The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1867-06-21
LOCAL DEPARTM EMIT.

FEARFUL TRAGEDY. - Yesterday after
noon about half past two O'Clock one Of the most
appalling tragedies occurred In this city, that II
has ever been our province to record. The
sickles tragedy 10 naught to ii. As pales the
moon before the dawn Of day, so does the 70.
membranes Of Lafayette Square sink into in.
significance, when compared with tho sickening
horror that hung around the bloody corpse Of
Thomas smoot as he lay In his gore, fearful
sight to look upon, In the room where he met
his death. Crime and disaster arc rife through.
out the country; morning, noon, and evening,
we hear OF it-boler explosions, falling Of walls,
burning Of theatres, whipping children to death,
and numbering Of aged women-al follow in
quick succession to startle and terrfy with their
sickening details and now the electric flash will
tell to-day, from the Atlantic to the Pacific from
the northern limits Of Canada to the Gulf of Mex
leo, the intelligence Of bloody deed-one that
has sent . soul suddenly to Its God and brought
two families into inevitable disgrace and ruin.
Yesterday afternoon, about halfpast two
O'Clock, the reports Of pistol shots were heard by
neighbors as coming from the house 223 Sixth
street north, between Massachusetts, avenue and
X street. New moments elapsed when young
woman came running out Of the house, and cried
out that q man had been shot. Another moment
and man was seen coming out Of the house and
walking quickly down the street.
No attempt was made by any one to stop him,
and he, who proved to be the murderer kept on,
and making to the Central Guardhouse, doliy-
cred himself up to the officer in charge Thomas
Smeed, saying that he had shot man whom he
had found In bed With his wife. In the mean.
time tho news spread like wild6re in the vicinity
of the house In Sixth street, and large crowd
soon collected Drs. Behrend and Bowen had
been sent for by some Of the women In the house,
and these gentlemen shortly made their appear.
ance, and passing into the house. up the stairs,
into the room in the second story, north side,
discovered tho body Of q man lying on the floor,
literally bathed In blood. lie was still breath.
ing, but unconscious. In the forehead, above
the right eye, was discovered a bullet wound,
and In the Jaw was found auother-a bullet hav'
ing passed from the left side Of the jaw over into
tho right, and through both. The bullet in the
forehead was probed for, but only small frag.
meut Of II could be found the larger portion Of
1t being evidently embedded in the skull. Lieut..
Ecklod, Of the Seventh precinct who had been
sent for arrived at tho house some twenty
minutes after tho occurrence, and In a few
minutes after his appearance tho man breathed
his last. By this time an immense crowd had
assembled, and 1t was soon known that the man
shot was one Thomas Smoot, n butcher, and the
murderer, Henry Johnson. and the cause of
the shooting being the Illicit connection Of SmoOt
with Johnsons wife.
The coroner was sent for, and Mr. Woodward
arriving, jury was summoned, consisting o.
the following gentlemen: AlonEo johnson, fore
man, Josiah 7. Prather, Lewis p. Seabold, Jas.
McGay, J. @. Williams, John H. Cunningham
Ebenezor Lord, James W. Gibson, Charles ]
Columbus, Hiram Levy, Emory ourand and Geo
W. McElfrosh-the two latter being policemen
Witnesses were at once brought into the room
where the jury were, on the lower floor.
Dr. Bowen was sworn, and testified that tn,
ball lodged in the brain. There might be TIVE
balls. Got one fragment from the frontal bone
Judged the bullet split but that bullet killed
him.
DR.. Bohrend. Do not know tho exact position
Of the ball in the headj am not certain whether
three shots were fred or mott Smoot was In
morbund state, but unconscious there was muei
inward bleeding.
John 7. Hunter was sworn, and said am q
friend of Mr.. smOot; knew him and his family
for twenty years. did not think 1t necessary tC
be present at q post mortemi did not think
worth while; no was dead; he has understood
that he has a wife and Eve children living in Al
exandriai married lady belonging there.
Mr.. Charles W. Huguely. think the bod.
up stairs is that of Thomas Smoot; seen him las,
about six months ago. have no hesitation In say
ing 1t is Thomas Smoot; know his family his
wife was q Miss Grimes he was q butcher; wal
carrying on business about year ago; know
his fathers family.
Aholiab Sawyer was sworn and said: Tn,
clothes hanging up stairs did not belong t
Smooti they belonged to other parties. DiC
The two had been rooming here since last fall
they said they were married; did not stay here
constantly. She said she had o sick mother
Did not see Mr.. johnson until yesterday. John
son came up to him and asked me is his wife 70
sided with mo. said, whose wife 2 He said
mine, that was my wife thatl went into you
house. Mrs. johnson had always said thai
Smoot was her husband and che had always in
troduced him to ladies or gentlemen who wer
in the room, as Mr., johnson. She took Bib
on one occasion, and was willing to be qualified
that Smoot was hor husband. They cooked il
my house when they were hero. She came t
the house yesterday they both came to day.
saw johnson about IL or l o'clock at the market
He asked whether SmoOt was there (meaninl
the housei) he said that Smoot had forged q not
for $500 or 5000. He said, In reply to me, tina
If no would go to my house he would not kic
up any fuss If he wanted to have her he might
Tho woman rented the rooms rented them las
fall for the first time. The woman called herse
Kate. Did not know whether Mrs. Johnso
could write or not.
Witness was here shown some handwriting
letter-which he identified as his own, and whic
was wilton to tho deceased by the request o
Mrs. johnson. He gave him the letter las
evening.
The letter said "Mrs. Johnson's mother
very sick; is obliged to 60 home soon and hay
trouble with Mr.. Heaston about that note can
not stop to see you to-day, but wants you t
stop here until tomorrow and sho Will see 20
between and p. m. Be sure to meet he
without fail"
There was no date to the letter, but was write
as We have II.
Mr.. Sawyer was further questioned and sal
his own family consisted of his wife and fOu
children, and q Mr.. Willard, who boarded wit
him. Smoot last winter kept meat or proyisiO
store on the Island. l married Robecca Wi
liams have had Ave children four arc living
Mr. John P. Willard was sworn My residene
Is temporary have been with the burial corr
under Col. Moore am boarding in this hous'
have been hero since January, Mr. Sawyer ha
been employed in the folding room Of the lious'
his wife Ia hero, and also his niece. l kno
Snoot; he was introduced to me by the name
Johnson that is him up stairs. He came hel
tranSiently. have clothes In the room wheI
he lodged Have lodged there myself when b
or Mrs. johnson was not about Mrs. JohnsO
Is about thirty years Of age supposed her to
Shoots wifo they roomed together was