New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-08-03
THE MURDERED POLICEMAN.
EFFORTs TO SOLVE THE MYSTERY.


ton yesterday which would lead to the discovery of
the murderer of Richard H. Smith. Mrs. Smith is
under constant watch, and efforts are making to
secure the arrest Of Bennett, with whom, it is
alleged, Mrs. Smith was intimate.
FURTHER DETAILS OF THE TRAGEDY.
THE INSTRUMENTS USED BY THE MURDERER-IN-
vEsTIGATIoSs AT SMITHS HoUsE-MoRE ABOUT
THE PREVIOUS RELATIONS OF SMITH, HIS WIFE
AND BENNETT.
Little light was thrown yesterday upon the
mystery attending the murder Of Richard H. Smith, the
Jersey City policeman No arrest had been made up to
late hour last uight But the police evidently
making great efforts TO capture young Colbert Bennett
whose quarrel with the murdered man and whose 81
legged intimacy with the latters wife the main cir
cumstances pointing TO his guilt IL Is believed that
Bennett has not been far from Jersey City, and It is said
that II he is innocent and can prove an ab II Is sur
prising that be has not shown himself.
The relations TO the case Of the murdered mans wife
being examined with great On Thursday, the
conduct Of Mrs Smith, particularly with Bennett was
the principal basis for theories. Yesterday the muir
dered pohceman's intercourse with other women was
brought out prominently It was said that Smith
had been off his beat two and three hours at Time visit
ing certain house. and that for this reason his beat
changed. This gave rise to suppOstOn that some
injured husband might have committed the deed in con-
cert with Mrs Smith, who said to be OF very jealous
disposition II half that is said Of Smiths conduct is
true there for bitter jealousy Mrs. Smith is
closely watched at the house OF Alderman Smith, the
dead mans brother The house Of the murdered man,
at No. 1873 Paci1cave., deserted yesterday. The
MacGregor family moved yesterday morning into
apartments the street. During the morning the
cottage visited by District Attorney Gill and Cap
tain Lennon, Of the Fourth Precinct The doors being
locked, they entered by window and examined the
premises the ground floor, where the murder was
committed and down cellar
The District Attorney. Chief OF Police Nathan and
Captain Lehman later in the day visited Alderman
Smiths house aud examined Mrs. Smith. They took
with them the carving knife, found with the iron win
dow weight In the vault behind the house. Mrs Smith
said she could identify the knife but that 1t looked
like hers A fork and knife sharpener found
the murdered mans house which, to handle.
pOnded carving knife Upon the handle of the
knife matter found which, under microscope,
looked like blood The blade OF the knife is inches
long and very sharp 1t looked it had been recently
ground and both edges for two three inches from
the point which bent, probably by the blow
which severed Of the mans ribs. The officers
thought the knife bad been prepared for the bloody
work. the physicians say that the fifteen sabs, five
large and ten small ones the breast made with
a twoedged instrument. Mr. MacGregor says he dined
with the Smith family about four weeks and that
Mr. Smith, IN carving, complained Of the duuess of the
knife. Mr.. Smiths complaint, It is suggested, may
It is said that the knife and the iron window weight
were sent yesterday to DR. Doremus for examination.
SIR. MacGregor said yesterday that such window
weight had been hanging the gate to the alley leading
TO the back Of the house few weeks ago the rope by
which it was suspended broke the weight lay the
ground for some time and then disappeared.
Captain Lennon, in examining the house Thursday,
made some important discoveries There blood
the right of Mrs Smiths nghtdress, has been
stated but there two three big drops OF hood
over her right breast The towel which she says lay
over her face her pillow and bore the imprint of
the palm and first joints Of the fingers Of bloody
hand The pillow which covered Mr.. Smiths head had
evidently been pressed his face by the clenched
fist the murderers left hand, which left bloody im-
print. Captain Lennon found open bottle Of chlOro
form on the door Mrs. Smiths side of the bed The
bottle was one used for perfumes and half full.
subsequently he found in the cellar fresh chOroform
bottle much smaller and which would hold about the
same amount OF chOrOform discovered in tho larger
bottle Pauey the nelghboring druggist, says Bennett
frequently bought medicine for Mrs. Smith, who
subject to bystera says that the towel would have
looked yellow II It had been saturated with chorofom,
900 drops every minutes being needed 10 produce
stupefactOn. Besides the woman would have remem
bered the first sensations and probably not have recov
cred nearly she did There were no signs Of
the use OF chlorofOrn.
When Captain Lennon went down cellar, he did al
most Immediately on arrival besides finding the chloro-
form bottle he saw that part Of the floor wet, and
discovered the tracks Of man on four OF the steps OF
the dsused cellar He whore the board,
the extreme part of the temporary flooring In the extern
ported closet had been removed. When yesterday he
tried 20 craw up through this hole iu the closet hoOr
the small bolt to the door pushed in and he could
not get through This bolt is supposed to have been
drawn the night the murder. lie thinks the murderer
entered by that way but that he departed by the back
door opening little stOop leaving no tell :ae tracks
Then the murderer threw the iron weight and knife in
the vault Thomas Cottman contractor, building the
Van Horn-st sewer, says that about o'clock on the
morning Of the murder went to If his Waterman
had lights burning and duty at the excavation.
coupe, drawn by a gray horse, came at rapid pace
ont of Paefc-ave and turned up JOhnsOn-ave the first
street north Of Smiths residence.
During the day several hundred persons visited Eli
otis morgue and viewed the remains. None Of the
members Of the murdered mans family present,
except his brother Alderman Smith, who called for the
purpose OF max ng arrangements for the funeral Early
last evening the wounds upon tie body were photo
graphed, After the funeral which will take place TO-
day aT D. M ut Alderman smiths residence the Off
Gers intimate that tine suspected wife viii be taken
custody Police headquarters and the Fourth Precinct
Station drapcd In mourning. Omcers on duty VIII
attend the funeral IN full uniform The remains will be
taken To New-Brunswick.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith kept b0arders during tue Few
months they occupied the house owned by Bennett;
Bennett boarded with them and received his hoard and
$40 month for the use OF the house NUMBER OF the
boarders left about April ana Smith decided TO move
his TO the auction rooms OF FREDERICK
Payne who Is also u Justice OF tue Peace on Newark
ave-, aud they were sold at public sale. MI Payne
states that 1t was at this tins that he heard Of the
trouble between Bennett and Smith the attentions
paid by the former TO Mrs. Smith.
Tie step-father Of Mrs. Smith, Abraham @. Carman,
said last evening: never Mr. Bennett until after
Mr. Smith rented his house. used 10 call frequently,
but never anything that looked like an improper
relation between Bennett and Mrs Smith. Mr. Smith aud
his wire may had quarres over Benefits attentions
To Mrs. Smith, dd not hear OF 1t, ana Mr. smith
never spoke OF 1t When Mr. Smith moved from
Beunctts house. told t because lie could not
meet expenses while keeping bOarders aud as far as
know the two parted ON good terms." Mr. Carman
identified the window weight "a one removed from
window in Smiths house, and afterwards used on the
gate. -
About 10 o'clock yesterday morning Detective Nc
Horney visited EOtts mOrgue with young woman
dressed In black They were shown tue body. The