The Sun.
London, England, 1862-01-30 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SlR,—Some time since you commented on the fact that
one of our agents who was engaged in the erection of a bridge
at Velletri, in the Roman States, had been stabbed by an
Italian, and also that he was unable to obtain redress or
even attention from the Papal authorities.
We regret to say that our principal foreman, a most re
spectable and valuable man, has been shot in a public street,
and from the reports sent to us, which we enclose for your
perusal, it appears very probable that the assassin will be
allowed to escape with impunity.
We are, Sir, your obedient servants,
KENNARD BROTHERS.
36, Great George-street, Jan. 27.

" Velletri Viaduct, Jan. 18.
" Gentlemen,—Before you receive this you will have
heard, no doubt, of the dreadful murder of poor Jeremiah
Smith. The circumstances of the case are as follows :
He and I, on returning after work to the town, did not go
straight home, but went to tell the 14 Englishmen who
left here this morning to bo ready to start by seven o'clock.
Smith was a very long time talking to one of the men, so
I said to him, Well, I am not going to stop any longer.
Are you coming ?" Yes, directly,' ho said. I then walked
home alone, and had scarcely got my coat and hat off be-
fore up came Miles Riley, saying that I was wanted
directly. He did not then tell me what was the matter
(on account of Smith's wife being present), but on
getting out of the house he told me Smith had been shot
in the stomach. On my arriving at the inn where Smith
was I found him lying, or leaning, on a form, Mr. York,
with his son, Mr. Bonchardt, and several others trying to
persuade him to go upstairs and be undressed. After a
great deal of persuasion he went, and on his being undressed
we found a bullet had passed under his ribs and was still in
the intestines. The doctor said it was all up with him.
Mr. York telegraphed to Rome for an English doctor, but
unfortunately he could not come. We broke the news to
his wife as well as we could, and in half an hour after the
accident she was with him. We remained up with the poor
fellow until twenty minutes past four this afternoon (Satur-
day, January 18), when he died, after having suffered the
most awful agony for about twenty-two hours. The account
I have of the manner in which it was done is that, shortly
after I left, Smith, with his man (guard), who always went
with him, had just got outside the door of the inn, when a
man passed quickly by him, and shot as he went past.
Benjamin Gilvear (who was saying Good night' to Smith)
as well as Smith's man were so stunned by the suddenness
of the thing that they were quite powerless, and of course
the man ran as hard as ho could as soon as he had shot
Smith. The only description that we can give the police is
that the man had on a big cloak and a cap. Of course this
description will be of no use. Smith, however, before he
died, said that it was a man who had been discharged that
very day, and whose name is Giuseppe de Rossi. The police
have put the fellow in prison, and they have also two or
three others there on suspicion.

"Mr. York's kindness was beyond everything, both he and
his son being in the room with us the greater part of the
night. Mr. York had the surgeon belonging to a French
regiment stationed here to look at Smith at about 12 o'clock
in the night, but ho gave us no, or at least scarcely any,
hope of the poor fellow's life being saved.

" You may imagine such a dreadful and sudden murder
as this, committed in the most public street, and at a time
(6 or a quarter-past in the evening) when so many people
were about, has caused the Englishmen that are here to be
in a very desponding state, especially when we are openly
told that there are more to go off yet. Poor Smith had
been often warned that his life was in great danger, but he
said he was well armed. At the time he was shot he had
➢Zr. Wilson's revolver on, and carried a swordstick in his
hand,—l beg to remain, gentlemen, yours truly,
"Messrs. Kennard Brothers." "It. S. JONES.

" Rome, Jan. 18.

•
"My dear Sirs,--I have the deep regret to confirm a
despatch which I send you at the moment I write this letter.
Some Italian shot poor Smith last night in the streets of
Velletri, and he died this afternoon at four o'clock. I have
this moment returned from that place. We shall put the
man he left in charge when at the Sacco last week to con-
duct the works till we hear from you.
"'There are four men in prison, but no one saw the man,
except Smith, although twenty people were close to the
spot ; so, no doubt, they will all soon be set at liberty. Death
has thinned our ranks fearfully within three months. Ex-
cuse this scrawl, and believe me, yours faithfully,
"Messrs. Kennard_Brothers." "JOHN O, YORK.

ATTEMPTED MURDER ON SIIIPBOARD.—Yester-
day morning, about 9 o'clock, a murderous assault was
committed on board the ship British Queen, now undergo-
ing some repairs in the Brunswick Dock at Liverpool. At
the time stated a quarrel arose between T. Green, the ship's
cook, and Enos Seth, the steward, in the course of which
Green attacked Seth with a razor, inflicting a severe wound
on Um abdomen of the latter, cutting down and laying
loose the intestines. The wounded man was immediately
removed to the Southern Hospital, but from the nature of
the wound almost no hope of his recovery was entertained.
Green was at once secured and lodged in the hands of the
police.

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