The New York herald., 1850-04-25

rHE CoRoxER's IRQUEsr--vxRDIcr AGAINST DR.
JAMES II. SMITH

The Tragedy NJ saeo, Maine.
THE coR0EER's INQUEsr-vxRDIcr AGAINST DR.
JAMES II. SMITH.
tfrom the Ssoo (Me) Union, April IL
Much excitement has occurred In our place, In eon
sequence Of the discovery Of the body OF female, ap
parently about 30 years Of age in cuvert drain
which crosses Storer street. near Elm street on Sstur
day sftern DON last
The body was discovered by a young lad of Jo-
reph Stevens who resides storer street who was
sent into the culvert to clear away the rubbish in
order to give the water Of the brook, which flows
through the culyert freer vent. We understand
that the body when found was almost in state Of
nudity, being covered only with a chemiee,
night drsss the head being also covered with night
cap, which there was tied piece OF checked ca
hco In turban form and upon the feet was pair OF
blue stockings The cuvert where the body found
is about feet wide, and considerable brook
through it. The drain passes between two dwelling
houees and it Is laid plank walk which leads to
q door the side of OF the houses The body was
found directly where the cuvert touches the street.
and beneath the covered walk and among the rab
bish. which mpeded the flow of the water. Around
the neck Of the body, which somewhat decay yed,
and the iesh eaten off by the rats, tied small
rope, which was attached to plank about six feet
long that had evidently been used in the first place
conveying the body to the drain, afterwards kept
it beneath the walk in the cuivert. The finding of the
body under such circ instances. caused much stir
such affair naturally would and the place whore
the body was discovered was soon thronged with
people.
Thomas p. TUFTS took possession of the corpse mme
diatey, and summoned jury Of inquest. This jury
commenced Its Investigations on Saturday afternoon
and closed its sessions Thursday Their iuve stg
ton private, but learn that sufficient testimony
was elected In its progress to warrant the spprehen-
sion and detention of Mr.. James ii. smith, person
who had doubtful reputation here kind of qusck
practitioner Of medicine charge of having been in
srumental in procuring abortion, which resulted
in the death Of the female whose body discovered
There testimony before the inquest, rendering 1t
altogether probable that the body found was that OF
Mary Bean called who proved to have been late
last fall the beginning of the winter resident
boarder in Smiths family and who was supposed to
be in advanced state OF pregnancy. This girl
died at Smiths house the early part of the winter and
clue has been found as TO the disposition OF her
remains the supposon is that the remains found
those Of this Mary Bean We have not been able to
learn the residence Of the girl the circumstances
connected with her going to board with Smith for the
purposes indicated above, have been able
certain much else in relation to the facts which have
been disclosed in the Of the investigation
cepting that enough has been learned to show that
Smith, for some years has been engaged in such pras
tice as he stands charged with and which In one,
if not more instances, has resulted in death. The
attached, it is supposed, was used for the pur.
pose Of floating the body OF down the brook,
and without doubt in the expectation that the body
would pass through the drain into the river, and be
carried over the falls. The plank fits place from
which one is missing from stall in Mr. Smiths
stable, and other facts have been developed which
afhx suspicious him having thrown the body,
caused IL to be thrown, in the drain where it was
discovered
Smith was arrested by constable Thomas X Lane,
Wednesday morning and, at the time Of writing
this in his keeping waiting his examination before
the Police Court, which Is expected to commence
Friday morning.
The inquest closed its session about eleven o'clock
last evening. ana returned the IOllow1nk
An inqusition taken at saco, within the county Of
York commencing the thirteenth day Of April, in
the year of Lord thousand eight hundred and
fifty. at the stable Of Nathaniel Brooks, on Storer
street, Saco and continued from day to day. by ad-
journment to and at the house Of Thomas r. Tufts in
saco until this eighteenth day Of April. A. d. one
thousand eight hundred and fifty, before Thomas p.
Tufts ESQ Of the Of said county Of York
upon view Of the body Of female there lying dead by
the oaths Of Tristram Jordan. Jr, Gideon Tucker Jo
seph Hill James Beatty. Edward Stiles and Nathaniel
Brooks good and lawful men, who being charged and
to inquire for the State how and by what
the said female to her death, upon their oaths
say that they have strong evidence for believing and
do believe. that the said female was young wo-
man. last known in Saco under the name Of Mary
Bean. and, in opinion said deceased came to her
death in consequence Of peritoneal or puerpera in
nammation. induced by abortion, and that have
for believing that she came to her death in any
other way or manner; and We further say, that she
could not have come to her death in any other man
And the jurors aforesaid upon their oaths afore
said do say that they have to believe and do
believe that said Mary Bean came to her death by
tain medicines, drugs, substances administered to
her. or by a certain instrument or instruments, or
other used and employed on her, to procure
abortion. by one james ii. Smith, Of Saco; and the
jurors aforesaid upon their oaths aforesaid do say
that said James II smith did use and administer
tain medicines drugs and substances and did and
employ an instr mt, instruments, other
in, within and upon the body Of said Mary Bean for
the purpose aforesaid, being pregnant with child.
And the jurors aforesaid their oaths aforesaid do
say that said medicines drugs and substances ad
ministered and said instrument or instruments used
in within, and upon the body Of the said Mary Bean,
Win intent on the OF the James H. Smitn
then and there to destroy, and which did destroy
child. Of which said Mary Bean then and there
aforesaid pregnant And the jurors aforesaid: upon
their oaths afort said do further that the said
dcines. drugs substances. administered, or said
instrums mt or instruments other used and
employed as aforesaid were not administered used or
mpoycd done 90 preserve the life of the said Mary
Bean. but said act was an unlawful act In Its COM
mission. wicked and wanton eyincing reckless dis
position In committing the crime. and apparently
wholly regardless Of the security due to human life
And the jurors aforesaid upon their oaths aforesaid
do say that the said Mary to her death afore
said. about the twenty second day Of December
last past at the house Of said James II. smith, and
they further say that after her deah aforesaid that
the body Of said Mary Bean, about the
twenty fourth Of said December, taken by the said
James ii. smith, other person or persons to tho
Jury unknown from said Smiths house and
placed, fastened and secured TO a plank and
cast into certain brook running across storer
street in said Saco. and at some point in said
brook barn occupied by one William Ntcher.-
In testimony whereof We the said Coroner, and the
jurors Of this inquest have herennto set their hands
and seals the day aud year aforesaid Tufts,
Coroner; 4. Jordan, Jr., Foreman; Gideon Tucker,
Joseph lill. James Beatty, Edward stiles, Nathaniel
Brooks
IL may be conjccturcd from the above verdict that
the offence with which Smith now stands charged, or
may be charged with hereafter. is that which II de-
fined TO be- by statute murder In the second de-
gree the punishment Of which Is imprisonment for
life in the State prison We suppose that his exami-
nation before the Police Court will be upon charge Of
this nature. This examination, 1t Is expected will
commence day.