Smyrna times., 1867-05-01


AN AWFUL AFFAIR IN WILMENeroN-l
449n II, 1stG66ed and Dies az a .feao Minutes
1iGI%tteTy SAID to 6e the iToCocation.
olock on Monday morning the neighbors OF
Seventh Street were startled by screams ams.
mating from the house of Mr.. Josenb w pratt
very soon after Joshua Pusey Smith the nro
: prletor of the Indian Queen Hotel. mast ont ot
the house. Blood was seen issninp from
wounds on his person and marking the pave
ment every few steps. The blood snots were
very large, and they appeared so all along Woll.
aston street to 9th. He turned the corner Of
6th and passed down this street. When an
preaching Tatnall, he began to call aloud and
beckon to an old gentleman who was STANDING
at the corner of Tatnall. He then sat down m
Mr. Pickles steps, when lady went into ia
COP hePman's shop and told him that a man
was bleeding to death. He and his workman
went to Smith. They asked him who stabbed
nm. he replied, doe Pratt and asked to
pe taSe9 4 home. The sleeve of his left arm
an5 MaS Iqtl OF blood lie had apparently been
eHueTaVorlng to keep it from dropping. Doc
sors Tracy Porter, Wilson and Kane, were soon
oa tne spot Smlth wound was on the left
arm near the shoulder, the arteries being sew
cred; lie died in about half an hour,
About 10 O. clock the officers nroceedod 20
FTatt house and took him to the Civ Hall
cells. tie made no resistance, but had IN he
supported by the officers. They each passed
an arm around his body, he passing his arms
over their shoulders-and thus without raisine
prison. ~ 'ife
In few moments afterward the same off.
GERS returned to the house and accomnanied
Mrs. Pratt to the Mayors office They have
but one child a boy Of II years of age. Ills
mother had barely got out of sight when he
ran up on the pavement, asking what is the |
matter and burst into tears. A gentleman
who knew him took him by the hand and en- |
aeaVored to comfort him. He said he had |
Just come from the country He then asked
where S mother?' on being told she was not |
at home, he asked, what will they do with |
pap: 1t is presumed he had encountorad |
ehe crowd on his way to the house and learned |
something OF the dreadful tragedy Just then
the poor little fellow was taken by the hand
and led away by an uncle
The circumstances, as we learned tbo,n ba-
lore the inquest was held, were these There
were paper hangers in the house at worl in
The second story. Mrs. Pratt is renorted to
nave SAID that Mr.. Pratt invited Smith int0
me third story to talk over some matters =.
She went up there fearful that thew mirht get
. Ightlng After she got up there Pratt
iiaoped smith. In an effort to prevent this
ne received severe cut on one Of her FINGERS
Dr. bailey, who lives near by avs the fre.
,uent visits OF Smith to the house Ind bonn
ne scandal of the neighborhood for = lon~
ime. ~ : iols
reports have been in circulation for several
ears In which Smith was said to ba vis;t;rc :
ratt house in his absence About two vears
go !, fratt became interested in an oil compaDv
Virginia and he returned here two weeks !
60 lie then had an interview with Smith !
men resulted rather satisfactorily, and Pratt
'ok MS wife to Pennsylvania on a visit. Az
Il thty returned he went to New York and
ahle pack last Friday night, Mr.. Pratt sent t
?r anu employed Thos. L. Bayard, ESD, as g
Is 8 counsel atLer he had been placed in prison |
HmlIh body was removed TO his house and 1
coroner jury sworn in about II clock, t
hIch adjourned until >, 2. VI. tt
Mr. Pratt is about fifty years Of are and W
NTH, we think, was about the same Mrs. W
ratt Is about forty. Smith stood well AZ a gi
l$lneSs man and hotel keeper, being active ii
ID energetic 20 ''7'''' th
NY 4 Pratt IS 4 gentleman Of good education. IN
lnent speaker, and has always been hicbly W.
'pecteed by those who knew him, '''''' la
Another report IS that Smith owned tho at
use and went there Monday morning to ut. lt(
ID to repairs that were being made Smith a,
yes We: wife and four or five children. 60 60
1t Is said that Pratt saws he had not slent ut
tlve nights, and that Mrs. Pratt had made
ne Acknowledgements Monday morning, lust po
yIous to Smith entering the house. In tn
interview Pratt asked Smith what he La
1Id q, 90 to man who had prostituted his of
Smith replied, 9 BY Ga, would kin ryl
D; 1t Is presumed the knife was then tht
L.. ap
t is said Pratt got information in New Nc
rk, at hotel where Smith and Mrs. p. had err
up last Summer that caused him to take fri,
course he did. The weapon We learn is
lie knife The physicians say that Smiths An
might have been saved had immediate at s,
''''' O0en ilau' Ud1e'"' Sc,