Central Criminal Court : the Queen against Thomas Smethurst, Monday, August 15th, 1859, and following days : minutes of evidence / printed from the short-hand notes of Messrs. Barnett and Buckler.

Date:: 1859

Credit: Central Criminal Court : the Queen against Thomas Smethurst, Monday, August 15th, 1859, and following days : minutes of evidence / printed from the short-hand notes of Messrs. Barnett and Buckler. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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$next day I wondered it should be so, because I made it exactly the same I generally made it twice a day—1 tliiiik Dr. Smethurst said it was the bitter- ness of the medicine that had made it taste bad—Dr. Julius was attending her then—there is a grate in the bedroom ; it was open—I do not remember at any time seeing a wine-bottle on the hob, or on the mantelpiece, or any- where in the room. Mr. Serjeant Ballantine. Q. Had you taken up the tapioca that she liked ? A. No, I gave it to Dr. Smethurst—to the best of my knowledge it was the first I made—it was the next night that Mrs. Smethurst made the observation to me, when I made the bed—it was before the sister came that he brought the tapioca down and said she did not like it—I can’t say what he did with it—-the bed-room door could open fully, quite free of the bed- stead—the prisoner did not appear to be very long gone when he went out —I can’t say how long. Court. Q. Was he ever gone for an hour ? A. He might be; I could not possibly say. Mr. Serjeant Ballantine. Q. Did any one attend to her in his ab- sence 1 A. No; I never remember going in once during his absence—I made the bed once a day—sometime she used to be in the bedroom when I made the bed, sometimes on the landing, and sometimes down stairs—I used not to have much convei’sation with the deceased when I made the bed—I could not say what exactly—I left the keys of the secretary in the drawers—I did not take my things out till Monday (they came on the Friday)—after that Dr. Smethurst had the possession of it himself—I did not take any notice whether or not the keys remained in the secretary—I never tried the drawers—I had nothing to do with it-—before I threw away the motion that was kept for Dr. Todd to see, I asked the prisoner if it was requisite to keep it any later, and he said he thought, they would not come so late, and I removed it, because I was unwell that day, and wanted to go to bed a little earlier, I was very sick and had a very bad headache—I then threw it away, and then a note came from Dr. Julius instantly afterwards—it was then a quarter past ten by my kitchen clock, but I believe it to be fast —the note was brought by a lad—I know that Di\ Todd came that night; 1 let him in with Dr. Julius. Louisa Bankes. I am unmarried, and live at 10, Lanark-villas, Mai da- hill—I am sister to the deceased Isabella Bankes—the signature to this marriage register is in her handwriting—she was older than myself, and in her 43d year, and was also unmarried—she and I had lived together; but in September last she went to reside at Mrs. Smith’s boarding-house, 4, Rifle- terrace—I called there several times to see her, and 1 was introduced by her to the prisoner—I saw her again when she had gone to Kildare-terrace, and I heard of her departure—I was not aware previously that she was about to leave—1 think I heard nothing at all of her afterwards till the lOtli January —I tjien received a letter ; this is it [prodiiced)—it was from my sister—I see the address put to that letter; it is my sister’s handwriting—it is not in the prisoner’s handwriting, no portion of it—from that time I heard nothing of her until the 20th April—I then received this letter—I believe this to be in the handwriting of the prisoner {liead: “10, Alma-villas, Richmond-hill, 18 April, 1859. Strictly private and confidential. Dear Miss Bankes,—Your dear sister Isabella wishes me to request the favour of your calling upon her as early as convenient, as she is really very ill, and desirous to see you. She also begs me to say that you will greatly oblige her by coming alone, and asking for Dr. and i\lrs. Smethurst (that you have d til f 11 .JO ■ii’f tbi j|' ri{ K Sr «( n J1 ,lii 1)1 111 tt di 0 1 b t’ t s t p s d I i l$