New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-29
TWO POISONING CASES.
EXAMINATION OF CAPT. sNITH-ANNA HoUGHToN's
STORY.

STORY.
The examination in the case of Can't.
Samuel N smith. charged with attempt TO procure
the death Of his wife by poisoning was commenced at
Patchogue yesterday afternoon before Justice Charles
r. Smith. Roes Union Hall, in which tie examination
is held, was filed with spectators, large number Of
whom friends and acquantances OF the persons
whose have appeared prominently in connection
with the case capt Smith present and represented
by his counsel r. NJ. Huntley, esq Mrs. Smith
present. being ILL., 1t said to bear the fatigue Of the
journey from Brooklyn. Among others in the room
were Mrs Margaret Dayton formerly Mrs. Kruland),
with her husband, surrounded By large number Of
sympathzing friends
The proceedings yesterday were based upon the follow
ing ad&vt made before Justice Smith in the forenoon:
Anna HoughtoH, being day sworn, says: About the
l6 II OF August, 1873 came To Pdtch0Zne to work for
Samuel y. smith. / came with him. had seen Mr..
Smith Newburch III June, when he sad that his
was capt NlleF5. Inc next tue mat saw MN ne
IN brooklyn He wanted ne to 80 Out with hun;
would not 60 then came to Patch0guc with him. and
went TO WORK IN MS fanny hrs. smith was confined
about the latter part OF September Mrs, Margaret
Dayton gave me nine red powders Samuel n. sIuith
the heA Gay eIe ne Two whe powders, ana t0ld mo
to pvt them in Mrs Smii's tea; and made her Mrs.
that they were poison The tea made Mrs. Smith sick
gave one powder after breakfast and the other after
came home on saturday eyenins and asked me- If lad
given Mrs. Smith the powders / told hin YES
GA the THURSDAY following, I'm the morning,
| he tod ne 10 go into the kitchen and
Sink. ana told me TO take the hammer and KIN Mrs.
Smith the next night, ne was t. come home the
| next day and lind her dead Mr.. Smith gave Mrs
Smith s. on the morning before he left buy mar for
| me, 10 get me ready to go away on Monday morning
Mr. Smith told me the same morning that If Mrs smith
| dead when no came home Saturday he would
500 and send me TO Chicago further, and not
and things would kill his wife. He asked me 10 20
into tue garden with hun. did. There was q box tn
1 trees in. Which was in the shape and like "A
! coffin. We took the box 20 the house. and asked Mr.
Smith what he going to do with II, and he said 10
lay out ~ or hlb wife. lie told me TO put the ashes
IN after sitting the coal Mrs. smith out ana
said That II looked more like cOfn than "a cOa.bOx
After Smith gone Mrs. Smith told me " would tell
her the truth she would give me her silk dress and the
hat from her head and away with before Monday
/ noon. 1 told her tbat / would tell her the trutl
| l told her that Mr.. Smith wanted 10 hire me
| 10 kiil her with the Ratchet, hammer, the
me. Capt Smith came home on Saturday evening and
in the back door and passed through the dining
room where was, and asked me where his dear
told him that she In the front Ho went into
the where his wife lie came 10 tea with his
wife When he came In he whispered 10 and said,
I" Did you do that ~ j said, "AO" Mrs DAYTON gave
me nine red powders and Mr.. Smith two white. Smith
gave me one Sunday and told to put II ia Mrs
smiths did 80. Mrs Dayton told me 70 fix ito
put IL IN Mrs SMITHS tea and did 40, end after had
used powders up. Mrs. Dayton asked me If knew
what / had done 10 Mrs Smith. said NO" she said
that had been poisoning Mrs Smith.
ANNA HoUGHToN.
Sworn TO before me- this 18th day OF October 1873.
CHARLES II. SMITH, Justice OF the Peace.
Anna who is by no means a iprepossessng looking
girl aud whose mental calber is apparently quite small
was placed upon the stand the fret witness, and al
lowed TO tell her story her Her testimony
was rainly,the same as her affidavit, but given in
rambling and incoherent manner. Whenever she de-
parsd tu any degree trow tae statements Vt the all