Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-06-21

ner of Frederick and First streets. GEORGETOWN,
came into possession OF the JehnsoAs, and
they have been living there fer a year two
past, their house being luxuriously furnished,
and they in possession OF every comfort
which money can purchase. Their daughter,
| year or two since, was married at the
solicitation of her mother and in opposition to
her fathers wishes, at the early, age Of Is
years, to Mr.. Head, OF Leesburg, Va and
lost her husband by death a few months after
the marriage. Johnson was domestic in his
habits, steady and sedate, and has always been
so quiet and Ineffensive that no one would
ever have supposed him capable OF taking
such part as ne did In the tragedy OF yester-
day. Mad. Ahollab, at whose house the shoot
ing took place, lived for year or two during
the var in a little frame building on Mont
gomery street, in Georgetown.
Smoot lived only about half an hour after he
was shot, moaning frequently. but uttering no
Ineligible words. He rs about 50 years of age,
and has a wife and five children residing on
PRINCE street lnAtexandria, also a widowed
mother and two brothers, one a lawyer and
me other a merchant As stated else where he
Is the son of the late HeZekah Smoot, who
carried on the business OF butcherlng in that
pl ace for many years, and at the death of the
father he (the deceased) took the business. For
some time after leaving Georgetown he kept &
meat store on Maryla avenue. but after the
close of the war he gave it up and returned to
A1exan dria, and has been apparently living
on good terms with his family there while
keeping. up his lioSOH in this city with Mrs.
johnson. Following upon the shooting affair
| the police officers took possession of the prem
| is6s.
The Coroner was sent for, and Mr.. Wood
ward arriving. a Jury was summoned, con-
sistng OF the following gentlemen :-AionZo
Johnson, (toTeman.) Josiah T. Prather, Lewis
p. Seabold, James McGay, J. G.. Williams,
W Gibson Charles J Columbus, Hiram Levy,
Emory Ourand, and Geo. w. Nc Elfresh-the
two latter being policemen.
Witnesses were at once brought into the
room W here the jury were, on the lower floor
DR.. Boacrm was sworn, and testified that the
hall lodged in the brain. There might be two
balls. Got one fragment from the frontal
bone ,]udge the bullet split; bat the bullet
killed him.
| DR.. Be1rrend sworn.-Do not know the exact
position OF the ball III the head; am not certain
W whrtber three shots were fired or not: Smoot
| was in a morbund state, hut unconscious;
there was much inward bleeding.
John T. Hunter sworn.-I am e friend of Mr
Smoot knew him and his family for twenty
years: did not think it necessary to be present
| at post mortem. did not think it worth
| while: he was dead: he has understood that
| he has wife and fl We children living in Alex.
| andria; married lady belonging there
A'. Charles W. Huguely sworn.-I think the
| body up stairs is that of Thomas Smoot seen
him about six months ago; have no hesitation
| in saying it is Thomas Smoot; 1 know his
| family; his wife was a Miss Grimes: he was
| butcher: was carrying on business about a
year ago: know his fathers family.
A@Oiidb Sdaryer sworn-The clothes hanging
| up stairs did not belong &c Smoot they be-
| longed to other parties, Did not know whether
Snoot owned q watch or Rot. The two had
| been rooming here since last fall; they said
they were married: did not stay here constant
| iy- he said she had sict mother. Did net
see Mr.. johnson until yesterday. johnson
came up TO me and asked me if his wife re-
| sided with me. 1 said, whose wifes He said
| mime that was my Wife that went into your
house. Mrs. Johnson had always said that
Stnoot was her husband, and she had always
introduced him to ladies or gentlemen who
| were in the room, as MRS. johnson. She took
Bible ON one occasion, and was willing to be
qualified that SmoCt was ner husband. They
cooked in the house waen they were here.
