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The Murder of Elizabeth Chantrelle (1878)

⚖️ The Case of Eugène Chantrelle (1878)

🧔 Who was Eugène Chantrelle?

  • A French teacher living in Edinburgh, Chantrelle taught at the Edinburgh Institution for Languages and Mathematics.
  • He was married to Elizabeth Dyer, a much younger woman (she was 16 when they married, and he was 30).
  • They lived at 81 George Street in the New Town and had children.
Elizabeth Chantrelle
Eugène Chantrelle

💀 The Crime

  • On January 2, 1878, Elizabeth Chantrelle was found unconscious and dying.
  • She died soon after — and her death was initially thought to be due to gas poisoning from a leaking pipe.
  • However, inconsistencies in her symptoms and Chantrelle’s behavior raised suspicion.

🕵️ Investigation

  • Sir Henry Littlejohn, the city’s Medical Officer and a respected forensic expert, was called in.
  • A post-mortem examination showed no evidence of gas poisoning — instead, Littlejohn discovered traces of opium in Elizabeth’s stomach.
  • The quantity and form of the opium suggested deliberate poisoning, not accidental overdose.

🔬 Forensic Evidence

  • Littlejohn’s expert testimony was central. He:
    • Proved that Elizabeth had been poisoned with morphine.
    • Showed that the drug was administered without her knowledge.
    • Revealed Chantrelle had recently taken out a large life insurance policy on his wife.
  • Further evidence:
    • Witnesses said Chantrelle frequently abused and threatened Elizabeth.
    • He had also bought morphine in the days leading up to her death.

🧑‍⚖️ The Trial

  • The trial was held at Edinburgh High Court in May 1878.
  • The evidence, especially Littlejohn’s testimony and the circumstantial links, overwhelmingly pointed to guilt.
  • Chantrelle was found guilty of murder and hanged at Calton Jail on May 31, 1878.

👣 Historical Significance

  • One of the first high-profile cases in Scotland to rely heavily on forensic toxicology.
  • Demonstrated how science and medicine could support criminal justice.
  • Cemented Littlejohn’s reputation as a leading forensic expert.
  • It’s believed this case helped inspire the growing scientific detective fiction genre — Arthur Conan Doyle (then a medical student in Edinburgh) followed the case closely and was inspired by Littlejohn and his methods.

References

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