Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1857-11-12
[Frcm the Philadelphia SIM, of Thursday.l
Terrible Tragedy in Philadelphia.


noon 4 terrible tragedy was enacted at the St
Lawrence Hotel No 1918 Chestnut street.
which resulted in the death of Richard Car
ter, resident of Tamaqua.
The deceased was native of England, was
about A years of age, and has beeen in this
country about twenty five years He was
engaged in the coal trade with the firm of j.
& r. Carter, and was also the President of
the Anthracite Bank, of Tamaqua.
lie has been in the habit Of visiting this
city frequently, and always, we believe, So
journed to the ST Lawrence Hotel. lie ar
rived in the city about l. o'clock yesterday,
and at half past was dead man. The at
fair created an intense excitement, and the
thousands of persons were attracted to the
Hotel for the purpose OF obtaining lnfOrma-
tion and seeing the body. Their curiosity i'll
the latter respect was not, however, gratIfed,
as the body was placed in a room and locked
up. Mr.. Carter was an athletic man, stand
ing about six foot two inches and weighing,
we should suppose, over 200 pounds. He
was married man, but has no issue by his
wife.
His wife is at her home in Tamaqua, and
the sad news of the death of her husband was
telegraphed thither.
The prisoner gives the name of Thomas
Washington Smith. He is a fine looking man
and, when taken in custody by officer Albright
of the reserve corps, was in high state of cX-
element After being conducted to the May
or's Office he was asked what we had upon him
when he said a pen-knife and some papers"
He was then told that must submit to be
searched, when he sad "his word was his bond,
but they might search him
We learn the following statement, which was
made to an officer by Smith, shortly after the
arrest.
" A short time since | made the acquaint-
ance of young female at q seminary and
took her for yirtuOuS woman. Mr. Carter
represented her to me as being his adopted
daughter or ward. | married the girl, and
shortly afterwards discovered that she was
Carters strumpet, he Carter, while represent
ing himself as her foster father, using her as
g strumpet. She was delivered of q child
about months after married her Mr.. Car
ter claimed to be a man OF honor, and occupy
ing highly respectable position, [ reposed
every confidence i'll him. Having been cruelty
deceived by this gross outrage, | was deter
mined to be reyenged
This statement was rapidly made while the
pliSOHCi was III a IN nGdtC vi CAClGClHCuG
About o'clock the prisoner was brought
up before Aid. Eneu, for a hearing. As sew
eral witnesses were examined at this hearing
who were afterwards heard before the inquest,
we only give the Evidence of those not exam
ined Oh the two Investigations. The Mayors
Office was densely crowded, every space being
occupied.
Officer Albright testified to arresting the
accused, and taking from him a bowie knife,
(the blade of the knife is about ii inches
in length, and is very heavy. 1t was encascd
in sheath of red morocco, upon which was
written in ink, Tom Wash Smith, De Bowes
Review, n. O., and Washing, d. c. y
Colts six chamber revolver was also taken
from the accused.
After the hearing, Smith said to the Alder
man I" | acknowledge that | killed the
man"
Alderman Eneu told the accused that he
would no doubt be tried for his life, aud he ur-
gently advised him to keep quiet
The prisoner then struck his breast in rap
id manner, and said, " stand here sir, as an
honest man.
He was taken down stairs, and placed in
cell. Lieut.. Dckhalt was charged with con
veying the accused to prison. After the com
ment was given to the Lieutenant, he went to
the accused and requested him not to commu.
nicate with him on the subject of murder.
Smith was then placed III a cab, and driven
rapidly to prison. On the route, he told the
Lieutenant if that woman and his knife were
sent to him at his cell, he would not trouble
the law.
The jury rendered verdict that the de-
ceased came to his death from injuries re-
ceived by pistol shot wounds fired by the
hands of Thomas Washington Smith, at the
st. Lawrence Hotel, on the 4th of November,
1857.
Smith boarded at the Madison House, in
Second street, above market, and on his way
to prison told officer Albright he might have
the pistol, and he woud find the accoutre-
ments belonging to it, at the above named
house. There is still one barrel loaded in
the pistol 1t, together with the knife, which
has been sharpened recently, is in the hands
OF the Coroner. on his way to prison lie
said, why, the rascal even said he was going
to see my sister"
We learn that Smith consulted David Web
ster, Esq, short time since, on the subject
OF obtaining divorce from his wife He is
Marylander by birth, having been bern in Ce-
ell county, says he has hosts of friends in the
county. His position, as agent of De Bowe,
would seem to warrant this statement as being
true. When his wife shall be hunted I'D, no
doubt there will some important evidence ad-
duced from her
The Phil adelphia Bulletin gives the past
history of all the parties, all follows
Mr.. Carter was an EngliShman hv birth
and when he first came to Schuykll County.
some years ago, he began to work as miner
he saved money, and became large property
holder and man of influence His wife, who
IS also English, is some ten years older than
he was, and they never had any children \
few years ago he became acquainted with a