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
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

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.

    2/86 (page 504)
    AUGUST 15, 1859, AND FOLLOWING DAYS. Before Lord Chief Baron Pollock and the First Jury. 785. THOMAS SMETHURST (48), was indicted for the wilful murder of Isabella Bankes; he was also charged upon the Coroner’s Inquisition with the like offence. Mr. Serjeant Ballantine, with Messrs. Bodkin, Clerk, and Merre- WEATHER, conducted the Prosecution. Mary Smith. I am the wife of Joseph Smith, of Rifle-terrace, Bayswater— I keep a boarding-house there—the deceased lady, Miss Isabella Bankes, became an inmate of that boarding-house on the 20th September last year— the prisoner and his wife were inmates there at that time, and had been so for some time, at different times ; the last time for about five months—Mrs. Smethurst was, I should think, twenty years older than the prisoner — after Miss Bankes became an inmate of my house I noticed some familiarities that I thought were improper between the prisoner and her—in consequence of that I desired Miss Bankes to leave my house — I heard her tell the prisoner that I had given her notice—I told him why ; he said he was very sorry that I had pained her mind, that if I had named it to him he would have taken care I should not have been annoyed—I still persisted in my desire that she should leave the house ; and the prisoner said that he should go away himself—Miss Bankes left my house on 29 th November, the prisoner left on 12th December—he said he was going to visit a friend, he did not say where he was going—he left his wife behind him in the house—after he had left he returned to his wife, I am not certain how soon after, but I should think about a fortnight—I don’t think he stayed any time ; he slept there once, but I was not aware of it until afterwards—he came several times. Cross-examined by Mr. Serjeant Parry {with Mr. Giffard.) Q. How long had Miss Bankes lived with you ? A. About ten weeks, I think—Mr. and Mrs. Smethurst came the last time in May, and left in December—I thought Miss Bankes very delicate—I did not remark whether she suffered frequently from a complaint of the bowels, she did from bile—she was twice sick in my house—I do not remember more than that—she complained of a nausea whenever she attempted to take food—twice when sitting by my side at dinner she was compelled to get up and leave the table on account of sickness—I considered her very delicate, her appetite being very bad—she appeared unable to eat her substantial meals, she took very little indeed—she complained to me of nausea and sickness ; she told me she never could ride iu an omnibus or carriage without being sick; she complained of being very bilious—the old lady, Mrs. Smethurst, was unwell at times while Dr. Smethurst was there ; he always attended upon her, he took up her luncheon to her almost every day—Miss Bankes was perfectly aware that Dr. Smethm-st was married to this old lady, and that they lived as husband and wife. Court. Q. I sup[)Ose no one could be at the house and at the table without knowing that they passed as man and wife ? A. No one doubted it for a moment, I believe. Mu. Serjeant Parry. C- f^ct, you gave her notice to leave, did not YOU 'I A. I did, on account of what 1 observed—when Mr. Smethurst left he made an arrangement to pay me a sum of money on the 11th and 26th of each month, that was for the board and lodging of Mrs. Smethurst; she is an old lady, quite 70—1 believe she is as much as 73 or 74.