The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1877-12-29
MORE MOLLIEISM !
James Mcdonnell Charged
with the Murder of Geo.
X. Smith, in 1868,
Arrested
CHAs. SHARPE, FOR COMPLETELY IN
THE SAME MURDER, ALSO Lam
GUSHING BEHIND THE BARS
IN MAUCH CHUNK JAIL.
Particulars of the Murder !
MAuon CHuNK. Dec. 90, Is

much as subsidized, than new arrests promise
TO bring Mollie Maguirism again to the fore
Jas. Mcdonnell, accused of completely in the
murder of Geo. X Smith, killed at Yorktown
on the 9th of November 1868, was brought
on here from Rockland county, ILL.,, by
officer Gilchrist of Pinkerton's Detective
force, on last Sunday night, and Charles
Sharpe, accused of participation in the same
murder, and arrested at Wanamie, Luzerne
county, was brought here by officers Peeler
and Kerchner, ON Tuesday morning. On
arrival, both parties were committed to jail,
where they now are in communion with the
ghosts of the late departed, and where they
may freely converse with the great Thos. =.
Fisher ON the extreme uncertainty ofhuman
affairs. Geo. X, Smith, the victim, as already
stated, was most brutally killed in his own
dwelling, at or near Yorktown, on the night
of the Sd of November 1863, a little over ii
years ago.
For more than 1S years, the eventual un-
earthing of this foulest of all murders was
not as much rs dreamt Of, and probably
never would have come to light had not
sundry developments during the late Molly
Mcguire trials furnished a clue to the
mystery enveloping the same. And once in
possession of this clue, it was but natural
that our energetic District Attorney would
leave nothing undone to unravel the mys-
terry. Hence for over year has this case
received his most careful Investigation, and
how well he htS succeeded in working it up.
The presence in our county jail of McDon-
nell and Sharpe, clearly demonstrates.
The former, finding Carbon county too
I.ft
first in Gold Hill, Nevada, then in the
Black Hills, and lastly in Rockland county
Illinois, where he was arrested, and whence
he was brought on. But for the failure to
raise the requisite funds, he would have
been arrested while yet in Nevada.
Sharpe, who had never left the Lehigh
region, was apprehended at Wanamie, as
stated. That efforts looking to their arrests
were being made by Mr.. Siewers, was known
to several habitueS of the District Attorneys
Office, but beyond this nothing transpired
For month past your correspondent knew
all about the affair, but being pledged to
silence, he was not at liberty to mention
aught with reference to the contemplated
arrest.
For the information of those of our readers
who may not be conversant with the facts in
the case, annex the following Geo. X.
Smith, then interested in the Yorktown
colliery, had been TO Mauch Chunk ON the
day preceding the assassination, and was
SO i'll on his return home that he retired to
bed, requesting that he be not disturbed by
any one. Whether from knowledge of the
fact that he had enemies, it would, at present
be hard to tell, but cross dog owned by him,
was kept about the premises, and Il trusted
employee named Ulrich, was requested TO
watch the house that night. His orders
were to admit no one.
Before proceeding with the narrative, it
may be proper here to state that this was in
the very midst or the draft-eXcitement,a and
that Mr.. Smith, for the very conspicuous
part he had taken in the cause OF law and
order, had many secret enemies. Besides,
strange murmurings ard movements during
the day-threatenings and the purchase OF
large Quantities of powder, led the clerks at
his store to suspect that mischiefwas brewing.
The victim was abed his wife and Ulrich
guarded the house. Directly there was a
loud knock at the door, and to Ulrichs in
quiry who it was and what was wanted the
applicant without claimed that he must see
Mr.. Smith, as he had an important message
to deliver TO him.
This gave rise to short parley, at The close
of which the caller, accompanied by second
who had meanwhile joined him, was admit
ted. Once inside, they continually pressed
upon Mr.. Ulrich, and advanced claiming
that they must see Mr.. Smith personally.
Ulrich had already detected that tile I'M
hidden visitors were disguised, and when, in
the course of the scuille that ensued, a pistol,
in POSSESSION of the taller fell and was dis
chargedt Ulrich at once concluded that
their visit portended nothing good. Attracted
by the noise, Mrs. Smith appeared upon the
scene, and TO her question what was wanted,
the taller of the two replied that they had a
message from Mr.. A. q. Brodhead which
they desired to deliver to Smith personally.
Meanwhile Mr.. Smith made his appearance
among the party, and what then happened
is somewhat of mystery. In a moment the
hall was crowded; there was short struggle
and indiscriminate firing at the end of which
Mr.. Smith lay PROSTATE at the landing, stark
dead, his head pierced by a musket-ball.
Mr.. Ulrich claims that during the struggle
he shot the bigger man in the thumb, and as
the Z" hairy man" (McDonnell) is minus that
useful member, the link connecting him
with the murder appears not To be wanting
Smith was dead, but such was the terror
inspired by the " buck-shots' las the Mollies
were then called that for years none dared
to raise his voice in accusation, although it
was very generally known who the raiders
of that night had been. But murder will
out !" eventually there were those who
dared to speak and the Information furnish
ed by them has resulted in the apprehension
of the above. That the evidences of guilt in
Mr.. Siewers' possession will be such as 10
exclude an eventual escape, is not TO be
doubted.
Mcdonnell, generally known as the
" hairy man" has always been considered
one Of the most desperate Mollies abroad. A
former resident OF Schuyll,ill county; prison
ers had for years been a neighbor of the late
john Donohue, alias Yellow Jack, and, like
the departed, had acquired name as being
one of the most desperate Molles in that
part of the country. If only one half of what
is stated may be relied on, the prisoner will
not be likely TO escape the meshes Of the law.
On Thursday forenoon large delegation of
X-Mollies-principally squealers-were in
attendance at the District Attorneys Office.
70 testify TO such facts in the case as they
were cognizant Of But of this nothing has
transpired, hence nothing is known, and as
next Court is not called as Court of Over
and Terminer, the prisoners cannot be tried
until April, and until then nothing respect
ing the contemplated course Of the prosecu-
ton will probably trnnspire.
On the whole, the number present at the
house of Smith at the time Of the homicide,