Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1859-06-16
think that this mourning dodge will pass
muster among the sharpest tricks of the day.
Toledo Blade.
A Slow Case of Poisoning.

We find iu the English papers an account
OF the preliminary examination in curious
case OF alleged slow poisoning, which, in
some of its features, bears a close resem-
blance to case of the same sort recently
tried in New York. The parties. however.
in the English case, occupied higher social
position, and their relations to each other
was OF recent origin and questionable char
acter:
The deceased, it appeared, who was
lady OF forty-three, went last Autumn, to
live in clearinghouse, at Bayswater, near
London, where she became acquainted with
one Smeihurst, surgeon, who was living
in the same house with lady much older
than himself, who passed for his wife, and
for aught that appears, was so. After time
the deceased, who was a maiden lady, re-
moved to another boarding in the
neighborhood. Here she was Joined by
Smethurst, and subsequently they left to-
gether, the deceased giving no notice of her
intentions, or where she was going, to a
sister, her only relative with whom she was
on good terms, and who frequently visited
her at Bayswater, where the deceased had
introduced her to DR.. Smethurst.
1t appears, however, that the day aftes
leaving Bayswater the deceased and Smet-
hurst were married at Battersea Church,
whence they went to live at Richmound as
Dr. and Mrs. Smethurst. Here the lady,
who, beside life interest in a considerable
sum, had eight or nine thousand dollars
which she was entitled to dispose of by will,
was taken sick with diarrhea and vomiting.
Smethurst attended her with great assiduity
and apparent affection, insisting upon CIV
ing her food himself, and disinclined, appa-
rently, that anybody else should do so. Her
sister, with whom she had reopened a cor
respondence, 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 of the tapioce with which she was
fed, and wished her sister to prepare some
for her, but she was prevented by Smet-
hurst, under various pretences. and when
snc dltcIWdIu PfcPafcu sOulC oOuP, DlEet-
hurst found pretenses for taking it into an
other room before the patient could be al.
lowed to eat it. -.--s.---.. e---t-
Two medical gentlemen of Richmond
were called in to attend upon the patient,
as the disease baffled all their skill; and as
they were totally at a loss to account fo.
the extraordinary symptoms that showed
themselves, they proposed finally to send;
for DR.. Todd, who, it appears, is at the head
of the English medical profession. After
considering the case, DR.. Todd privately
the opinion that she was suffer-
ing under the effects of some poison, ad-
ministered in small doses; and chemical
examination of the secretiOns betrayed the
presence Of arsenic and antimony. While
the woman was still living, Smethurst was
arrested bu. she was already far gone, aud
died shortly after. A chemical exar1ina-
tion of the stomach, kidneys, and heart,
confirmed the suspicion of poison, adminis-
tered in repeated small doses. Shortly after
his arrest, the poisoner had persuaded the
lie ceased to execute a will in her maiden
name, giving him her property. When he
was arrested, letter was found upon him.,
ready FOR posting, directed to his other wife.
-New York Tribune