The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-09-05
CAPT. SMITH AND MRS. rTsDALE
Tho story OF Roth Parties n. to Those Pis-
toll shot. In the pnrlor.


Capt. Stephen Calhoun Smith, formerly Of
South Carolina. but latolv Of Louisville. KY.
leaned carclossly against tho prisoners bar Mt
the Jefferson Market Police Court yesterday ns
charge of felouious assault was preferred
against him by Mrs. Jeanette Tisdalc Of II
East Thirty-nrst street. Mrs Tisdalc avcrred
TINT while convcrsing with gentleman In the
parlor of her dwelling on Monday night. Capt.
Smith who lodges in the house. burst uncero-
moniously into tho apartment demanded 10
know what was TRANSPORTING and then fred two
shots Mt her from a revolver.
Tho prisoner questioned by Justice Kasmirc.
said that he did not fire Mt the lady or her
friend. but into the ceiling. and intended only
to intimidate them. For what reason he fired
ut all he wns unwilling to say and. nothing b.
ing produced In his defence was held in de-
fault Of 81 900 bail to await the action OF the
Grand Jury.
Mrs Tisialc is South Carolinian by birth.
She j. 35 years OF age tall. handsome. and very
dgnined. She was exceedingly nervous yes
to-day as she related in the parl9r Of her dwell
ing the following story OF Monday nights o.
currencc: Capt. Smith came here from Louis
viii" "A few weeks since she said. " He had
known me- in South Carolina and. learning my
address in this city came hero and hired apart
mcuts 81 me. keep n boarding house at IL
East Thirty-nrst street. He has annoyed mo
standing that nm married woman. Monday
evening went to tho theatre. accompanied by
my daughter and u gentleman friend Tho
name Of this gentleman y is unnecessary to
give II was not however. Mr.. J. p. stockwcll.
as has been stated On. our return
time conversing in the pqrlor. While thus en-
gagged heard n voice on the stairway. Hooked
M and saw Capt. Smith beckoning to me-. !
paid no attention to him. but few minutes
later Can't. Smith tore down tho stairs and
rushed In upon us. BrandlshnG u pistol in
that - - I'll blow his Internal brains outr
Mercinl heaye1s! said !. whnt do YOU
moan 10 do?' Then he ilrcd two shots In rapid
succession, aiming first at the gentleman and
Before smith could nrc again Mrs Tlsdalc's
friend fed the house. stopping neither To nnd
his hat nor enter his cnb. which stood at the
door After this Smith also left the house. An
eye witness related the following yesterday TO "a
Tuesday morning Capt Smith returned. Mr.
Briggs. Mrs Tisdale's uncle. was at the time In
the parlOr. He sent for Smith and said. You
mas oither leave the city. sir, or will have YOU
brought into court and pros ecutcd Tor shooting
sr , '' Of Gigantic build. Capt smitl, rev. re
mnining silent. Mr. Briggs ordered him to quit
the house.
BY whose order. and who are your de-
/ am her uncle" said Mr.. Briggs.
Words Brighten me not sir said Capt.
Smith. am soldier am not afraid. and
Str. Briggs clcnchcd his fist You arc n
might oven say n cur"
Cant Smith walked coolyto the mnntcl struck
a match, and lighted cigar. Then he brought
II chair forward. placed il Immediately in front
of Mr. Briggs, stood upon II. So that his head
was but little elevated over that Of his oppOn ent.
aud deliberately puiTcd cloud of smoke into
There. takc that old man D." he said DO
You know what that means Z"
Whether Mr.. Briggs was overawod by the cX-
traordinary audaciiy OF the man, or 10y the re-
volvcr tn" stock NJ which protruded from Capt.
lei 4
man" he answered. 3" could crush you II |
would. but II abstain. Leave the house or I'll
have you arrested.
Then Ofiiccr Tcrpcnning arrived and made
the arrest.
Capt. smith is, n native of South Carolina. but
where. with Mr. Robert NJ. Poe a near reiativc
| OF the poet. h. has done a general hrok erHgc
business IN ten or coffee Several years ago, On
an acquaintance ~ only a day or two. he was
married to Young lady. the daughter Of very
| prominent Kentucky family. The marriage
| WIS the result Of chance meeting. and was TO-
tally unexpected by the friends II both parties.
| Capt. Smith and his wifc lived together but n
few months. the husband one day making IN"
| startling charge that shc had tried To- poison
him while he was on a sick bod. The r,suli,nl:
suit for divorce. with the sensational charge
| upon which II was based. created much EXCITE
| ment throughout Kentucky. His suit was sue
cessful, aud the lady returned To her mother,
| plantation in Owen County. whore She died a
| year ago. Capt smith came 10 Nrw York four
w"egs ago. engaged u desk ut ll3 Water street.
| ant has since rnrri"d ON busn here A. n
| tinguishci citizen ~ South Carolina whose
| nam" he bears. hut served through tho war
| with credit .n Cen Hamrton's legion. He was
! inuht. nit"r -" court scene yesterday. in "A eel
! oi ~" Jefferson Market prison.
/ lowell that woman. j." began. as. seated
| upon hi- iron hcd~tead. h" rested bis head upon
| ~. hand ami shaded his cyos with the other.
| More than this she loves me, but Is afraid o.
| ayow IL. She knows that didn't intend u Kill
| her on Monday night. | returned home at III
! o'clock THAI evening, and immediately went
| 10 bed. At O'clock WIS nwak ened h,' a noise
! IN tho parlor. which IL Just below me
! Fearing there were burglars in tho
house. partly dressed myself. took
my revolver. and hastily descended
| There was hut ono light burning in the parlor
and that was turned down low. | could Just
| discern two figures. They appeared To- he Try.
! ing 10 ovldr me. fired at the ceiling wishing
! to brighten them. when. had they been robbers
! should have dubbed them into submission
! After tho firing discovered my mistake. Their,
| was no third person IN the room ~ stated.
| " am OF an old Revolutionary family. MS
| grandfather served in the Revolutionary war
| My father served in that Of 1872 and the McNi-
| can war. and served with Gen. Wade Hamp,
! ton IN the late war. ! am a member Of n,
South Caroiinn branch Of the Society 81 IN,
| Cincinnati and ~ to my responsibility hav,
innum,rahe letters 10 that effect from tho bes
| people ~ Louisville
| Chpt. Smith expects to find hOndsmen o-day