Glasgow poisoning case : unabridged report of the evidence in this extraordinary trial.

Date:
1857
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Glasgow poisoning case : unabridged report of the evidence in this extraordinary trial. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    12/96 (page 8)
    said arsenic or other poison having been so taken by him, and was murdered by the said Madeleine Smith. After an objection taken by the prisoner’s counsel to some superdu u words contained in the indictment, which words the Lord-Advocate might be deleted, the Lord Justice-Clerk having called her Majei M Advocate for her Majesty’s interest, addressing the prisoner (ivho si up), said—You, Madeleine Smith, or Madeleine Hamilton Smith, ■ charged with intent to murder, as also murder. Are you guilty or guilty? The prisoner replied, in a clear sweet treble—no trace of hu ness or emotion perceptible in the voice, no trembling on her ton at “ Not guilty.” Here further detention took place, in consequence of the non-apneara; y of another most material witness, namely, Pro essor Frederick Pennyths the Andersonian University, Glasgow. During this delay, some rer? a on leaving the court banged one of the side doors, near which the pristfq a was sitting, which caused her to start in considerable alarm,—her cl positively heaving with the excitement. Dr. Penny having at length arrived, was rebuked by the presidm: Judge, and the following jury was then empannelled:—James ChriatO farmer, Hailes; Jame3 Pearson, farmer, Northfield ; James WallW farmer, Kil punt; Charles Thomson, coal merchant, York Place; Willi) A7 Sharp, Auckland Villa; Archibald Weir, bootmaker, Leith ; Hugh Huu H i cabinetmaker, Circus Place; Robert Andrew, cowfeeder, Nether Lit 13 ton; George Gibb, shoemaker, Glover Street, Leith ; William MofM teacher, Duke Street; David Forbes, Scotland Street; Alex. Thomas® Torphichen; Charles King, Shakspeare Square; Andrew Wiiliamspl clerk, Parkside Place; Alex. Morrison, carrier,Linlithgow. ASPECT OF THE COURT. The scene in the court-room is such as the High Court of Justiciary her never presented before in the present century. The whole of the Facin'? of Advocates would seem to be there, filling more than their own gallery poll goodly array of Writers to the Signet appear in their gowns; upwards oitb score of reporters for the press are ready to ply their busy pencils; t ?1: western side gallery abounds in mustachioed scions of the aristocraci ; ministers of the Gospel are there gathering materials for discourses ; a;; civic dignitaries are in abundance. A few—a very few—ladies are mioglqb in the throng. Among the clergy were noticed Principal Lee, Willial V Pulsford, the celebrated Independent preacher, Dr. Andrew Thomson Professor Harper, and Mr. Hibbs, an ep scopalian priest, who “ goes into for preaching about Palmer and Dove, and will no doubt have a mornitjtb sermon one of these Sabbaths devoted to Madeleine Smith. Later in rEKf day Lords Cowan and Ardmillan, on being relieved from their dutijilf elsewhere, come and sit in undress on the bench: so did the venerabm Lord Murray, and Lords Wood, Deas, and others. In the midst of ajp this excitement, seated at the bar, with hundreds of eyes fixed steadies upon her, Madeleine Smith is the only unmoved, cool personage to seen.