The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-08-19
Singular Murder In Philadelphia.
AN UNCLE AND NEPHEW MARRYING THE sANK

woMAH-NURDBR OF rHR NEPHEW BIZ THE UNCLE.
From tho Philadelphia Ledger, August Is
very deliberate and apparently premeditated murder
committed yesterday afternoon In the neighborho,d
Of Fourth and Cherry streets Toe murdered msn vas
young Epslnh man, named William Smith, and the pos
peirstqr Of act was his uncle, George Freeth, who,
meeting his nephew In the sreel attempted 70 shoot him.
bat the pistol being Knocked from his hand the
pursued his nephew into tavern, tho Washington
HOTEL No 232 Cherry street, kept BY Joseph wrscy and
before he could be prevented dred three shots from re-
volver into the body Of the nephew.
Freeth, II appears 10 also an Engishman. Hc came 10
this country about eleven years nnce with bis wife, aud
ommepced work as . jeweller Afser becoming settled,
nephew Smith, aso jeveler, with him. Soon afer the
arrival Of Smith difficulty occurred between Freeth and
had another wife living Mrs Frceth, tho ugh mother OF
children, applied for divorce about -four years
&c, and aer hearing before Judge Kelley obtained
TWO ears after this smith married his divorced apnt.
Mrs Frecth and child has been the fruit Of this union.
This sae OF things led 10 I'll feelings and threats between
the uncle and nephew Ffeeth alleging that the deceased
bad tbreate ned u take the formers life several umS
smith bis wife moved into Fourth street, between
Gates and Brown and yesterday Smith started down town
TO attend 10 busiDess When ii Fourth and Cherry
streets, bo stopped 10 talk 10 friend named Henry Hsr
r,on, and while thus engaged Freeth passed up Fourth
street In 40 omnibus As Freeth saw Smith, he
got the omnibus and approached Smith, ., the
saying, "smith, you are going on nne about me" Smith
replied BY saying, hAt he vas not dong anything against
Tree,b ade some reply this, and ,aid "Dd not pay
;b"n I,Ssss ~ NH .So- you A. the same time pulling
from aide pocket paper and six barrelled revolver.
Frecth pointed the pistol and sad "miih, you are cad
man but before he could pull the trigger Mr. Harrison,
Who was talking with Smith, knocked the pistol out Of
Frec,hs hand.
up bis psioI and ran srer him when smith reached the
Washington Hotel he ran In, followed By Ffeeth. Both
Of them ran through the barroom small, log ceiling
room, tJwarcs bach room uG smith Goa into small
vestbue between the bar anc kitchen. Freeh nrcd three
times, balls entering Smiths breast, killing him In
The report Of the pistol brought tho landlord down
stairs, and reaching the scene found Smith partially
doubled up the floor, with his head In position ndca
ting he designed running up stairs. Freeth stand
ing near BY and he said 70 the landlord al have
done what wanted to- and you may send for IN ofcer
arrcss me-" Word was sent 10 the Ssth ward station
house Sergeant shuman the place and took Frcch
In charge The prisoner made the same statement 10 the
officer that he had made TO the landlord but before and
aer ectipg 10 station house he became somewhat d
ncui 70 manage
VAS an excellent workman. About t~o years ago be
England he said, 70 settle some business he
wren nj he returned he brought hi. nepSes, VIM smith,
with him Al We subsequently learned, Freeth hal
duced rsh girl on board the ship during the passage
the United States and AFTER wards married her VIM
smith, knowing theee f. ~, informed his aunt the wife OF
George Freeth accordingly He (Smh) also informed M
that fceh had Legacy ef, TO MIN In Easlsns such
be hsd described, but that when there he had sold
large quantity OF gold and silver goods, which he had
iosn rom Us previous 70 h; solns away In kuosledss
our employ meut, which did accordingly.
Meantime Smith remained at the residence Of bis aunt,
her. that Mrs Freeth became careless Of her
husbands Interests. Previous 10 the time that dis
charged Freeth paid bis wife part OF his wages which
che called for reeularly at this me seemed that Fresh
was living with the Irish girl which he had married After
returning from England Legal proceedings nst.
uied against Freeth for bigsmy and hs committed 10
prison 70 await his trial. and amer having remained there
for three months ives discharged accordinet 10 Law.
Amer bis release from prison he discovered that his wife
Was enrnte and that Smith and she had been marie
she In the meantime assuming n have been divorced by
Que process Of law For the last nine months since his
esse from prison Freeth has been employed by gun
rmith In Rich mond Virginia, and ~ he alleges. was n
the present tine In Philadelphia on his way TO Eussnd
pur shse tools and materials for his employer Rion
N end, having In his possession the Of $500 With
which do He has been 70 place OF business, In
ssntom street, frequently within the last two or three
days and has spoken 70 about Smiths conduct 10 hi
return for bis kindness in paying his passage from Eng
land 10 America.
We sircharsed Smith from our employment about three
months ago because Of his general irregular habits OF Ire
ard want OF conf fence In him. since which time, we
understand he hss jobbing his osn accounts IN
III this Monday morning, n appears, be 90 nmenced
work Mr. Dubosq In Chestnut street. next 70 the Lgsr
ohi~c.
Free,h's Oldest con vas spprcntced with u.s. but look
upon himself The responsibility Of running away, since
witch me we have not I'LL we say him by the
aide OF the corpse. v1rsntwas issued Tor MS arrest,
but we dont care about pursuing bin now