On 12th of April 1928 Madeleine Smith who stood trial in one of Scotland’s most sensational trials died peacefully in New York
Sex, blackmail, poison and death. With this heady mix it is hardly surprising that one of the most enduring murder cases from the past 150 years is the story of Madeleine Smith.
The 21-year-old lass was the daughter of a well known Glasgow architect and socialised in high circles until she was charged with the murder of a previous lover.
Her one-time lover had been Pierre Emile L’Angelier of Jersey. The Crown alleged that she had administered arsenic to him between 19th February and 23rd March that year, at or near her father’s house. L’Angelier had collapsed suddenly at his lodgings in Glasgow on 23rd March. He was found in a doubled-up position at the door in the early hours of the morning and despite constant medical attention by a doctor he died the following day.
After his death, his family insisted a post-mortem was conducted and the results were handed over to the police. A forensic examination detected over 30 grains of arsenic in his remains.
Previously, during their passionate affair, L’Angelier and Madelaine had corresponded through secret letters. L’Angelier often referred to his lover with the words “Wifie mine”. On one occasion Madelaine had written, “Am I not your wife? Yes, I am”, and there is reason to believe that L’Angelier assumed that they were married according to Scots law.
After L’Angelier’s death investigators uncovered the secret correspondence between the pair which revealed their passionate liaison and helped piece together the events surrounding L’Angelier’s suspicious death. It was discovered that, despite her affair with L’Angelier, Madelaine had been attracted to a Mr Minnoch, a high class member of society. Soon after, she became engaged to Mr Minnoch and wanted L’Angelier to return the letters. L’Angelier refused and threatened to bring them to the attention of her father and Minnoch. Madelaine buckled under the threats, and was forced to maintain L’Angelier’s company. His nightly visits resumed, but on two occasions he was seized with an inexplicable illness after being given a cup of cocoa from her hands. On the evening of his death witnesses testified that he had been seen heading in the direction of Madelaine’s house.
On her arrest Madeline’s family were said to be distressed and ashamed, however Miss Smith did not seem to suffer from the same discomfort. At her trial she entered the dock with “the air of a belle entering a ballroom or a box at the opera. Her steps were buoyant and she carried a silver-topped bottle of smelling salts. She was stylishly dressed and wore a pair of lavender gloves”.Throughout the trial she never appeared perturbed, and seemed to exert a peculiar fascination over the men in the court audience. She was later to tell her prison matron in a letter that she had received hundreds of letters “all from gentlemen, offering consolation, their hearts and money”.
Madelaine claimed that she had not seen L’Angelier for three weeks prior to his death. In her defence she explained that a poison she had recently purchased was for killing vermin and also for cosmetic purposes, diluted with water, to wash her face, arms and neck. The prosecution case rested on the overwhelming motive that the prisoner had for disposing of her erstwhile lover. The defence proceeded to allege that there was no evidence that the couple ever met on the days in question. It was even suggested that the heartbroken L’Angelier may have taken his own life in despair.
The jury took only half an hour over their deliberations. While they were absent, it was said that the least excited person in the court was Miss Smith. When the foreman delivered a verdict of “not guilty of the first charge by a majority, of the second charge not proven, and by a majority find the third charge also not proven”, the result was greeted with great applause. Madelaine Smith left the trial a free woman.
A short time after the trial, Miss Smith married a gentleman of good social standing in London. She emigrated to America some years later, where she married yet again. The story was famous in Victorian times for the reason that the public could not believe that a woman could be so devious. Madelaine became something of a femme fatale and was sensationalised as a devil woman who captured unsuspecting men in her web of deceit. There are still stories and articles written about her, the latest being in The Courier last November.
The Battle of Langside was fought between the forces of Mary, Queen of Scots and those of her half brother, Regent Moray.
Moray was based in Glasgow while Mary had come from Hamilton via the southern bank of the River Clyde. Moray managed to position his troops on Langside Hill, while Mary`s troops were on the lesser Clincart Hill (now the site of Langside College),½ mile to the east. Mary herself watched from Cathcart Hill at a place now known as Court Knowe.
After an unsuccessful cavalry charge, Mary`s foot soldiers approached Langside Hill up what is now Battlefield Road, but they were met by gunfire as well as other forces coming down from the site of Pathhead Farm. Between these two wings of Moray`s forces, archers and then the cavalry attacked the oncoming army. One hundred of Mary`s men were killed and her army fled; it’s written that the battle had only taken three quarters of an hour.
An estimated 300 were killed on Mary’s side, while only a handful of fatalities were recorded by her opponents.
After the battle, Mary fled south, spending her final night in her homeland at Dundrennan Abbey, near Kirkcudbright - commemorated by Dundrennan Road in Battlefield - before crossing over to England, more of that to come in the next few days………
The battle wasn’t the biggest in the history of our country, but its impact was massive - who knows, if Mary had broken through Langside and reached Dumbarton the history of our country could have been very different.
The painting is actually an embroidered picture illustrating ‘Mary Queen of Scots mourning the dying Douglas titled “ The Dying Douglas at the Battle of Langside” the embroidery measures 110 x 154.3 cm and is based on a painting by Charles Landseer
Leaves will soon grow from the bareness of trees And all will be alright in time From waves overgrown come the calmest of seas And all will be alright in time Oh you never really love someone until, you learn to forgive
The Doulton Fountain in the Glasgow Green stood witness to many events in Glasgow. It has seen many children grew up to adults as it has been standing there sjnce 188. it is the biggest fountain of its kind in the world.
