Why Smith Left Court.
The trial of the American woman writer for the murder of a Senator hae the average number of sensations for which we look in criminal trials in America, but .so far it has produced nothing to equal the device said to have been practised bj a Chicago lawyer.
A woman was indicted for murdering her husband by putting- poison into the cako which he was to oat. Part of tho cake had remained, and was produced in court as evidence. "Why," said counsel for the defence.
"I'll eat some of the cake myself," and, so saying, he popped a piece of the poisoned food into his mouth. As he did po a telegram was handed to him. He toro it open and read it, and telling the judge that his wife had been taken seriously ill, obtained leave of ab-ence to answer the message. Then he came back and gained the acquittal of the prisoner. Tho truth is that the telegram had been timed to arrive co that after eating the cake he might rush out and obtain a strong emetic to counteract the effect of any poison which might remain in the confection. — Evening Standard.
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Otago Witness, Issue 2814, 19 February 1908, Page 91
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200Why Smith Left Court. Otago Witness, Issue 2814, 19 February 1908, Page 91
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