The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-04-08
A Bold Assassina tion-A Bridegroom
Shot Down While Receiving the
Congratulations CT Es.s Friends,
From the Kansas CIV Bullc'in.


Dark and bloody was the deed A feel
ing of horror thrilled through the hearts OF
the many witnesses who stood by and saw
q Young and happy bridegroom shot down,
and without any apparent cause. by the
hand of the Sncaklng assassin. A merry
and joyous company had assembled last
evening in the paror Of the st. Nicholas
Hotel to do honor to the union Of two
loving hearts-the marriage of Mr.. j. G..
Foster, late cf Bowling Green. Ky, to
Miss Rose Bird, OF this city. Father Dom
nelly had Just performed the marriage cere-
mony. The bride was in the parlor attended
by q heyy Of beauties and merry young
maidens. The proud bridegroom had but
just passed out to the saloon to receive the
pledges aud congratulations Of his friends,
when there entered an nninvited guest, II
Mr.. Thomas Smith, of Independence, who
ut once accosted Foster. Very few words
passed between them. \ bystander over
heard the following conversation, the
meaning whereof is still! shroudcd in myS-
terry. Foster was standing at the corner Of
the bar, when Smith said - You do not
mean it," 81 do "Thcn prepare your.
self" At the same tine he produced q
navy revolver and fired into Foster. Turn-
ing around, withouta word OF explanation,
the assassin walked out OF the saloon, put
ting up his pistol rs he walked cooly across
the street past the courthouse. Turning
between the market-h0ulo and tic court
house, lie mounted his horse and fled out
into the darkness of the night. unmoleSted,
unpllrSued. The bridegroom staggered
backward as he received the shot. and fell
upon Il window bench. Medical attendance
vas soon upon the scene, and he wauudcd
man carried UP stairs. His cries were con-
tinuous. His only ordinations being ::
" Tom Smith, why did YOU murder me-"
"Oh, why have YOU Shot NE down upon
this my wedding?" u, vino was your
best friend and loved you! Oh, Tom. why
have you murdered lie? - y Lasty exam
nation CT the wound by Drs. Miligan.
Taylor, and other surgeons whose names
We were uDable to learn, showed that the
bullet had passed through the right hand
and had entered the abdomen near The
groin, and had glanced obigucly down.
wards, lodging about three inches from
where il had entered. The opinion Of the
surgeons was that the wound was danger
Gus, but not necessarily fatal. The scene
in the parlor was beyond description. Tie
fair aid elegantly .altiied bride. stricken
down i'll her grief and horror, was sur
rounded by her bridesmaids and relatives.
Here and there We're fair eills lying pros
trate and insensible from flight. SobS and
whispers were the only sounds to be heard.
All was sadness and grief where Joy and
elee had reigned supreme not twenty mill
utes before. Tom Smith is now under III
diclment Tor ronbing Stone & Thornton's
bank in 1867, on Information furnished Ivy
Jim Grow Chids. Smith has been a reiu-
zee from justice. in Canada, for about two
years, having but recently returned TO his
home at Independence. His capture il con-
sidered doubtful. We lave been unaole 10
learn the cause that led to this deed OF
blood. The whole affair remains enshrouucd
in veil of mystery.