Report of the trial of Madeleine Smith : before the High Court of Justiciary at Edinburgh, June 30th to July 9th, 1857, for the alleged poisoning of Pierre Émile l'Angelier / by Alexander Forbes Irvine, advocate.

Madeleine Smith

Date:: 1857

Credit: Report of the trial of Madeleine Smith : before the High Court of Justiciary at Edinburgh, June 30th to July 9th, 1857, for the alleged poisoning of Pierre Émile l'Angelier / by Alexander Forbes Irvine, advocate. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

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$winter (1856-57) they stayed at 7 Blythswood Square. While they lived in India Street Miss Smith pointed out a French gentleman to me. She did not speak of him by his name; I came to know his name when I was examined on precognition at the County Buildings. The name was L'Angelier. Miss Smith, when she pointed him out, told me he was a friend of hers; he was in the street when she pointed him out, and we were in the drawing-room; he was passing. [Shown photogi'aph.]] That is a likeness of him. I have seen him in the house in India Street. I was asked by Miss Smith once to open the back gate to let him in, and I did so. This was during the day; I think they were all in church ex- cept the youngest sister; it was on a Sunday. Miss Smith went in with him to the laundry; the door was shut when they went in. I don't re- member how long lie remained—I think about half-an-hour. He came back to the house at night oftener than once ; I don't think more than three or four times ; he came about ten o'clock, before the family retired to their rooms. As far as I remember, they were all at home. On these occasions he stood at the back gate. He did not, to my knowledge, come into the house. I don't know if he came in. I opened the back gate to him by Miss Smith's directions. She asked me to open the gate for her friend. On some occasions \Ahen I went to open the gate he was there, and on others he was not. I did not see Miss Smith go out to him. I left open the back door of the house leading to the gate. There was no person in the laundr'y at the time ; the back door was a good piece away from the laundry. Miss Smith and this gentleman might have gone into the laundry without me seeing them. During the season we lived in India Street, I pointed this gentleman out to Duncan Mackenzie, ray present husband. I do not remember mentioning his name. I said he was a friend of Miss Smith's. I have spoken to that gentleman. During the season we were in India Street, he made me a present of a dress. He did not say what he gave it for. When the family were at Rowaleyn, I don't recollect seeing him thei'e, or in the neighbourhood. Letters came to me intended for Miss Smith while Ave lived in India Street. Miss Smith said they would be so addressed. She said they were from her friend. I thought she meant L'Angelier. I can't say how many letters came so addressed. A good many came to India Street, and I gave them all to Miss Smith. Letters also came to Kowaleyn addressed to me for Miss Sniith ; but there were very few. I called for lettei's ad- dressed to Miss Bruce at the Post Office, Kow ; J\liss Smith asked me to call for them, and I got them and gave them to Miss Smith. She has given mc letters to post for her, addressed to a gentleman, I cannot ])ro- nounce the name. Was it L'Angelier?—It was. I posted letters for htr with that address, in India Street, in Blythswood Stpiare, and during the two summers I was at Kowaleyn. I have delivered a letter with that address in Franklin Place; I only delivered one letter so addressed ; I left it at the house. In the Blythswood Square house there was a back-door leading to an area and into a lane. She asked mc once to open it for her. [The Court then retired for a few minutes. On their return, the Lord Justice-Clerk asked if Mr Cunningham, from the Scotch T/iist/e office, was present, or if there was any communication from him in answer to the summons of the macer of Court?—No answer being made, his Lordship then asked if there were any reporter present from the 'Jliisile office, and stated that it would be as well to fyvo notice \o l\Ir Cunningham that if$