FAMOUS POISONING CASE

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 78, 28 June 1928, Page 3

FAMOUS POISONING CASE

ACCUSED DIES IN AHBItICA.

SEVENTY-YEAR-OLD M\ STERY. One of the most sensational poisoning mysteries on record is recalled by the announcement of the death in America at a great age of Madeleine Smith. Seventy years ago, a beautiful girl of good family and still in her 'teens, she stood the ordeal cf a six days' trial on the charge of murdering her lover. A young girl, brought up in a strict Scottish home, Madeleine, it appeared, had proved lisrselt to be more than the equal of her ardent and romantic French lover in devising means of carrying on an intrigue. There wore many c-'rndestino meetings, passionate leve/3 were, written by the girl, and £. runaway marriage was decided on. Then Madeleine received the attentions of a wealthy. Glasgow merchant many years older l!::iu herself, and in the month when »he had intended eloping with her Jersey lover she became engaged. She demanded the return of her letters, but L'Angelier refused There was some sort Of reconciliation, and then followed LTiAfagelier's sudden death. In his pocket was found a letter in the following terras: 'Why, my beloved, did you not come to me. 0! my fcnioved, are you ill? Come to me, fweet one. "I waited and waited Tor you, but you came not. . "j>vc. beloved, and clasp me to your heart. . . Ever believe me to be >mr own ever dear, Mimi." Madeleine acknowlc::;:/1 having made various purchases of arsenic, but said that she used it a;.; a cosmetic. After a trial at Edinburgh in 1857, which has become famous? in the annals of crime, th e jury lu-ou£fci in a verdict of not proven, and Madeleine was discharged. Madeleine Smith returned to her father's house at Row, Garelocli, F'.-th of Clyde, but left soon after, and for at least half a century the public were left to speculate as to her whereabouts. It was believed, however, that she bad gone to England and married a professional man in London, had a large family by him, and was the mose exemplary of wives and mothers.