East Saginaw courier., 1865-08-09

From the Chicago Tribune Of Thursday.
On Thursday last a man named
Henry Smith, about 80 years of age,
accompanied by three children whom
he stated were his daughters, aged
respectively 4, 6 and 0 years, arrived
at the Prescott House, on the corner
of Clark and Van Buren, streets, and
engaged room there. Shortly after
he engaged his room he went down
stairs to the proprietor of the hotel,
Mr.. Fox, and rendered him the sum
of $50, with the request that he should
send 1t to some person in Saratoga,
n. Y. (whose name Mr.. Fox has since
forgotton), and along with it send
word that he (Smith) was dead. Mr.
Fox deemed this request, as coming
from man as hale and hearty to all
appearance as Mr.. Smith, rather sim
gular, to say the least, and declined
to have anything to do with the mat
ter, whereupon Smith returned imme-
diately to his own room. The more
Mr.. Fox reflected upon the -sitpatian.
for advice to ease his mind in the
promises. Sergt. Hickey could see no
ground for his immediate interference,
and returned word to Mr.. Fox that if
the man did not grow violent or do
some alarming thing, he had better
take care of him. This settled the
difficulty for the time being, and ev-
erything passed off smoothly until the
evening of the next day (Friday),
when one of the waiter girls noticed
that neither Smith nor his children
came down to supper, and promptly
informed Mr.. Fox of the fact. With
all his worst apprehensions awakened,
Mr.. Fox hurried up to Mr.. Smiths
room and raped at the door, which
was locked. Smith answered him
from the inside, hut without unfasten-
ing the door, stating that neither he
nor his children wished any supper
Mr. Fox then asked to be allowed to
enter the room, but this Smith in
stantly and angrily refused, saying
that he was going to die at twelve
o'clock that night, but that any one
who attempted to force their way into
that room would die before that time
The landlord, now thoroughly alarm
ed, again sent word to Sergt Hickey,
who in few minutes appeared on the
scene of action, in company with
two members Of his force under his
command. The door of the room
was still fastened, and the furious in
mate of the apartment excitedly avow-
ed that he would shoot them if they
dared TO attempt to enter. AS they
stood in the passage, holding coun-
ell of war, as to the best means o1
stor,ning the fortress, Mr.. Fox remem-
bered that there was another door
to the room, from an adjoining apart
ment, and at it they at once made an
other attompt. 1t, like the other
door, was found to be securely fasten.
{ ed the bolt was on the side on which
they were, and it was locked, bu'
: Smith had managed in some way tc
, tie tire knob Of the door to the bed
} stead, using part of the bedclothes fol
, the puposc. After some trouble, the,
succeeded in pulling it open for
. space of about six inches, and wer'
, thus enabled to perceive the mode o
fastening which we have described
. Smith was now wild with rage, anC
at the top of his voice was showerint
upon his besiegers malcdictions an'
. the most diref,Il threats. Mr.. Fo'
{ put his hand inside the opening made
r by pulling at the door, for the pur
r pose of looscning the quilt, and Snltl
! promptly repclled the assault upon In
! works. striking Mr.. Fox's hand Sc
I we're blow with one of the Stats of th
bed. and so laming him that he re
. tired from the action. All the officer
I then took hold of the door and ap
I plied their whole strength to force
: open. Something in the Fastening
4 gave way, no one stopped to see what
!. land the door fewopeu. There in tn
; center of the room stood Smith, flour
: ishing with both hands slat fror
4 tho bedstead, and still threatening :
h kill any one who approached him.
n On the bed entwined in each others
e ARMS, lay the three children, unharm
:. ed, but in speechless terror, gain
, upon the afirighting scene before then
!. Close beside them lay dagger, long
: bright and keen. One of the polio,
lmcn made rush at Smith. who wit