A STARTLING DISCOVERY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 225, 20 January 1880, Page 2

A STARTLING DISCOVERY.

The particulars of a discovery of a sensational nature has just come t 0 our ears, the truth of which is vouched for by one of the leading actors in the drama. Most of those who hail from the United Kingdom, particularly those who have a knowledge of the Home Dunedin (Edinburgh) with its prominent feature —Ansthers Seat —will recollect the great sensation which was caused one morning, some 18 yuirs ago, by ih > news } which spread like wild-fire, that a young gentleman of the name of F. Anglers, a dashing young Frenchman—who had (as he thought) the affections of his lady love, MissMadaline Smith—was found dead in his hotel under very suspicious circuit!' stances.

It will bo recollected tint a wealthy citizen had become enamoured of this young adventuress, and offered her Ins hand, which, if we recollect rigid, was ac" cepted ; but how t o get rid of the firs 1 lover became a question very difficult to solve. Monsieur Angl u was iu the habit of making his appear me3 at Miss Smith’s window, and there occasionally receivmg from her hands a cup of cocoa. On the last occasion, in which such an interview took place, shortly after the cocoa had been administered poor Angler died. Certain circumstances pointed to Miss Smith as having some hand in the young gentleman’s death.

Evidence brought before the Court made it very plain that Miss Smith had poisoned her lover, but doubt existing in the minds of some of the jurymen as to the weight of the evidence, the verdict—not uncommon in Scottish Law Courts in those days—“ Not proven ” was brought in, and Miss Smith was discharged. Nevertheless the stigma cf guilt followed her wherever she went,and very soon she had to leave the country.

Mary conjectures were launched as to her future home and life. Some had her living in Germ. my, but this was doubted ; others said that she went to America, and the latest that she had gone to Australia, which is the most likely. Be that as it may, it is now asserted witn very strong asseveration by a certain party, who has good reason fur knowing it to be a f ct, that Miss Smith is at present in New Z 'almd, and has been in it for the last seven or eight years, at least, to Ins certain knowledge. ;l

He saj T s that, for four or five years, she travelled about with a certain legal gentle ■ men, who resided not a hundred mile 8 from South Oanterbuiy. She travelled in the same carriage, lived at the same hotel and di.'ed at the same table, yet was no’ allowed to look at, far less speak to, her “guardian angel.” After a time, -the one getting tired of the other, the lady next appeared on the West Coast as the associate of a successful miner, to whom she was eventually married by a certain clergyman, who does not conceal the facts of the case, but adds that she turned out to be a good housewife, and is very affectionate, seemingly as devoted to her new lover, as she was to all that came before him.

What will be the next phase of the case it is very difficult to conjecture even. Those who were accustomed to look upon the well-known figure in Madame To Sand’s Waxwork Exhibition "in London might think it worth their whi'o to pay a visit to the West Coast Goldfields not far from Hokitika, and compare the original with the model that may he still in their minds.

Time may have made some inroads upon the firm determined face ; but sufficient still remains to confirm the facts stated above.

New Zealand possesses many notorious persons unknown to those amongst whom they dwell - The statements of certain detectives and heads in the police department are rather interesting to the curious. We may draw attention to them by-and-bye. The account of Miss Smith’s career, however, was not obtained from that source.