The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1858-01-13
From the anthracite (Tamaqua) Gazette.
Trial Of Smith for the Murder Of Carter


The trial of Thos Washington Smith, for
the murder of our lamented late fellow
townsman, Richard Carter, Esq, at The st.
Lawrence Hotel, in Philadelphia, on the
evening of the 4th November last, commen-
ced in the Court of Oyer and Terminer, in
Philadelphia on Tuesday morning, before
Judge Allison and L,,dlow. The case is
one in which this q hunity feel the great
est interest, and we would have given full
account of the trial, only for the fact that il
is reported in detail in the Philadelphia
morning and evening papers, and will be
read by most of our readers before our pa
per can possible reach them. This cold
blooded and heartless murder, was commit
ted at the st. Lawrence Hotel, in the public
sitting room, and in apparently the most
deliberate manner. The Court room was
crowded, and many surrounded the Court
House, anxious 10 gel glimpse at the pris-
oner, but they were disappointed.
The prisoner who stands charged with
this terrible offence against the laws, is.a
young, slight, nervous looking man, appar-
emily thirty years of age, though we have
been informed he is much younger. He
appeared rather restless and excited, when
first brought undeS the gaze of so many
persons, but gras .satt'ed down into a
sort of lethargic dose, with his head leaning
on one of his arms Ion the rail of the dock
His nervous system appears TO be entirely
broken down, so much so that when reques-
ted to hold his right hand up on entering the
plea, it trembled convulsively, showing
great nervous prostration.
AT times he would burst out in tears, then
suddenly recolecting himself, he would dry
his eyes and appear 10 be more manly. His
sis'er was i'll attendance, who paid that at
tendance 10 the unfortunate being, which
can only be bestowed by sisters love- He
seemed 10 be fully aware of the position in
which he was placed before the community.
The evidence of the witnesses on the part
of the prosecution, was in substance The
same as that heard by the Coroner's Jury
at the time of the tragedy. 1t was simply to
the effect that upon the afternoon of the day
already mentioned, Hir. Carter was seated
in the paror of the hotel in conversation
with his nephew, when Smith entered and
told the deceased that he wished 10 speak
with him. The nephew stepped into the
back parlor, and the prisoner commenced a
conversation in low toae, which was final
ly interrupted by Smith firing several shots
from a revolver, which instantly killed Mr..
Carter. Smith then walked out of the hotel
with bowie knife in his hand, and he was
soon afterwards arrested in Chestnut street,
by officer Albright.
plea of insanity; stating that when the facts
of the birth of the child became known to
Smith, it took such possession of his mind
that il rendered him unfit for business
They attempted 10 show that in fit Of men
tai alteration of the mind, his father wan
dered away and has meyer siuce been heard
OF, and mat "s.o IL sictiIorJ with the fam
| lily. This in our opinion, is all nonsense
He was not insane, when he entered The st
Lawrence Hotel, from the fact tha: he sa
and couversed more than twenty minutes
with Mr. Carter. And only committed this
horrible crime, when unable to carry out hi.
nafarious designs andpurposes.
The trial is still pending, and will, doubt
less, occupy the whole of Tuesday, and may
not terminate before Wednesday next. VIZ
doubt, exceedingly, whether the plea of in
sanity can be sus aimed. In few days
more, we shall know all about it.