River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1874-12-11
WAS he GUILTY
The Peculiar Case Of Hiram smith,
who Was Hanged sSec. ith.

The Peculiar Case Of Hiram smith,
who was Hanged Bee. ith.
New York Special dec. A. 10 the Chicago
Tribune.J
Hiram Smith was hanged at Water
! town, \. Y, to-day for completely in
the murder Of Charles Wenham on
] Jan. q, 1873. Last night the Governor
telegraphed q final decision not to in.
tcrfere. Smith was tried in June, con.
yictcd and sentenced 20 death July
oath. Great efforts wore made for a
communication, but brief respite alone
was secured. He has
DENIED MS GuHr FROM rnE FIRST.
and has comported himself like a man,
eating and sleeping well to the very
last. His spiritual adviser, the Rev
J. w. Rubnam, spent the morning with
him. At 1890 P. 81. Sheriff Rabbit
conducted him to the galows, wh,h
had been raised in the Jail yard. After
religious services, the doomed mn
made a speech, calling God to witu.ss
| that he was innocent.
The evidence against this man is it.
tie more than circumstantlal, and il is
| by no means improbable chat his Ipme
is another added to the long, sadl list
Of innocent victims Of evil circIm-
stances.
THE CRINE.
Never was q stranger story connected
with a murder, and seldom in recent
times has evidence been more Of the
circumstantial order than in Smiths
case. Nearly three years ago Charles
Wenham, the murdered nan, and
Charles Sutherland, his friend, were
warm friends in love with the same
girl, and living in neighboring towns.
Nenham possessed little money saved
from his earnings, with which h, decid-
ed to 90 to California ana grow wealthy.
Before starting he received letter
from his friend, requesting an inter-
view. Wenham met his irehd, and
arranged to 60 to Cleveland instead Of
California, Sutherland Offering 30 drive
him to the depot in a cutter. Ou Jan.
18th, Sutherland called for Wouham to
drive him to the depot. The trunk
was put in the cutter, and the friends
drove to Carthage, where the trunk
was deposited IN a hotel. The
two friends went out driy-
ing IN the cutter, and, at q
considerable distance from town, we've
met by a third person. much disguised.
who joined them. The three men were
seen IN the sleigh that evening When
the cutter returned there were only
two. Nenham was missing. Suthei.
. land took possession of TIN trunk at
Carthage, and there the matter ended.
| Ii was given out that Wenham had
gone 10 California as he intended, and
therefore his absence aroused no suspi-
cion.
Not long altcrward, before han
had come, farmer living near Car
thage observed tracks in the snow.
There was blood sprinkled about, and
the track of cutter. lie noted these
marks and aroused the neighbOrhood.
A hunt was made for the evidence OF a
murder, which was rewarded BY the
discovery of Wenham's body. which
had been pushed through hole in the
ice into a small creek, and left there
1t took the citizen $ OF Carthage little
time to connect Wenham's disappear.
ance with Sutherland's visit, and sub.
sequent possession of an unusual
amount Of money. One cold, stormy
night posse of policemen started in
cutter for his house, and there
arrested him for the
murder Of Charles Wenham. Many Of
the clothes of the murdered man we're
found in the room in which he slept,
besides other evidence Of his connec.
ton with the crime, al of which were
carefully noted by the scrutinizing OIL
GERS Of the law. But strange fate
was in store for the homicide, which
rendered their vigilance unayailing
When the cutter bearing the prisoner
reached the scene of his crime, The
guilty wretch shuddercd and died. The
cutter brought to the jail the body Of
the murderer. but that was all. The
law was apparently satisfied that retri-
button had overtakcn the guilty, and
the matter would have rested but for
the pcrtinaclty oil the Carthaglnidns.
They put detectives on the scent, and
allowed them to work up the case.
The identity of the third member OF
the sleighing party was yet to be estab-.
lished. The fact that be was fash Of
money after the murder, and absent
from home on that night, started The
detectives. They entrapped him into
petty thefts, and lee him TO pass coun.
terieit currency Then they planned a
bank robbery, and, by doubling his
courage, led him to assure them that
man who had taken hand in a murder
could be trusted with little affair Of
the kind any day in the week, The
matter was given to the grand jury,
and true bill found against Hiram
Smith for being an accomplice. In May
his trial commenced. and in June he
was convicted. Every effort was
made for the Communication Of his sen.
tencc, but excepting a respite OF three
months. Withdrawal
/ A Puzzled and Indignant witness.