The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-03-25

III,
most iendish murder or most singular sui
eide. The views of those unacquainted with
such matters ordinary cltlZens.Wno are apt 70
the belief that the former supposition is the
correct one; but then these views are offset by
those entertained by the detective officers
and Coroner's officials accustomed 10
look at things from the standpoint OF common
sense and experience, that the latter theory Is
the one which VIII be ascertatned TO be borne
out by the facts-in fact, that the deceased had,
with incredible deliberation, and In highly
sc sensational manner, committed JetO dc Sc. With
out expressing any opinion our own, prior To
that full investigation OF the matter which is
sure OF taking place. we state the circnnsian-
ceB OF the recovery OF the body and what has
since been learoed in relation to the affair
The scene OF the murder or suicide, as L. may
be, Is at the 8. w. corner of Sixth street and
Girard avenue; m nj; In building known as the
man twenty-eight years OF age. named Joseph
w. Smith, was the victim. Last evening, about
hand and foot, securely gagged. shot with re.
volver through the head and stone dead
meeting OF the Presby terlan Trinity Mission,
but was not lighted up at the usual honr, cir.
tbe tIanedy The psptes Who occnny the stores @
under the hall. aware OF the habit OF the de-
ceased to have everything In readiness for the
benches arranged, hoers swept, and gas lighted
long befoye the hour for the meeting arrived,
from the street. thai all was dark in the place
as evening closed, began to imagine that all
A young man named George Hamilton. en-
ployed at Shoemaker's drug store, at the corher
Of Sixth and Girard avenue. was then des-
patched, with candle, upstairs TO ascertain
II the janitor Was about He entered the place,
the doors all being open. and ss soon as he
passed the small ante room leading into the
hall, discovered the body OF Mr.. Smith lying on
a box. near the ante-room door. dead. or course
In short time returned with number OF other
pc rsons. closer examination was then made.
1t was found that the deceased had been shot
through the right temple; his face and the
floor were covered with blood; his body lay
Toned under q window close by the "a anie.room tel @
door, or private entrance to the hall; the
was ggssd aea ash draw ree
around the neck, holding the handkerchief fast,
ahe1 roS eor eYn eosn &
tween them OF about nine inches; and the feet
"Thonsh the hands were Closely ~ secured as
stated. yet 1t was evident, from the manner in
Been % no difficals matter 10 I'm nee e them The
cord which Bound them had its one end
wrapped several times around the wrist Of one
moose, and slipped over the other hand. The
gag Of the mouth had been slightly pulled
away. The feet We're tied with a severed por-
tion OF rope which hung from a shelf just
over the body. The pants of the deceased were
box. with q pool OF blood on the floor immedi.
Voiyer was found lying on the box near the
breast OF the murdered man; his hands were
elevated above the pistol and three OF the
barrels of The latter were fennd 20 be loaded.
and one was discharged. The body was in n
IN paisf a fancy.WorRed red and White oounterpane.
1t was discovered that the handkerchief used
| 10 gag the deceased had one corner cut off,
| as though to prevent the name written or
worked on 1t from being discovered, and this
| dkerchief could not be recognized as belong
Again, a piece OF n white linen shirt sleeve.
with O wristband attached, TO which was am xed
| q black and gilt sleeve. button, was picked up
| in the room by ex. Chief OF Detectives Lamon
IL had evidently been torn forcibly from the
| other portion OF the Bleeve This piece OF snirt
| was OF part OF that worn by MIR. smith, for he
had a striped one ON, and close search among
the effects the deceased failed 10 discover the
balance of the shirt. The pockets OF his coat
! were turned inside out. Blood was discovered
on the door leading from the entry into the
| book case which stood In this same ante room
The blood on the book case was In splatLsrs.
| The back OF one OF the hands OF the deceased
WAS blaokened with pOWder-marks, AZ IL he mad
thrown it up to intercept the shot OF the pistol
which killed him. Back Of his left ear Chief
| Mulholland discovered q large confused wound,
| which, from its appearance, looked as though II
was also blood on his forehead. The ball passed
directly In at The right temple penetrated the
brain ana lSegea eloSe 10 Isen Iae sR9 h on Inc let
| killed In the ante~room and then carried to the
| box by the murderers, and placed In such posi-
| tion as to indicate suicide. Others again think
| that the deed was committed on the box.
| Either supposition may be correct, though, as
room, IL is difficult To conjecture how the shot
could have been fired 10 produce the wound
|
ascertalned 10 have belonged 10 himself.
The ante-room mentioned was used by the
deceaf ed as q sleeping apartment, and was
trunk was ransacked, the bed-cl0thes were
tossed up, and everything was out OF order,
In this room tin box was picked up, used for
the purpose OF receiving tickets, and under IL,
on the floor was found an envelope containing
81 90. The catch OF this box was broken, and il
presented the appearance OF having been
| broken open.
MI. Smith had been janitor OF Girard Hall
| about nine years. For the past six years he has
been boarding with Mrs Jones, No 02O Laurens
street. He served in the Union army. He was
| at times subject to epilepLic fits, caused by a
| severe attack OF typhoid fever
He left MIS-. Jones house about two O'Clock
yesterday afternoon for the hall, saying That
| he had liberty cap to make, and desired TO get
| at work on II. In connection with being janiLoI
| OF the hall, the deceased combined the business
| OF makiI Z up and hiring out fancy dresses for
balls aud parties. After leaving his boarding
| house he WBs next seen In the pawnbroking
| establishm OF Wolf Brothers, near by He
| came In about twenty minutes before -four
| remarking that he had hired out two fancy
| dresses, and that the parties who had hired
| them were waiting for their change.
| Soon after he left this store the report OF 0
| pistol was heard, apparently In the hall, and o
| noise az though something had fallen down
| but the matter excited no suspicion at the
The deceased was about twenty. eight year
| of sge was unmarried, and has sister resi-
| ding al Kaighns Point, south Camden. He wa
member OF CHOSEN FRIENDS rOaSe; o,e No. Secvs
He was a temperate man, OF good disposition
and much liked by his acquaintances. AS men ,el,
toned, he was subject 10 epileptc nts, Dut MAJ
not had one for several montns II was no
| known that he had any enemies. nor that ~
. had any trouble which might have Leo MN
Eentieman reading in Germantown ha,
arranged 70 get from hiIn fancy oostume yes