whatever that death was Attributable to tho admin.
istration oi rritant poison; and tho jury. taking
into account the motive urged by tho prosecution,
accepted this opinion as correct, Notwithstanding
tho evidence to the contrary of Dr. Richardson ard
one or two others who had been formerly retained
in Palmer's defence. Tho motive assigned for the
commission Of this crime was Smethursts wish to
obtain possession of the deceased's property.
When writhng almost in the agonies Of death, the
poor woman was confronted with an attorney,
whom Smcthurst had called in to assist in the
melancholy task OF completing her will. Sme-
thurst produced u DRAFT in his own handwriting,
and Miss Dankes signed the document In her mnid-
en- name-- making over all her property, with tho
exception of II ring, 10 the prisoner. When Smt-
thurst was taken into custody, letter was found
ON his person addressed 70 his frat wife, This let
ter had boen written on the day before Miss
Bankes' death, aud informed Mrs. Smethurst that
he would send her n cheque for 4,5, should "any-
thing unforeseen" prevent his leaving Richmond
before the 1lih. The conduct of tho prisoner
during tho tral was calm and collected. aud he
strongly protested his innocence Tho Lord Chief
Baron, however. as strongly expressed his belief
in the prisoners guilt. The execution will takc
place on Monday. the fifth of September.