, 1874-12-05
Two Friends with Ono Sweetheart
---0no Murdered by The
Other,
Smith Arrested as an Accomplice and
Convicted on Circu mstan-
tial Evidence.
His Innocence Stoutly Protested
to the Last---A Posi-
bio Mistake.
THE EXECUTION.

THE EXECUTION.
Spectal Dtspateh to Tic Chicago Tribune.
New YonK, Deo 4.-Hiram Smith was hanged
ut WatortoHn, N. T., today for completely Ii tho
murder OF Charles Wenham on Jan. Q, 1873,
Lust night tho Governor tolegraphed fnal d.
oiaion not to intorfcro. Smith was tried in june
convicted, and sentenced to death Julv2A. Grcnt
efforts woro mado for communication, but n brief
respite nlono WIS secured. ao has
DENIED HIS QUILT FROM THE FII,sT.
and Inns comportcl himself like n mau, eating
und sleeping we'll to tho very last. His spiritual
adviser, the lev. J. W. 1{ubnRn Bpent the nl0ri,-
Ing with him. At 1890 p. III. Hhctifr Dabbitt
conducted him to tho gallows, which bud been
raised In tho jail-yard. Aftor Religious services,
WitncBs that lla was innocent
lilo evidence aRaiust this man was littlo more
thnn clrcumBtantia1, md 1t is by ITO means i'm
probable TINT his l,atne iB anothor added to tho
long. sad list Of innocent victims Of evil circuin-
stances.
Eoror waH stranger Htory CONNECTED With q
murder and seldom In recount times haa oylcnce
Smiths case. Noarly throo years ago Charles
Wenlnu,, tho murdered man, and Charles
Sutherland, Lis friend. we're warm friends, In
lovo with tho same Rirl, md living in neyh-
boring t,wna: NYol'ham, possessed little
Hlch hc docidol to go to Oalifornin md
grow wealthy. Before stating In received
letter from his friend. requesting an iutorvisw.
Wenl,am met Ills friend, hnd arrangoa to 30 to
Cleveland instead Of California, suthotlund Of
Jan. 7, Sutherland calied for Wonl,am to drive
llim to tho depot. Tho trunk was put on thu
cutter, and the friends drove to Carthage. where
tho trunk waa depoalted at hotol. The two
friends wont out driving In tho cutter, and, at
considerable distance from town. wero mot by a
third person, much disguised, who tolnna them.
The three men wore sool In tho sleigh tiat
evening. When the cutter returnod there wore
only two. Wonlla1n was missing. Sutherland
took possession Of tho trunk at Carthage, and
Wenllam had gone IL California as ho intended,
md therefore hts atsonce arouAed no ersplciun.
Not long .afterward, before q tlaaw Ind come,
J. farmer living near Carthage observed tracIsa In
tllo Buow. There wtH blood apriukled nbaut,
a1,l tho track Of cutter. Ho noted thoso 1nnrkH
and aroused tia noighborhood. a lnut
waB mnde for tho evidence Of murder,
which WAS rewarded By tho discovery Of Won
hams body. which Ind been pushed through q
holc III tho leo into small creek, and loft tloro.
It. tonk tho cstizons Of Carthage llttlo timc tc
connect Wenliam's disappearance with Sutller-
lauds visit. and subsequent possession OF nj
unugual amount OF mouoy. One cold, stormy
night C. posse Of policemen started III y cuttor
murdor Of Charles Wenbam. Ntany OF the
clothes Of the murdered man wero found IL
tho room in which lie slept. boaidof
other oyidonco Of hin connection with
tho crime. all Of which wore carefully
noted by the scrutnzing officers OF tho lnw. Du'
a strange fate was in Bture for tho homicide
which rendered their vigilance n1nyailing. Wlle1
tho cutter bearillg the priHonor roacltod the
scono Of Lis crimo, the guilty wretch sludderet
ami died. tbs cutter brought to the jail the
body Of tho murderer, but that WAS all. Iht
law was apparently satisfied that rotlibutton hat
oYertaken tho guilty, aud the matter would hnyt