The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-02

WucrCaDOutS Oh tho Tureo CnuOreus
SToNR RIDGE, Ulster county, Dec. I, 1858.
Iustrious actions, the world says can be entrusted
10 the universal remembrances OF mankind. II so,
do not great crimes also take their places In memory
and In history concentrating. as ii were sometimes
the history OF territory and class Of its peopef
IL certainly win prove partly true in the former case
regarding the magnificent valley Of Ulster county,
where the mysterious murder OF Mrs. jeremiah smith
occurred on the roadside Accord village on Sum
day morning, November Is, and also indelibly trace
on the minds Of thousands miles about and distant
from the tragic scene, the character OF class OF
worthless Fellows that too often met with in the
migratory population OF sections Of the country con-
tiguous to large cities.
The plain, unpretendlng, deserving farmers and
their families, running through all the gradations OF
size and ages, who live and have lived from time
immemorial almost along the highway and Its in
tersecting arms where this hideous crime was CON-
mitted and 10 whom murder seems daguerreotyped
In all Its really revolving features, are shrinking
appalled, from the contemplation Of the horrid deed
They discuss II trembling with excitement and ner-
vousness, yet with cenched hands utter anathemas
against the man who would thus take his partners
life. Children OF tender years have caught the
terror occasioned by the crime. and where they
played with perfect confidence on the road or street
brute laden with stones and pistol ready to sacrifice
life uron the most fmsy pretext. This IL and has
been noticeable miles from the spot of the murder.
SUSPECTED PERSONS.
Every ragged, sunburned, 6cragQy and matted
haired and bearded man who wears suspicious
look and whose clothes have dirty, dingy appear
ance and who IS independent in the covering to his
feet and cleanliness Ia suspected by many in this
and neighborng counties as the monster Smith, and
the frantic, unconscious and dying woman win
stones and bullets, comes up In their mind with re-
newed force and vlvdness The rumors arising
from the pursuit OF such suspected parties are very
numerous, and although 1t displays the intensity OF
the excitement pervading the people there must not
be any reliance placed upon them. Up TO the time
OF writing the pursuers OF Smith, far as 1t Is prac
ticabe to learn are yet In ignorance Of his exact
whereabouts.
THE MURDERED WOMAN.
The recognition OF the murdered woman as Mrs.
Smith on Saturday by District Attorney WestbrooK
and the officers and friends Of the deceased, who
conpanied him to Rochester for the purpose OF ex-
huming the body OF the most positive character.
Its general appearance was almost truly sickening
and enough to make the s.oqtest heart quail me
perhaps more revolving by slight decomposition de-
monstated that the murdered woman was shockingly
and brutally mangled. Even then upon her con-
torted face, strange to say, was the semblance OF
smiling entreaty, which might be interpreted as the
expression which fitted across her face when her
demon husband first struck her down upon the lonely
roadside. 1t was but the work OF few minutes,
this recognition and identity OF the body, and
quickly the horror-struck group turned from the
was consigned TO her former resting place. where
humanity suggests that not even to carry not the
stern DEGREES OF Justice she may be again removed
Mrs Smith was a temperate. social and kindly
spirit: This is accorded by all. And yet her neigh
bors say that she acted as II she had one sore trial
to the infection Of which she referred, but it
seemed to them q WEAKNESS which she could not
shake off, from which she found no rest. 1t is all
explained now. Her husband was the burning
brand and she may have had a presentiment Of the
fate which eventually overlook her.
THE MURDERER's MOTIVE.
yat that .hnAt In
assassnating his wife was to rob her OF the little
pension money due her children a. the guardian Of
e % me New Yo5s
but IL the last theory which liz assumed by officials
in this vicinity and her relatives as 10 the cause Of
the mnrder-jcalousy-ha foundation tand 1t Is
believed to have). 1t proves that with all hts
asserted stupidity and ignorance the lends them
when vengeance had once become his object. IL IL
held by Mrs. Dunnigan the married daughter OF the
deceased, ana her husband. Albert that II was
the sole cause, IA they assert he 0ften for
babe ner TO go out and exhibited his wicked
spirit so frequently that weeks before hel
death she was in rear OF him. by their showing II
was the hoped for realization OF the consummation
his plot to Kill her that he c0ncocted the story which
Was ne sRness OF MS danger dnat leu ner 10 take
Killed. When he told her that she must go and sec
her, and that he would procure wagon aud horse
TO drive them TO Olive ther place OF residenccI, he
seemed to take more interest In the preparations
than he ever before evinced In such matter. II
this be so, In he had been brooding In secrecy and
silence over this fully and deeply arranged plan, 1t
shows that his murderousy inclined desire his thirst
for revenge was fierce and unquenchabe. With calm
and unimpassioned deliberaton, which but assumed
a more terrible copsummation OF his designs, he
looked forward to the method to be adopted aud
carefully made his calculations-carefuly and
cooy. He had no fear. no hesitation. Compassion,
tenderness, pity, all were banished; black hatred
had turned his heart TO steel, and n the reasoning
OF her own blood regarding the murder be suscepti-
BILE OF truth 1t reveals his deep and deadly enmiiy,
for which there was no cause, In still more hidcous
aspect.
Soon as IL become known that Mrs. Smith was the
murdered woman, keen residents OF Eenviile,
his capture. They were, Of course, stimulated by
the large reward offered, but still under
lying that they felt that his apprehen-
lesson that might exercise a restraining influence
that would for years prove saluary In this section
Among the more active and prominent OF those who
who started In hot pursuit were Ely T. Terwilliger
Samuel Gaumaer, Cyrus H0rnoeck and Legrand
Morris--the two latter quite aged, but yet mbued
fate OF the three children Smith spirited away with
him and check his neei1g prQclivitles.
TRAILING fTfE ASSASSIN.
While others were roaming with desperation
about the county in which the murder occurred and
skirting adjacent ones, the above named persons
presuming that the wretch possessed Just sense
Erie Railroad and there almost Immediately obtained
trace OF a man whom they supposed and hoped was
the fugitive. Following this cew they heard nciden-
tally OF hs passing the road DAYS before III COM
pany with the three children, also supposed 20 be
slain and pursuing HIM as fast as nighe and day IN
lightning travel allowed they have at last been re-
warded with that success which points TO an excellent
contamination. They are certain OF his course, anu
last night had the extreme qualification OF ascertain
ing positively Of The
CHILDRHS's SAFETY,
as you are already advised. But II was not In the
locality Erst given, but hundreds OF miles away; not
IN Clyde, New York. but in Clyde. ONO. as the fol-
lowing despatch received at noon to-day by District
Attorney Westbrook, will show
CLypr, Ohio, Dec l. isss.
y. W WPsrrRooK, Kingston, N. N.:.-
SAMUEL GAuMAER.
This was abundantly satisfactory Ia the gentleman
who received this 0fficai confirmation OF the uncer-
tain despatch OF last night and he was the first TO
praise that little spark OF humanity LEFT In the muS
derers heart that prompted him TO spare their young
and innocent lives.
hut this gives q key to his mode OF night, as II
cannot now be denied that he went TO Port
Jervs, ON the Erie Railroad and thence continued
on the Lake Shore route 10 Cleveland, and then on
TO Clyde. which In situated IN Sandusky county,
about forty miles east OF Toledo. With whom he
left the children has not yet been ascertafned, but
before tomorrow morning u Is highly probable that
additional Information viii be received detailing
more satisfactorily their condition. That Smith
went westward from that point there can be no