Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1867-06-07
A Horrible Tragedy.

The New Albany Ind. Ledger has
the annexed details Of thrilling trag
edy which has been briefly referred
to by telegraph-the murder of his
wife and child by a man who after
wards took his own life:
A man named Francis J. Smith who
formerly resided in Floyd county, and
for a short time in New Albany, is the
murderer and suicide. His wife,
Mary, and his little son, Roger, were
the victims of his fendish malice and
bloodthirstiness. The murdered wife
first met Smith in this county in the
latter part of the year 1864. A short
courtship followed, when they were
married in 1865, and Immediately re-
moved to Perry county, near Derby,
where Smith owned farm. For a
short time they lived pleasantly enough
together; but after the birth Of the
boy Roger, which occurred in Deem
Der, 1865, Smith frequently beat and
abused his wife in the most shocking
manner. He also treated the child
with revolving cruelty, at one time
holding it ovor blazing fire until it
was nearly roasted. The devlish
spirit that actuated Smith to the per
petration of these barbarities was
jealousy. He frequently denied the
paternity of the child, and accused his
wife of improper intimacy with a man
who resided in the neighborhood.-
Finally unable longer to bear the per-
Secutions heaped upon her by the
brutal husband, she left him and went
to New York. She afterward return
ed at her husbands request, and upor
his promise to do better; but she was
cruelty thrust from the house, anC
! during the remainder OF her life wa
a wanderer through the neighborhood
without any other home than wha
was given her through the charitie
, Of the people. On Wednesday las
Smith met his wife at the house of 4;
neighbor, whittier she had gone t.
seek aid from the township trustee
and Smith told her he would accom-
pany her to that officers residence t,
. which she assented. 1t was Just be
. fore noon when they started. SmitI
took her by circuitous out of the wa
route through the woods, and kept he
and the child with him until near tel
o'clock at night, when he reached
dark and secluded ravine. Here h
babe the poor, wretched, heartbrokel
, wife sit down at the root of a tree
+ The woman obeyed, and the fendisI
husband then told her that he intend
f ed to kill both her and the child.
The night was dark and it wa
raining, and escape was vain. Wha
y pen can portray the horror and agon,
I of the mother in that forest, alon
with such a desperate as menaced he1
o There was horror in that scene be
! vond all powers of description.
). Smith then proceeded deliberatel
!. to his work of murder. He seized
heavy stone, and with single bloV
h crushed in the skull of the mother
= Not yet satisfied, he seized othe
: stones and hurled them against he
o head, until the vital spark had fec
With the same instruments of deaf
+ he beat out the brains OF the chile
y When both were dead he took til
i strings from the murdered wife
q shoes, tied her feet together, the
o crossed her hands over her bosoI
n and tied them in that position. FL
; next took the child and placed
;. alongside the dead body of the mott
!. er, and with the mothers shawl co,
+ cred up the victims Of his murderou
$ passion, and departed to his brother
8 residence, few miles distant.
4 At the brothers house Smith wrot
n a letter, in which he pretends to d.
It tail the circumstances of his marie
j life and of the murder, told what b
!. had done and what was in the lette
h and then taking his brothers rifle
It stepped out into the yard, placed til
5 muzzle of the gun over his heart, Sc
Il off the trigger with a stick, and fe
h to the ground dead, shot through til
- heart"