Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1873-02-18
Murder in Loudoun County.

On Sunday morning last, the dead body of
white ,san, named Wm. d. Smith, was
found lying along the W. & O. Railroad,
about four miles above Leesbure, with un>
mistakable evidence of having been murdered
by gun>shot wounds. Information was at
once given to Coroner II. O. Clagett. and
Sheriff Barrett summoned jury of inquest to
ascertain how. when and by whom tie deed
was committed. In the afternoon the Local
OF the Mirror accompanied the jury to the
scene of the bloody tragedy, and here is what
he saw
at point on the railroad. just beyond
what is known as Bowie q cut, and about one
mile above Clarke's Station, we found the
body of the murdered man. lying on its back
and within two feet of the railroad track -
The mouth and eyes were both open, one leg
drawn up rather under the body, and the
other extcnded-both hands were resting in
an apparently careless. natural manner, all
indicating that death must have speedily fol>
lowed after he fell There we're no signs of
the slightest movement of the person after it
was done. Only few drops of blood were
visible any where near him, and none imme-
d'ately around the body, except on the left
hand, which he had probably placed to his
breast when first shot
An examination of the body revealed
wound produced either by buckshot or a
slug. most probably the latter, just about the
juncture of the right clavcle with the ster-
mum, and another in the lower part of the
right groin. There we're one or two other
slight abrasions of the skin, but the first
named wound. was, in the opinion of Dr. w
II. James. who made post mortem examina-
ton, the fatal one. The ball, or slug. after
entering the body, had lodged in the region
of the heart, bnt without touching it. The
bleeding was all internal, great clogs of which
were found coagulated in the left breast
Ahont twenty stems in advance of where
the body was lying, there was cattle break.
inst at the edge of a stri p of woods; and at a
distance of perhaps ten feet to the right of
this break. there was stout hickory tree,
behind which the ground was considerably
trampled. and tie prints Of rather good sized
foot, were visible. Smith was in Leesbnrg
until late hour Saturday evening" when he
lett for his home at Mr.. Noses p. Thomas.
who lives about half mile this side of where
the murder was committed. He was seen
that night to pass Bowie's but it is not known
whether he stopped at Thomas at all. The
probabilities are that he did not but proceed
ed Immediately on toward Hamilton. His
movements, whatever they nav have been.
however. were either understood or watched
The supposition is that the assassin was in
ambush behind this hickory tree awaiting the
appearance of his victim-that he waited
until his prey had come to within few feet
ut the cattle break, aud had probably halted
to steady himself for crossing, at which mos
ment the shot was fred This supposition is
borne out by the fact. that at that point Smith
was not more than ten feet from the tree. his
rSfyhS hroa IL l.
obliquely facing the tree; and just there was
discovered few drops of blood. which could
be traced backward to where the body was
found. 1t is supposed. also that the murder
was committed to crafty an old grudge, as
there was not the slightest indication that the
body had heen touched after it fell On the
person OF the dead man were found pipe.
pair OF buckskln gloves. package of powders
in an envelope labelled from Mott 6 Metz
ger buckskin purse containing So Sc.
aud lot OF matches; most of the latter had
been ignited by shot passing through the
vest pocket.
The jury of inquest empanelled on the oc-
casiou rendered a verdict that the said VIM
d. Smith came to his death by reason of
gun-shot wound, and that the gun by which
said wound was inflicted, was in the hands of
David Brooks
Wherenpon the accused was turned over to
the Sheriff. and by Justice Wallace commit
ted to Jail to await the action of the grand
jury on the I'd Monday in March.
Brooks is large man, quite black, aud we
suppose, GO years of age. He has hitherto
borne good character among those who
knew him: His wife. Harriet Brooks. is
rather neat negro woman, and We should
judge, not more than 30 years of age
Leesburg Mirror.
Es" A bill has been introduced in the
House of Delegates of Virginia, proposing to
incorporate Messrs. VIM. r. Denny, F. W. NJ.
Holiday, l.. N Huck, George W. Ward, Il.
W. Thomas and others, under the name and
title of the 'Virgina Mining, Manufacturing
aud Transportation Company" to meet in
Winchester to organize for the purpose of
erecting furnaces, FORCES, rolling mills, &C.,
and to purchase and sell lands for certain pur.
poses. and with power to construct railroad
through the counties of Frederick, Fauouier.
Stafford. Prince William, Alexaudria-from
near Winchester to some point on the Poto-
mac between Alexandria and Acquia Creek,
with lateral branches not more than thirty
miles in length
@ Ex-Governor John w. Geary. of
Pennsylvania, died suddenly, in Harrisburg,