Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1869-04-01
PHILADELPHIA, March 2i.

PHILADELPHIA, March 2i.
a young man by the name of Joseph
w. Smith. aged % years, was found
dead in Glrard Hall, al the south west
corner OF Sixth street ard Girard avenue,
Philadelphia. The appearance of The bcdy
indicated that horrible tragedy had
bccp enacted.
Smith was janitor of the hall, and had
occupied the position for nine years. lie
slept in little 9nte-Ioom at the hall. For
the past three years he has been subject Ia
cpileptic fits. Yesterday afternoon, about
two . clock, lie lett the house of Mrs.
Jones, where lac boarded, and told her he
would return at five. Seven o'clock ar
rived and Smith did not return To the
and thought that lie had lately been taken
with another st. She visited sometime
longer and then went To the hail. IL was
then between seven and eight O'Clock, and
the Hall was not lighted. Mrs. Jones step
ped In 10 the drug store of Joseph Shoe,
maker, ut the corner uf Sixth street and
Girard avenue, aud asked Mr. Shoemaker
il he had seen anything o: Mr.. Smith. lie
then sent enc of his employees up into The
hall to as: .riain if Smith was there. The
door leading into The ante room-ilie
apartment used b. Smith for sleeping
was closed, but not fastened, and The
trunks were open, but the contents did
not seem disturbed mere than usual -
The man then went into the hall, and
found Smith lying on hox. dead. The
body Was lying on the left side, with the
head hanging over the box, the feet were
tied together with ripe. Ihc hands
were also lied. Over his mouth and en-
tending around The neck was a hands
kerchicf. Over the handkerchief was u
sash. which appeared to have been tied in
to moose, and then twisted three times at
the back of the neck. In the right tens
pie was a pistCl>shot wound. ami by The
side Of the deceased, and close To his rigl'
hand, was Sharps pistol, with three bar
reIs loaded and one empty. In the peck
cts of the deceased were found his watch
and several dollars. A box generally used
for taking tickets was found in the ante,
room, and under IL was an envelope con
tanning four hundred and fly dollars
A desL near the body was overturned
The drug clerk. stated that he heard
pistol shot little after three O'Clock, in
the afternoon and Immediately afierward
something heavy fall in the room over
Lead, but as benches were frequently
overturned, he paid no attention TO the
noise A card found in the pocket Of The
deceased contained the name of gentle>
man connected with the Water Depart
:nent. This gentleman called uron Chief
Eneu and stated ihis lie had engaged
ros.ume of Smith We s;crday morning, paid
him fon:t and was to call again nor it.
He left Germantown al four O'Clock, and
reached the hail about i've. He rang the
bell but could set no answer. He euter>
ed and found the bed room in disorder
2hc lin box mentioned in the first dis.
patch was lying ON The floor He then
looked around and observing his bundle
hanging upon the wall, took it and leii -
The body was laying in such position
and so covered that 1T could scarcely he
seen BIZ person who glanced hastily
around The room in the twilight. The
theory OF the official is that Smith was
foully murdered by parties who sent him
down To get change for tie five dollar
note. IL is supposed That they seized him
as he was entering the door of the ante,
room and struck him with a black>jack,
which rendered him insensible. and then
tied him 10 keep him frsm interfering with
them while they searched his cioihin-.--
When examining his clothing the pistol
was found, and used to kill him when it
was discovered that he had not really
died from the previous blows. The more
the investigation is persucd, however, the
decptr the mystery becomes Chicago
Tribune.