She came to my house Yesterday; they both
came to.day. l saw Johnson about ~ or |
o'clock at the market sde asked whether
SEnoot>was there. (meaning the house;) he
SAID that Smoot had forged note for $500 or
SatN. He said, in reply to ne, that if he would
60 to nv house he would not kick u any fuss
| If he wanted to have her he might The wo-
for the first time. The woman called herself
| Kate Did not know whether Mrs. johnson
could write er not
! Witness was here shown some handwriting,
| letter, which he Identified as his own, and
| which was written to the deceased by the re-
| quest OF Mrs. johnson. sHe gave him the let
| ser last. evening. The letter said :-ss Mrs.
| johnson S mother is very sick is obliged to 60
| home soon and have troube with Mr.. Heas-
| ton about that note; cannot stop to see you to-
day, bui wants you 10 stop here until o-mor-
| row. and she will see you between | and D.
| m. Be sure to meet her without fail There
| was no date TO the Letter, but was written as
| we have it. f
| Nr. Sawyer was further questioned, and
said his own family consisted of his wife and
four children, and q Mr.. Lillard. who beard
ed'with him. Smoot last winter kept meat
| or provision store on the Island. l married
Rebecca Williams: have had five children;
tour are living.
| temporary; 1 have been with the burial corps
under Col Moore; am boarding n this house:
have been here since January. MIR. Sawyer
hasy0een employed In the folding room of the
| House; his wife is here, and also his niece
know Sm oot; he was introduced to me by the
name OF Johnson: that is him up stairs. He
came here transiently. L have clothes in the
room where he lodged; have lodged there my
self when he or Mrs johnson was not about
Mrs. johnson is about thirty years Of age;
supposed her TO be SmoOts wife: they roomed
together. was in the viciaity OF the pos. Of
fee when heard of the shooting.
AT. Soacyer was recalled, and said that Mrs
Johnson paid $50 per month tor the room.
They bad the privilege OF the parIor and also
of The Atchen. They cooked in the kitchen
every day when they were here. Sometimes
che was not present, and the witness family
cooked tor them. He might have been In the
room vath Mrs. Johnson-dId not remember
Heard OF the shooting on 6ta street from his
niece who was running after policeman.
Mr.. Miliard paid S25 per month for his board
and lodging slept on the sofa when the couple
were not At home. Smoot has been in the house
for r the asst st month nearly every day. Mrs;
lives vita Judge Hughes. Smoot and Mrs.
Johnson were together when the room was
rented; Nrs. johnson did the renting she
spoke OF law business making it necessary
to take room convenient to the court Had
heard Of WCs. Johnson not being married to
Smoot, and questioned her about ii some five
or six weeks SINCE and she said-she was will.
ling to be qualified. She said che had been
living with 8 man by the name of Johnson
asd-that she had LETT him.
Detectire Katy sworE.-Said thRt the prison.
er stated Ia the Central uardhouse that he re-
eeived Information that his wife was living in
certain house with Smoot. He went there,
and walked up stairs and found the woman
and man in the room together Snoot was I'M.
dressed, and as soon as he (SmooD cav John.
con ne attempted to open a drawer In the bu-
i rean, and then the prisoner drew pistol from
his pocket and fined enc shot. He attempted
to fire again when his wife caugnt him, and
the pistol snapped -
Mrs. Eliza RedatoH, who lives in Massachu-
setts avenue, was sworn, and said that q man
came iEto her place yesterday and asked who
lived in the TWO story frame house arrow nd the
corner she would not know the man If sses
him again. Have never heard anything about
Sawyers house. Have 20 reasons for my own
suspicious. Have seen the advertisement Of
Madame AhoIiab as foctune teller, and the
number was the same as Sawyer's house.
Mr.. AiIidyd, recalled, sai6 that he never saw
any enc in the room with Mrs. johnson but
Smoot. Was never alone with her himself.
mrs. Sawyer processes to be medium, and
advertises under the name OF Aholiab-her
ah hrta