The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-06-28
MURDERER SMITH.
Story Of a Murder for Love and an Ex-
ecutiOn for Justice.
THE CRIME AND ITS CONSEQUENCES.
What Came Of a Filtration Over
a Garden Wall.
AFTER ARREST AND CONVICTION.
The Correct Department for a
Felon Exemplifed.
IN THE PRISON CELL.
Jennie Bates the Woman Who
Lured Smith to Destruction.
UNDER THE GALLOWS.
Confession and DcmeQnOr Of the CulpPit at
The Correct Department for a
Felon Exemplifed.
IN THE PRISON CELL.
Jennie Bates the Woman Who
Lured Smith to Destruction.
UNDER THE GALLONS.
Confession and DemeanOr Of the Culprit at
the Last Moment.
HANGED BY THE NECK TILL DEAD.

HANGED BY THE NECK TILL DEAD.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass, June ~, 1873.
Albert II. Smith was executed in this city at
quarter to eleven O'Clock this morning, for the
murder OF Charles d. Sackett at Westfeld on the
10th OF last November.
The scenes ana incidents which have occurred
along the road to this fatal ending, the history and
personnel OF those who have been the leading ac-
tors, and, above all, the mad infatuat1on and
strange mental condition OF the murderer before
and since the crime, go to make IN OF the most
singular OF all the many strange tragedies of the
present era Of crime. Other murders have been
more bloody and few less mysterious in their out
ward manifestations, but none have rivalled this
In the singular combination Of much that was
sertO-c0mic with more that was intensely tragic.
First in the list Of the leading actors to be considered
is 'the girl" as Smith always called the object Of
his infatuation and any notice of the crime and its
expiaton would be incomplete without short
sketch Of her history and appearance.
JENNIE BATES,
the cause Of the Smith tragedy, so> prominently
brought before the people of this city to-day, and
upon whom not few place the greater part OF the
responsibility Tor Smiths crime, is dark haired,
dark-eyed brunette, about twenty-five years OF
age, but looking all OF thirty, with features
and a countenance which at times is The very per-
sonincat0n Of ugliness of moderate height,
sQuare-shouldered, and with an entire absence OF
those personal charms which one would naturally
expect to find as the cause of Smiths strange
infatuation for her. That she was able to WELD
mysterious yet resisrless power, an inexplicable
spell over him, which has lasted through his en-.
tire Imprisonment and even to the final death
scene upon the scarold, is undeniable; but the
charms If charms there are, which drew him on
are oil hidden, concealed from the common eye.
Smith himself admits that she is not handsome,
but offers no explanation for the passion which
bound him to her. Her reputation is none OF the
best. other girls being forbidden to play with her
as far back as ten years ago, because she was
''hard." How much OF truth there may be in the
stories told certainly she has been hard on Smith
in that having drawn him on to his ruin she has
ever since his arrest left MIN to his fate.
CHARLES D. sAcKETT,
the unfortunate victim OF the tragedy, was we'll
TODD citizen OF Westleld who as q wholesale
dealer In tobacco had accumulated considerable
property. Unmarried only forty years OF age. it
would indeed have been strange If the $4,000 bait
had not caught the eye OF the shrewd Mrs. Bates,
who was only too ready to encourage his fancy for
Jennie to lead her to throw on the old love for the
new, though what he found there to enjoy is equally
as mysterious as the hidden spell which held Smith
OF the principal OF the strange characters in this
strange tragedy, whose melancholy fate we record
to-day, ere he has reached his second dozen OF
years. much might be said. His has. indeed, been
strange career. He was born at Baltimore In
1885, though the precise date of hts birth neither
ne nor his mother, who was present and testified
NJ the trial, state He was the sixth or seventh
Of family Of fifteen children, eight OF whom
nix brothers and two sisters-are now living.
His father, who was member OF the Episcopal
Church and an Odd Fellow, died when Smith was
but ten years Of age, and he was Immediately
bound out to q farmer on the Eastern shore, where
he remained several years. He afterwards re.
turned to Baltimore, became one OF a gang OF
rOughs and lived
WILD, DIssoLUTE LIFE
One night, while under the influence Of liquor,
ne became involved, with others, in row. and it
Is supposed, and he has several times confessed,
killed man. Fleeing from Baltimore, he came
north, and we next find him at work for
farmer in Suflleld Conn.,, named Spencer,
with whom he remained for nearly q year.
While here the first good streak In his history de-
veloped, and he suddenly became converted and
was baptized into the Baptist Church. How real
this conversion was may fairly be questioned, In
the light OF subsequent events; but certain it is
That while here he lived-outwardly at least-a
most exemplary life, attending church and Sunday
school regularly, and often walking three or four
miles in the snow or rain to hear preaching. In
the Fall OF 1869 he removed to Westfeld
and went to work for man named Whit
ney, q wholesale tobacco dealer, with whom
he worked for year, living for most OF the time
most exemplary life, and removing meanwhile
by letter his membership from the sufied to the
Westned Baptish church. Some slight untruth.
mlness concerning the breaking of carriage pole
fa1 N 10 aNtn n 10 min apA
road Company as switch man at the depot
THE BEGINNING OF THE END.
And now began that fatal acquaintance which
to-day In s execution slight
CIR, Jennie, as he went by her
house occasionally for watep followed by occa-
sional conversations over the fence. speedily
opinion as frequently stated by himself made
them las good as man and wiie.n The clandes-
tine visits TO her chamber at night the story OF
paid heavy DOCTORS bill to rid her
of . troublesome burden; the promise OF
marriage, the procuring OF a license
anu the purchase OF wedding suit
hcke girl to take up with her new favorfte the
subsequent victim OF the murder, and the insane
passion which was thus set loose In the breast OF
smith, and which finally drove him to commit the
foul dec on the night OF the 10th OF November
last when no longer able to bear the sight OF his
mated rival III company with her he loved; how
ne met them as they were returning from tho
theatre and emptied the contents OF Ave barrelled
revolver In the perseA 81 Sackett In his wild rage
also w0unding-unntenti0nally as he claimed, and
which was probably true-the object OF his affec.
tions; all this was fully brought out at the trial
and Is familiar to the readers Of the HERALD. His
trial and speedy conviction In April last spite the
earnest efforts OF counsel and others to prove him
insane and therefore irresponsible, are also well