The Horrifying & Scandalous Historical True Crime Case of Madeleine Smith | Victorian Poisoning

Описание: In March 1857, the body of Pierre Emile L'Angelier was found in his Glasgow lodgings, killed by a massive dose of arsenic. Within days, police discovered more than 250 explicit love letters from Madeleine Smith—daughter of one of Glasgow's most prominent architects—detailing their secret two-year affair. Madeleine had purchased arsenic three times in the weeks before his death. But did she poison him, or did he poison himself to destroy her?
This episode explores one of Victorian Scotland's most scandalous trials—a case of obsession, blackmail, and passion that shocked a nation. We examine Madeleine's forbidden romance with a penniless clerk, the explicit letters that proved their sexual relationship, and the dramatic nine-day trial where those letters were read aloud to a horrified courtroom. Through contemporary court records and the letters themselves, we uncover how a respectable young woman became Scotland's most notorious accused murderess—and why the jury returned that haunting Scottish verdict: Not Proven.
The case exposed Victorian hypocrisy about female sexuality and remains unsolved to this day. Was Madeleine a cold-blooded poisoner, or the victim of a predatory man's final act of revenge?

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💬 Was Madeleine Smith guilty of murder, or did Pierre Emile L'Angelier orchestrate his own death to destroy her? The jury couldn't decide—and 167 years later, neither can we. Share your verdict in the comments below.

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We bring historical true crime to life through atmospheric storytelling and rigorous research. Every case is meticulously documented, told with dignity, and grounded in period-accurate detail. We don't sensationalise—we illuminate. We don't exploit—we honour the victims who deserve to be remembered.

📚 HISTORICAL SOURCES:

Trial transcripts: "Trial of Madeleine Smith," High Court of Justiciary, Edinburgh, 30 June - 9 July 1857 (Notable British Trials series, William Roughead)
Glasgow Libraries: The Madeleine Smith Collection - original letters and case documents
Contemporary newspaper coverage: The Scotsman (9-10 July 1857), Glasgow Herald (June-July 1857)
National Records of Scotland: JC26/1857 trial evidence and productions


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All content is respectfully researched and presented to honour the victims and educate about history.