The New York herald., 1871-09-15
WIFE PO,S0 llNi Ar FORT ANN, N. Y.
DcaIh Of the Mother OF Seven Little Children
from Poison-Her Husband Accused Of til .

from Poison-Her Husband Accused Of til q
Crime
From the Sandy Hill uerald.1
One OF the most horrible cases OF conjugal in
Felicity came to q sudden and lamentable termina-
ton upon Saturday OF last week. at Grlswods Mills
IN the town OF Fort Aun.
II appears that for some time past man by the
name OF James B. Smith has been living unha ppiiy
with his wire, and that Smith, for the last Eve years.
has been keeping company with young girl by the
name OF Bradley, OF dissolute habits and bad char.
acter, who has Deen disowned Jy her par ents
for long time About two years ago Smith
brought this girl to his house TO live with
him, 10 Ais wife's adherence anI -fne sur
prise Of the whole community. and lived with her
in open adultery. He iSs canal boatmaD, and this
woman wor,-. 30 WIN him during his trips, leaving
his jfected wire and seven little children at home.
: MA Smith has been represented to our reporter
who visited the scene of the tragedy rs a hard.
self, almost unaided, for the maintenance or her
little ones, by working arount and aborng on rheir
small farm. With different husband aud under
more favorable circumstances she would have made
any home happy.
Upon Saturday night a child Of Mrs. Smiths came
Dor, and said TO her, Mamma is dying: come
guick~ MIA Conant hurried over to the
from cramps and spasms. She was perfectly
rational and told Mrs. Conant that about an hour
had given her some OF ''Perry's RAIN Killer" which
she was In the habit OF taking for sickness. Then
she straightened up IN agonzing cramps and cried.
.0b,. l am poisoned Jim, yon done 1t Jim, you
killed me ~ lie asked her, '.How, maYD Sne
reply, but 'Don't say it ma" and tried to quiet her
talking. ION, my poor children p she cried. "What
does snls -, msans Why am am =; so tnirsy She Kept
Ol an hour from the ume she had taken the medi-
cine. Mrs. Smith was In the habit or going out to
WASH for the neighbors and on the Thursday before
che mad been at Mrs. Conants house, where she told
her that ner husband mad been more kind to her
the fore part OF the week that he du not think she
would live long.
the Cor0uer, who lives In Whitehall was sent for;
but he being unwel Esquire Peck was directed TO
posmortem exannatIon was % made ~ i,u, prs n Ak.
tell and Gibbs, OF Fort Ann, who found evident
signs OF poisoning. and removed the stomach aud
sent 10 Professor Porter, Of Albany Tor chemical
After the examination Smith was asked what
should be done with the body lie said he didn't
care, only he didn't want II sinking up the hOuse.n
He objected to having the examination made and
possible. A Coroner's jury was called At the house
ol MI Osslan Gonant OF which Lyman Han
% the n ana e TIES
doctors that Mary Smith came TO her death from
poison administered by her husband. James b.
preliminary examination begun at eleven A. M. yes
terday. IN the village OF Fort Ann. before justices
Hill, Is retained In behalf OF Smith; 5. q. P1Ke Of
Fort Ann conducted the examination for the peo.
The examination would have been finished IN
few hours tre but Tor The parieying or PIKE, who
Impeded the examination at every step with useless
objections. Mr. Hughes finally got exasperatcd,
anu, turning to Pike, said:-"f am here In the IN
terest OF my client and bound 10 deieud him at
al hazards. Ii you think you can bully me AMI
deter me IN the least you nave got The wrong man.
Why, can tie one hand behind my back and thrash
two such men as you." Alter this there was no
further interruption.
smith Is a man OF about nvc feet six inches high,
forty-two years OF age, wears beard anti no mus
taChe. HIS har Is CURED upon the top or MS head
and his IA bears the appearance OF the most care
less indifference AT the trial yesterday tie sat by
the side OF his counsel (Mr. liughes) smoking
cigar. He was dressed In brown coat, wears o
black neckue striped with white, dirty SHIRT and
pair OF cneckered pautaoons. From his sIio
coat pocket hung q dirty handkerchief. Smith has
only abused his wife. but also his mistress-whO
f. young girl about twenty-thrce years OF age,
tolerabiy good looklng-and swears profusely. From
the TACT that she was at smiths mouse on FRIDAY
she Is suspected OF being an accomplice 10 the
crime. The Fort Ann officers have acted disgrace
fully IN regard 10 the examination OF the stomach.
w TO the tme OF our going to press II has not been
touched owing TO the Fort Ann officials bicKering
with Professor Porter about the price. The idea OF
afich county like Washington counting coppors IN
case Ike TINS Is disgraceu Let the examination
70 ON iniincdiaey Oy all means ana Justice be fear
iess'y AND uDhesllaijDg'y metcd QNt