The Sun. — 1859-12-01 (London, England)

TRIAL OF DR. SMETHURST. BIGAMY.  Thomas Smethurst was indicted for unlawfully and feloniously intermarrying with one Isabella Bankes, his wife Mary being then alive. Mr. Clark appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. Sleigh aid Mr. Salter defended the prisoner. On the indictment being read over, the prisoner pleaded "Not guilty." Mr. A. M'Crostie—l am clerk in the London and Westminster Bank. The handwriting in the register is that of the prisoner, Thomas Smethurst, whom I have known for 20 years. The Clerk of the Court then road the entry from the parish register, which was to the effect that Thomas Smethurst was marrioa at St. Mark's district church, Kennington, on the 10th of March, 1828, to Mary Durham, by the Rey. W. Otter, now deceased.  Mr. Clark said ho appeared there, by direction of the Secretary of State for the Homo Department, to prosecute the prisoner for bigamy. It would be unnecessary for him further to allude to the case than to say that in August last the prisoner was tried and sentenced to death for murder, which sentence, however, had not been carried out. It was during that trial that the present offence was discovered, for it appeared then that the prisoner married a lady named Isabella Bankes, forcausin; the death of whom ho was indicted, during the lifetime of his first wife, Mary. He should merely prove, what he had stated by witnesses, and then ask for the committal of the prisoner on a charge of bigamy. The learned gentleman then called . Mr. William Laster, who said—l am the*clerk at St. Mark's Church, Kennington. I produce the registrybook of marriages celebrated in that parish during the year 182 S.  Mr. C. Lafont--I am acquainted with the handwriting of Mary Durham. The signature in the book is in her handwriting.  Cross-examined by Mr. Sleigh—Mary Durham is my mother. My ago is 52. The prisoner is not my father. On the 10th March, 1858, my father was alive. Re-examined—Mary Durham went by the name of Johnson when she married the prisoner, and I also went by that name. My father, Mr. Lafont, wont by the name of Johnson. I did not know his name was La • font until alter the marriage. After that event my father introduced me to his family. Charles Lafont, jun., son of last witness-1 have several times seen Mrs. Smethurst (Mary Durham) at Rifle Terrace, Bayswater. The last time was about a fortnight after the prisoner was taken into custody ou the charge of murder.  Mr. Joseph Smith—l reside at Rifle-terrace, Bayswater. I keep a boarding-house there. The prisoner resided with me with Mrs. Smothurst in 1858. They lived as husbsnd and wife. Miss Isabella Balms also resided there in 1858. She quitted my holm on the 29th November, 1853. The prisoner left on the 12th December, 1858. The prisoner's wife continued to live in my house after he had left. She remained until the Juno following. I don't know where she went to when she left my house. I suppose she lived somewhere in the suburbs Cross-examined—l have never seen Miss Louisa Bankes in conversation with her late sister and Mrs. Smethurst. The deceased lady used to call the wife of the prisoner Mrs. Smethurst, and so did everybody in the house.  Mr. James Spice—l am clerk of the parish church of Battersea. I produce the register of the marriages cele•