Glasgow Poisoning Case: Unabridged Report of the Evidence in this...
The "Extraordinary Trial" of a Glasgow Socialite [Trial]. Smith, Madeleine [1835-1928], Defendant. Glasgow Poisoning Case. Unabridged Report of the Evidence in this Extraordinary Trial, With All the Passionate Love Letters Written by the Prisoner to the Deceased, And Numerous Illustrations, Including Portrait of Madeleine Smith. London: George Vickers, 1857. 77 pp. 7 plates, 3 folding. Octavo (6-1/2" x 4"). Later three-quarter cloth over plain boards, gilt title and date to spine. Light soiling to boards, light fading to foot of front board and spine, light rubbing to extremities, corners lightly bumped, front hinge cracked. Light toning to interior, light soiling, offsetting, and a few clean tears to edges of first folding plate, two of which are mended on verso, light soiling to title page with no loss to legibility, upper corners of first three leaves lacking without loss to text, interior otherwise clean. $450. * Only edition. In 1855, Smith, a Glasgow socialite, began a passionate love affair with Pierre Emile L'Angelier. When her parents found a more suitable match, she attempted to break the relationship, but he threatened to use their love letters to expose her if she did not marry him. He died from arsenic poisoning a month after making his threat. Smith, who had been seen purchasing arsenic, was arrested and charged with his murder after the pair's love letters were discovered. Although the circumstantial evidence against her was strong, there was some suspicion that L'Angelier had committed suicide. The jury ultimately returned with a verdict of "not proven." OCLC locates 5 copies of this title, 2 in North America (University of Chicago, Bryn Mawr). Not in the British Museum Catalogue.
Price: $450.00
Book number 73240