New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-08-19
A YOUNG NAN WHO MARRIED HIS AUNT
MURDERED BY HIS UNCLE.
From The Philadelphia Bulletin, tug. 10.

From The Philadelphia Bulletin, tug. 10.
The Sixth Ward was greatly excited, yesterday a.
ternoOn, by a murder which took place in Cherry
street. near Fourth. The murderer an EDglshman
named George Freeth and the victim was his nephew,
a young man named William Lee Smith. 1t seems
that both parties were Epglshmen. Freeth came to
this country about eleven or twelve years since After
living in New York for six year, he to this city,
and subsequently went into the employ of Messrs.
George W. Simons q Brother, manufacturing gold
and sivcrsmiths After working for these gentlemen
for about two year,, he returned to England leaving
his wife and seven children in Philadelphia. On his
VOYAGE back to the United States he became acqusint-
ed with Young Irish girl, whom he seduced and at
terward in drunken freak, married. This was
about two years ago. While in England, freeth per-
suaded young Smith, his nephew to come out TO TINS
country with him. The nephew did 50, and at the
solicitation of the uncle both were taken into the
employ of the Messrs. Smons.
Smith became an inmate In the house OF frcetn,
and an intimacy arose between the former and his
aunt Smith, II is said, revealed 10 Mrs. Freeth the
fact of the marriage Of Freeth to the Irish gill; and
Mrs. Freeth procured the srrest OF her husband on
the charge Ct bigamy. Freeh was thrown IN PrisGn'
but was finally discharged under the two term rule.
After his discharge he went to Richmond, Va,
where he went to work. Smith, meantime, con-
tnued to live with his aunt, Mrs. Freeth, and 1t was
generally believed among those who Were intimate
with them, that they were married. At all events
child the result Of the intimacy between Smih
and his aunt.
Smith continued to work for the Messrs. Simons
until about three months ago, when lie was discharged
in consequence Of his Incorporate habits. During
the time that Freeth was absent Smith told his em-
poyers that the former had carried to England with
him gold and silver bullion and manufactured articles
worth fl20, which he had stolen from them end cold
IN birmingham. The articles so accurately de-
scrbed that the Messrs. Simons entertained doubt
of the truth Of the story. About the time Smith was
discharged by his employers Freeth returned from
Richmond About week since he made application
10 Simous g. Brother for work, when Mr.. George w.
Simops repeated to Kim what Smith had told him.
This ipcensed Freeth vegy much, and no doubt d.
recty rstigated the agica act which took place yes
terday afternoon. = -,
Reiween 4 and o'clock Yesterday afternoon, Smith
was standing a. tho corner OF Fourth and Cnerry
streets in conversation with man named Henry Har
risop. Freeth happened to pass at the time IN
Fourth-street omnibus and seeing his nephew a, Tue
corer Of the street he got out tf the coach ana ac
costed Smith Mr. Harrison thus describes the inter-
view:
Smith called the shop where was.t work to see me
at Second Spruce, at - o'clock asked h4u II ne was
,our home and he aid Yes" with him young man
nsmed Hurd whs with stopped at Smiths .noP ta
Smith and stood the the Fourth street
csu. by md Fre,th got out he said Well Bill you're going
ON nicely Smith ssd Me I'm not y Free q sse
Die bring " Smith said No, PAID Wy
breast pocket and pulled out Ledger then piece OF p,pe,
and then a pistol ano said You're dead MAJ pointing
AT him he'd small roll Of brsss in hand, and with
Knocked the pistol out OF hs hand lie so the Psto eeoe
could and al after smith
Smith ran into the drinkin house Of Joseph
W,igIey on the north eide of Cherry street, fes
doors below Fourth aud attempted to eecape through
the back door AZ ne Ftee;h fred three shots a.
him I've of d en- passed through tie bre AIT esusl,g
hi. tsa:n 10 tsw in.ss;.s. trss:a mn:dass'y p0'