Glasgow Courier. — 1859-05-12 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

THE SUSPECTED POISONING OF A FEMALE AT RICHMOND.  Saturday being the Court day of the Richmond Petty Sessions, a number of persons assembled at the Court House, with the view of being present at the re-examination of Dr Smethurst, who stands charged with the wilful murder of a lady, named Isabella Banks, with whom he was living, by the administration of arsenic in small quantities, as already reported. Owing, however, to the analyses of the stomach not being completed, the case was further adjourned.  Since the decease of the unfortunate lady additional facts have come to light. It appears that about a week since a solicitor in the town completed the will of the deceased in favour of the accused, and which, it is believed, will be produced in evidence at the next examination; and the result of the post mortem examination proved that the deceased was enceinte. The following, we believe, are the entire facts of this extraordinary case, which have not yet appeared:— The deceased was a single lady, of 36 years of age, Dr Smethurst being nine years her senior, and both being possessed of considerable property. Dr Smethurst and his wife were residing at a boarding house in Bayswater, as IMEI also the deceased. An intimacy sprang up between Dr Smethurst and the deceased, which led to an elopement, and after visiting Brighton and various other places they at length came to Richmond, about nine weeks since, and resided first at Richmond Green, and latterly at No. 10, Alma Villas, Richmond Hill, where the deceased now lies. On the 3d of April, Dr F. G. Julius was called in to attend the deceased, who was suffering from diarrhcea and vomiting. He believed she was suffering from bilious diarrhoea, there being nothing to lead to suspicion. He administered various treatments in conjunction with Dr Smethurst, and with his sanction. On the 18th he became puzzled, and requested his partner, Mr Bird, to go in, the result being that an opinion was formed that something was being given to keep up the irritation. The deceased got worse, with constant vomiting and diarrhcea. Dr Smethurst removed the vomitings and evacuations from the room. Nothing, apparently, could exceed his care and attention. Dr Dodd, with Dr Smethurst's sanction came down from King's College and prescribed in accordance with the treatment already pursued, and the medicines were calculated to allay the irritation, but the symptoms became aggravated. On the following Friday, during Dr Smethurst's absence, a portion of an evacuation I just passed was placed in two bottles and sent to London I for analysation• and on Reinsch's preliminary test being I applied, viz., the introduction of fine copper wire into the liquid—the wire became crusted with a substance which proved the presence of some metal. The bottles subsequently fell under the notice of Professor Taylor, who, upon testing, finding the presence of arsenic, sought the magisterial authority for a full analysation, which being obtained, a letter to Dr Julius was the result, of which the following is the substance:— "15, St James's Terrace, Regent's Park, May 2. "Considering the symptoms from which Mrs Smethurst has suffered (as described t., me by Mr Buzzard), and the discovery of arsenic in the evacuations of the bowels, I am of opinion that this lady is suffering from the effects of arsenical poison, taken in small dozes; and, according to the advice which I have had occasion to give in similar cases, I would suggest that she be immediately placed under the care of some trustworthy person, by whom alone all articles of food and medicine should be administered. I believe that her life will depend upon the immediate and strict adoption of these precautions, as arseuic is in her body, and is now passing from her in the discharges from her bowels. . .  "1 ;m, sir, Sre., "