A stunning baronial home at the centre of a murder mystery that gripped the country over 150 years ago has been put up for sale for a bargain £350,000.
Invergare Mansion was home in the mid-19th Century to Glasgow socialite Madeleine Smith who went on trial for murder following the death of her secret lover after he drank cocoa laced with arsenic.
It was in the nine-bedroom property in Rhu, Argyll and Bute, that young Madeleine was alleged to have given the deadly drink to middle-aged clerk Pierre Emile L’Angelier.
A stunning baronial home at the centre of a murder mystery that gripped the country over 150 years ago has been put up for sale for a bargain £350,000
Invergare Mansion was home in the mid-19th Century to Madeleine Smith who went on trial for murder following the death of her secret lover after he drank cocoa laced with arsenic
The mansion, designed by Madeleine’s father, James, is now in need of ‘significant’ renovation but includes over 2.5 acres of land, numerous period features including marble flooring, and stunning views over the Firth of Clyde
Internally Invergare has a wealth of period features to marry the exceptional external architectural character displayed in the principal elevations
It was in the nine-bedroom property in Rhu, Argyll and Bute, that young Madeleine was alleged to have given the deadly drink to middle-aged clerk Pierre Emile L’Angelier
The case, which scandalised Victorian society, resulted in Scotland’s first ever not proven verdict and Madeleine fled to America, where she married three times and died aged 92.
The mansion, designed by Madeleine’s father, James, is now in need of ‘significant’ renovation but includes over 2.5 acres of land, numerous period features including marble flooring, and stunning views over the Firth of Clyde.
Perhaps unusually, the sellers, Rettie, are making much of the dark history of the property.
Buyers are told in the sales brochure: ‘James Smith left the house in 1858 following a scandal surrounding his daughter, Madeleine Smith, who was accused of murder.’
Madeleine – described by a contemporary as ‘strikingly attractive, stylish, and confident with dark hair and the most entrancing eyes’ – began her affair with Pierre in 1855 when they were introduced by a neighbour.
B-listed Invergare was frequently the venue for their passionate affair but the gulf in their social status meant Madeline became engaged to another man. L’Angelier then threatened to expose their letters unless she married him.
Externally the house is faced with grey harling with honey coloured sandstone dressings and margins, chamfered reveals, quoin strips and crow-stepped gables
The inside living room of Invergare Mansion is extremely spacious and boasts a fire place and built-in seating
Examples of the period features include the octagonal entrance porch with its marble floor and skirting, polished sandstone arches and the barrel vaulted corridor that leads from the entrance porch to the entrance hall with its galleried landing over and columned classical arches
At a meeting between the couple at the house in 1857 Madeleine is alleged to have put 30 ‘grains’ of arsenic in her former beau’s cocoa.
L’Angelier died shortly afterwards and a post-mortem revealed the presence of arsenic, resulting in Madeleine’s arrest and trial at the High Court in Edinburgh.
Madeline was arrested and went on trial for his murder at the High Court in Edinburgh. The prosecution case rested on Madeleine’s motive but her defence team insisted she had not seen Pierre for three weeks before his death.
Reluctant to send a woman to the gallows without more evidence, the jury returned a not proven verdict, meaning Madeleine was acquitted but left under a shadow of doubt for the rest of her life.
Following the trial, the young socialite reportedly disguised herself and caught the night train to London before fleeing to America, where she died in 1938.
A decorative scene of a man and woman is illustrated on one of the mantelpieces inside Invergare Mansion
A stunning baronial home at the centre of a murder mystery that gripped the country over 150 years ago has been put up for sale for a bargain £350,00
While Rettie acknowledge the tragic history of the property, they prefer to concentrate on its many attractions.
‘Despite having been vacant for a number of years, the Victorian home still boasts some impressive features,’ states the brochure.
‘Externally the house is faced with grey harling with honey coloured sandstone dressings and margins, chamfered reveals, quoin strips and crow-stepped gables.’
They add: ‘Internally Invergare has a wealth of period features to marry the exceptional external architectural character displayed in the principal elevations.
‘Examples of the period features include the octagonal entrance porch with its marble floor and skirting, polished sandstone arches and the barrel vaulted corridor that leads from the entrance porch to the entrance hall with its galleried landing over and columned classical arches.’
THE MURDER MYSTERY THAT GRIPPED SCOTLAND
On June 30, 1857 the trial of Madeleine Smith began. A young woman from a prosperous Glasgow family, Smith was charged with, on three separate occasions, administering arsenic or other poison to Pierre Emile L’Angelier with intent to kill, twice in February and once in March 1857.
It was this accusation and the subsequent trial which brought to light the great volume of letters which had secretly passed between them. Presented as evidence of Madeleine and Emile’s relationship and meetings, these letters formed a core part of the trial, and because of their frank expressions of desire and affection, they scandalised and excited the Victorian public of the time.
Madeleine Smith’s story has captured the imagination of many historians, playwrights, film makers and the general public since it was reported in 1857. Having been the subject of many re-interpretations and productions (including a musical), it is no wonder that the story of Smith and her love affair have persisted until this day. But why is this the case?
Her trial led to the revelation of lascivious letters that were shocking because of her gender and class, but also because of the explicit statement of her enjoyment in sexual activity.
On June 30, 1857 the trial of Madeleine Smith began. A young woman from a prosperous Glasgow family, Smith was charged with, on three separate occasions, administering arsenic or other poison to Pierre Emile L’Angelier with intent to kill, twice in February and once in March 1857
In the context of her time, this was a shocking revelation as, although it was not unexpected that woman would enjoy sex, it was understood that this would and could only happen within the marital bed.
While the tantalising story of a doomed romance ending in a possible murder still has an attractive hook for a story today, it is likely the ‘whodunnit’ element of Smith’s case which continues to capture the imagination.
Taken into custody on March 31, 1857, Smith was accused of administering poison, but due to a lack of evidence the Crown could not prove that it was Madeleine who had killed L’Angelier. This lack of evidence and a magnificent defence led the jury to return the sensational verdict ‘not proven’.
A unique characteristic of Scottish law, a verdict of ‘not proven’ is an acquittal with the same effect as ‘not guilty’. It has been wryly suggested however that the meaning of ‘not proven’ is closer to ‘we think you did it, but the prosecution couldn’t prove it’.
This verdict allows nuance between ‘Proven’ and ‘Not Guilty’, allowing the jury to specify whether the evidence alone provides enough proof of the accused’s guilt or innocence (although the verdict itself carries an implication of guilt). This inability to prove that Smith was responsible for Pierre Emile L’Angelier’s death has kept the public intrigued, with many retellings and reviews of the evidence presented in an attempt to prove once and for all whether she was guilty, or not guilty.
Source: National Records of Scotland