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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$but that was the proportion we used. I don't recollect the date that Dr Penny got arsenic from the same jar. Re-examined hy the Lord Advocate.—I can't say with certainty if Miss Smith paid for the arsenic. My impression, when first called on to speak in reference to this matter, was that it had been paid ; but on seeing this entry, I felt certain in my own mind that it had not been paid. By Mr Young.—As soon as I saw this entry in the book I communi- cated the fact to the Fiscal. 2Q. James Dickie (36), examined hythe Lord Advocate.—I was assistant to Mr Murdoch last February. I knew Miss Smith at that time by sight. I recollect her coming to purchase arsenic. She said she wanted to send it to the gardener at the country-house. I can't recollect if she mentioned the purpose. She got it. [Shown phial, No. 213.] This contains arsenic from our shop, prepared in the same manner as that furnished to Miss Smith. The arsenic sold to her was duly registered in the registry- book, and signed by Miss Smith. 1 can't recollect if it was paid for at the time; it was entered in the account-book as unpaid ; the account has not been rendered; she took the arsenic with her. I delivered some arsenic to Professor Penny on the 18th April ; it was from the same bottle as that from which the arsenic Miss Smith got was taken. Cross-examined hy Mr Young for the Panel.—I have been six years in Mr Murdoch's employment. The Smiths dealt in the shop, and on the 21st February Mr Smith had an account standing in our books. I made the entry about the arsenic at the time; I entered it first in the scroll- book at the counter, as unpaid ; and though I have no recollection on the subject, that satisfies me it was not paid. The entry was entered up in the other books. There is some soda water entered on the same day for Mr Smith. I have no recollection of Miss Smith giving the order for it. [It was here proposed to ask witness whether the entries of soda water and of arsenic were consecutive ; but the Lord Justice-Clerk was of opinion that it was quite competent to prove that the arsenic was entered along with other things for Mr Smith ; but that, as to the collocation of the enti'ies, it would be going rather too far to allow proof of that, except by the book itself. The question, therefore, was not pressed.] 27. George Carruthers Haliburton (37), examined hy the Loud Advocate. —I am assistant to Mr Currie, chemist, Sauchiehall Street. [Shown book, No. 186 of Inventory.] This is our registry-book for the sale of poisons. Under date, 6th March 1857, I see an entry—March 6, Miss Smith, 7 Blythswood Square—arsenic, one ounce, kill rats. It has my own sig- nature, and it is also signed M. H. Smith. I knew her by sight before that. vSiie was accompanied by a lady on that occasion. She asked for 6il. worth of arsenic. I asked her what it was to do, and she told me it was to kill rats. I told her we were not fond of selling arsenic for tliat purpose in consequence of its dangerous properties; I recommended phospliorus paste, which I said would answer very well. She told me she iiad used that, but it had failed. She said the rats were in the house in Blythswood Square. Slie told me that the family were going from home next day, and that she wouhl be careful to see it put down herself. Slie got the arsenic. It was mixed with indigo. [Shown pliiai, No. 2\'2 of Inventory.] This was given by nic to Dr Penny in April last, and it contains arsenic taken from the same bottle ViH tliat sold to Miss Smith. Miss Smith paid for the arsenic she got, and took it away. In the regis-$