The New York herald., 1869-03-26
ANOTHER n,AGEDY N PHILADELPHIA.
Mysterious ncashp "A Murder or . strang
..F...4. = ulcides

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Mysterious Deatf. "A Murder or stranss
..F..... AAuicides .,e..s
From the Pniladefp hia Ledger March 25.l
Joseph W. Smith. janitA q tne nan ~ SixIn an. ~,
whether it was q suicide or murder. When dis
Ss e wrs ns si
sharp's pistol close to the right haad Only one O
the barrels had been discharged, md the ball had
the brain. Around the % neck of the DECEASED was
red SASH wrapped tightly three or four times aoout
and oser n s Ds1x ws me Sa
feet were fastened with piece Of BEDFORD not both
together. but the cord was tied around eacn
The hands were tied together much In the
same manner, except that there was play
s 81 about nine nine inches which rst Lea 20 t1e mpres
shooting himself Close to the chest upon which
deceased was lying bench had been overturned,
and his watch and several dollars in small change
were found. There was no appearance Of struggle
having taken place. The cord tied around the wrists
ana legs was part Of long line used at the hall and
janitor's ONCE and bedroom. small tin box, used
as Q contribution box by religious society which
but that may have been done previously. In the
meeting room was Liberty cap In an unfinished
u during the afternoon, as he made Q remark to q
friend that ne had TO get one ready for ball In the
Late last night DR.. shapleigh made careful
examination OF the head and the pistol shot wound;
also OF the cords tied around the wrists and the
- us sogeaner M Witn tne sasn ana handKercniet
thorough enough to enable him to determine to his
own satisfaction whether It was murder or
suicide. The manner in which the cords were tied
seems TO rebut the presumption OF murder, for the
reason that murderer would not have risked dis
e 90 70 40 S
fact or the pistol having been used to take life s
also against the belief Of murder. The janit0r occu-
v0 tN0 6Snp
pom was heard on the street. It is unaccountable
that any one intending to destroy life should
nav have Sro taken 50 2 much pains TO ns HIM ,a oe,
have tied him afterwards. The report
OF the pistol was heard at four O'Clock IN the after.
noon, or few minutes before, and the dead body
was not found until between seven and eight. De-
ceased was twenty eight years old and was unmar-
RED He had Deen janitor OF the hail. with the ex-
ception Of short time he was In the army Tor nine
years.
The telegraph brings US the following additional
particulars OF this mysterious AFFAIR
An investigation OF the murder elicits the follow
ceased contained the name Of a gentleman con-
nected with the Water Department This gentleman
called upon Chief Eneu and stated that he engaged
costume from smith on Wednesday morning, paid
him for it and was to call again tn the evening. He
left Germantown at four O'Clock and reached the
response. He thon tried the door and found it
unfastened. He entered and found the bedroom in
disorder. The tin box mentioned above was lying
on the floor. He then looked around the large room
but saw nobody, and upon observing his bundle
hanging upon the wall took 1t and left. The body
was lying In such position and was SO covered
that 1t would scarcely be seen by aperson who
glanced hastily around the room IN the twilight.
The theory OF the officials Is that Smith f0uliy
murdered by parties who sent him down to VOLTS
store to get change for the five dollar note. 1t Is
supposed that they seized him as he was entering
the door OF The anter0om and struck him with
blackjack, which rendered him insensible and then
tied him TO keep him from interfering with them
while they searched his clothing. When examin-
ing his clothing the pistol probably found and
was used to kill him when 1t was discovered that
he had not really died from the previous blows.
The more the investigation is pursued, however,
the deeper the mystery becomes.