The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-11-17
FmE $4,000 nINIsrERIAL MURDEE.
AcquIttaI or tho Clergyman whose
Wife was Accidentally Drowned
In Seventeen Inches Of water.

in Seventeen Inches Of water.
The Rev. Isaac B. Smith, on trial In
Geneva, ILL.,, for the murder OF his wife,
has been acquitted. This result Is 80
startlngly unexpected, in view Of the
published facts Of the case, that Il will
not be unInteresting to review them.
Perhaps our readers may be able To as
certain from peruSal Of them what II
was that led the enlightened jury to
the conclusion that they reached.
Some time In June last, Mr.. Smith,
with his wife, to whom he had been
married only q year, drove in his bug.
~ from Turner junction 70 Elgin, 10
attend mlnlsters' meeting at the house
OF n brother clergyman. Having spent
the afternoon and part Of the evening,
he started for the house OF brother
ln>law, q MIR. Benton, about two miles
from Elgln. At about 9:SO In the even.
Ing Mr.. Smith called at Mr.. Benton's
house In Considerable excitement, ask
Ing whether his wife was there, and
saying that his buggy had been over
turned In crossing small stream
about q quarter Of mile from Mr..
Benton'B, and he and his wife were
thrown out, and AZ he had not been
able to find his wife after getting out,
no thought she might have gone on TO
the house, and left him. He accounted
for the overturning OF the buggy by
saying that his horse was very head.
strong animal, and when It saw water
would go into 1t.
The horse having stopped In the
stream to drink. Smith stepped over
upon one OF the thillB 10 uncheck hlm
that he might drink, when his wife
called to him to hurry, that she felt
faint. Just then the horse started, and
turning sharply, threw them both out,
dragged him under the water and across
the stream twice, the wheel passing
over him, and the horse stamping him
under foot. When he got up, he look
ed around for his wife, and seeing the
buggy robe floating in the stream, sup.
posed II TO be bis wife, and caught 1t,
took care to save Il, and then went to
Mr.. Benton's to look for help.
To one person he said he didn't know
why he had driven Into the stream, for
he had just left stable where there
was plenty OF water, and was going to
another where there was pump In.
side. But the water looked 80 good he
drove in.' To still another he said that
he drove across the bridge, but that the
horse, In spite Of his efforts 10 drive on,
turned after crossing, and went into
stream to drink. These discrepancies,
together with the fact that the horse
was found standing still In the water.
with the buggy resting on the side on
Two wheels, Just where the accident or
murder took place, the body OF the
woman only ten or twelve feet from
the buggy, led 10 toinvestlgatlon. 1t leak
ed out, after Mrs. Smith was buried,
that there was an insurance to the
amount Of $1,000 on her life, which fact
Mr.. Smith concealed from his iriends
until they learned 1t otherwise. He
also denied that there was any more
Insurance on her life, whereas closer
investigation showed further acci.
dent insurance for $1,000.
One person discovered that this very
rapid stream was bIlt seventeen inches
deep In the place she was said 10 have
fallen from the buggy. Another re-
membered that Mr.. Smith had but STOOL
salary at Algonquin, and yet he kent D
horse and buggy and paid Insurance
on SIS. 900 for himself and his wife, and
had begun to build house which
would cost him little short OF 81. 600.
While Mrs. Smiths remains were lying
at the house OF one OF his deacons, pre-
vious to Its removal TO Princeton for
burial. he gave orders to go on with the
building; and, although his grief was
immoderate, yet he reminded friend
who was engaged In some enterprise
that he had caused good notice thereof
to be published In the Aurora Herald.
On his return from Princeton, after
the funeral, he wrote to several ladies
OF his congregation, arranging 4 little
reception for himself, and the ladies'
had accorded It to him, making nice
little loaves Of cake and little del elicaciea
that would serve to comfort u widowed
heart Tor stomach).
How did they ever get over these
facts?