The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-11-18
an EXTRAORDINARY CASE.
Tho Alleged Poisoning OF Rev. DR.
Smith, Of Raleigh, N. G.

A statement of the alleged poisoning OF DR..
]. B. Smith, of Raleigh, North Carolina, and
the finding Of the coroner's jury that the de-
ceased came to his death from che effects of
strychnne, administered by his wife and
daughter, has been made. From the evidence
before the coroner's jury, as published In the
Raleigh Sentinel, we take the following:
DR.. Smith, on the morning of the lst Of Oc-
tober, called for dose of seidlltz powders;
bis daughter, Mrs. Francis L. Mann, went out
OF the room, obtained the powders and mixed
them for bim. He did not drics all OF the
dose on account Of its bitter taste. After tax.
Ing the draught he finished writing q letter.
and went to breakfast. Alter he had finished
eating he lit his pipe. Just then he was taken
sick, and died shortly afterwards In copvul-
sions. On the next day p0st-mortem exam
ination was made, the result OF which was that
the brain, heart and lungs being examined,
no cause OF death could be discovered. The
stomach was taken out and delivered to Coro-
ner Magnln. who look the came, together
with the liquid remains Of the seidlitz powder,
the spoon used In mixing and other articles,
to Philadelphia for analysis by Prof Genth.
On the same day, from Information ootalne9,
Coroner Nagnin found, In closet IN the bed.
room, close 70 the bureau Where tne oon oi
powders was kept, bottle OF strychDine.
The evidence proved that Mrs. Mary q. Smith
was the custodian of said key. and that IL
was In her possession on the morning OF the
death: that she was at the closet that morning
before breakfast; that no servants or any one
but members of the family ever went TO the
closet: that It was always kept locked; that 1t
contain.d d the valuable papers. &c.,o the tamil
ly. The Jury met on Wednesday night, Novem-
ber 7th, and received the report OF Professor
Genth, and adjourned to meet on Monday,
November 1lth, when 1t was elicited 10 evil
dsnce that DR.. Smith was very cruel to bis
family, especially Mrs. Smith. warrant for
the arrest and commitment to jail of Mrs.
Francis L. Mann and Mrs. Mary E. Smith was
issued BY the coroner yesterday (TuesdaV
morning, aud placed In the hands OF the
sheriff. :,
Prof. Gentb, In hls report OF the analysis,
stated that he discovered strycbnta ID the
LIQUID remains of the seidlitz powder, IN the
spoon and In the blue paper, besides the
stomach. he concludes his report, whlen 10
very elaborate, in the following language:
From this investigation 1t Is evident that the
stomach, which have examined, contained
neither prussic acid nor metallic poisons, but
a trace Of strychnla, In such small quantity,
however, that. with the most delicate tests,
It's presence eonld be detected only by taking
the purified extracts of half OF the stomach
and the whole Of the contents OF the same. II
the stomach ever contained large quantity
of strychnia, 1t had almost completely been
absorbed by the system"
The alleged victim of the poisoning, Bey.
DR.. Smith, was formerly rector OF st. Matthew'S
(Eplscopai) Church, Jersey City, N. he was
also at one time pastor OF st. James. Episcopal
Church, Philadelphia, and chaplain Of Har-
mony Lodge, No. 50. A. Y. h., OF Philadelphia