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

work some time. Mrs. Sawyer supports the
fam ly; che is a claIrvoy ant. Do net see many
people coming, rs witness is away very much;
both male and female come. Mrs. Johnson
never had anything to say to them. Was in the
room adjoining the one where The murder was
comm itted at the Time; was with MRS. Sawyer
Saw a strange man enter the room; heard the
report OF pistol. Mrs. johnson came imme-
dlately out; had on only dress-no bonnet or
shawl, Mrs. johnson spoke to Mr. Sawyer,
ano said that it was her first band; that he
had shot her second husband She threw up
her arms and said, "Oh! my; he's shot! Wit
ness ran out, when johnson Uhe prisoner)
passed out, and she told man to stop him, rs
he had shot another one. She then ran back.
and when she came into the house Mrs. john
and did nOt know what to do. Then ran down
the street and met Mr.. Sawyer, and informed
ham. -IE
Mrs Rebecca Sd1cper, who was up in her
room. in bed and unable to come down, was
visited there by the jury, and her testimony
taken. She said that her husband had been
employed in the foldng-room of the House of
Representatives. He had been in a Michigan
regiment She herself keeps boarders, rents
rooms, and is a clairvoy ant for the support of
the family. Knew Sawyer was out of work
last fall at 80 per day, afterward renting the
room and cooking for themselves. The de-
ceased was introduced by Mrs. johnson to
witness as her husband Mrs johnson was
occasionally in Baltimore, where she had
law suit pending. Was aware that Mr.. Saw
yer had written note to the deceased; did not
KNOW ltS contents. HAD unOefst0OQ tlaL MrS.
johnson had been married two years. Made
living by clairvoyance. Saw the man who
shot the deceased for the first time to-day.
Saw HIM going down the stairs after he shoot
ing with q piSt tOl in his hand. Witness was
told by her niece that stranger was coming
up stairs, smiling, and that the room door of
Mrs. johnson was closed. She first heard a
noise, and then two or three shots Of a pistol
she could not tell which. The witness RAP
out Of the room and saw Mrs. johnson, and
she said to her, "Oh my, my man is shot"
The strange man then passed out OF the room
and went down the stairs. with the pistol in
has hand, preceded by Mrs. johnson. The
witness ran down stairs and ran ont, and said
10 man on the pavement that there had BEEN
man shot, bnt ne passed on and did not take
notice. She then ran up the stairs and threw
herself on the bed, completely exhausted
Mrs. Johnson had told witness that the reason
she did not live with her mother was that she
did not like her husband
Lieut.. Adolp4.as Eekiof was sworn, and SAID
mat his attention was called to the homicide
about twelve minutes to three. Visited the
house at once, and found two doctors in the
room: Smoot was alive and morning, but did
not spesk; had his pants on when he saw
h1m lying on the floor; died short time after
ward.
AoIlie Aaa Day, colored, was sworn, and said
she had been In tbe employ of Mr.. Sawyer
about enc week. Never saw a man or woman
go IN the room; did not know whether any
body occupied the room or not; swept the
room out this morning: did not hear the report
OF pistol; was not in the house at the Time
or anything aboutit it. This witness seemed
determined to know nothing or tell nothing
about The case.
The evidence here closed, and the room was
cleared Of all but the coroner and the jury. in
short time they had prepared their verdict
and rendered 1t. The verdict was, "That the
said Thomas Smoot came to his death in the
city OF Washington, on the goth day of June,
1867, by means OF pistol shot, discharged by
Henry Johnson"
After the inquest a brother Of the deeeased ,
mi Ia w of law tria
who had been telegraphed to, arrived and took
charge OF the body and personal effects of the
deceased. A low-crowned black hat, fancy
neck tie, briarwood pipe, and breastpin,
1ound IN the room. were Identified as belong
ing to the deceased. The scene, as presented
TO the view of the brother entering the
fatal coom, was shocking one indeed The
body had bled with. great profuS eness; and was
lying In deep pool of blood. while stream
OF the same had crept to the chamber door,
Wnere Ii had been spread and scattered by
dozens of footsteps. The body was stretched
upon the floor. and so scanty was the space
that ii had been requisite TO turn the narrow
bed against the wall. The head OF the corpse
was raised upon pillo " which was perfectly
saturated with blood. A patch Of plas tering
was Knocked off the wall, near the head sf the
deceased; but whether done by the deceased in
falling. OIL not, is not known The pistoI uust
have been held close to the face Of the de-
ceased, as 1t was peppered all over with marks
OF the powder.
The body was taken by the friends of the
deceased to Harvey's undertaken establish
ment on 7th street where it was washed and
laid out The propor+iens of the deceased
were very fine, and showed him to have been
a powerfully developed men especially absut
the chesti and it required one Of the largest
sized sh9rts to be found at furnishing store to
eEyelop him. As usual when death ensues
from gun shot wound there was smile upon
the face of the corpse. The room was Kept
open tor air and numbers of persons, ladies
included, visited the place to see the corpse.
Some remark being made that the deceased
was handsome man an Alexandrian present
remarked that he never knew q Smoot of that
family who was not handsome.
The theory OF some of the friends of the de-
ceased is that the affair was a "put up job;''
that Mrs Johnson in collision With her hus.
band, had made the assignation with deceased
at a particular hour, and that the wife pio-
neered the way for her husband to the rem
devious They say that unless this arrange
ment had seen made, the husband would not
nave been able, In house strange to him, to
60 directly to the Eoom where the cou pile were
There seenfe, however. to be no proof TO sus-
tain this theory. Smoot, 1t is stated by some
OF me Alex2ndrians, was decidedly religious
before he entered the Confederate army, (i7th
Virginia nEntry,) but that he got good deal
demora1ized there. fIE e. = 80. ~
the scene of iae tragedy on 9th street through.
the afternoon and evening, and the pressure
at the inaoNs OF the house where the inquest
was being ne5d was SO great that the police
were compelled to use strenuous eXertions to
keep them away so that the jury could have
breathing roos. Ths people Of the nsighbor-
boou SPEAK Ol tuc house (SdWyer 81 as Del0E
an orderly one, and nothing noticeabiy wrong
about it save from the talk in regard TO its
being fortune telling establishment .E.-I..r
The fortune teller. Mrs. Aholiab," who
gave her testimony in bed, is a stoutish, ma
tronly looking woman of not bad appearance,
and showing much self possession in giving
herevidence. Herroom was plainly furnished,
and copy Of the splrltual paper. the "Banner
Of Light" appeared to be about the only read
ing matter visible. with the exception OF some
Patent Office reports piled upon the top of a
secretary. II was quite evident to those pres
ent at the examination that she must have
been aware OF the guilty nature OF the con-
ynecuon between SGloot and Mrs. Johnson,
especially as she had formerly resided in
Georgetown and knew Mrs. johnson there. =
The report tnat proceedings had been taken
by MI johnson to procure q divorce is nm.
founded, or, he did 1t is certain that the case
was never instituted in court. The rumer NAV
have grown out of the fact rnat several months
ago other parties OF the same name residing in
Georgetown were divorced by the court
Johnson, 1t is stated, came originally to this
city from Virginia, and learned the carpen.
ter's business with MIR. Jos Downing, with
whom be worked about the year lSi3 to 1S47.
He at that time resided on the Island, where,
just after he was free he built several houses
on eth street, near the wharf 81
This morning, the accused was visited by
number Of bic friends from Georgetown, and
appeared to he In good spirits. He stated that