Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-04-29
MURDER OF SMITH.
Some Important witnesses Found - The
Men Who Drow tho Body from tho

Some Important Witnesses Found The
Men Who Drew tho Body from tho
Road.
Yet another link in the chain Of evidence
surrounding the death of John D. Smith, of
Inver Grove township, was forged yesterday
by GLOBE reporter. AS far as the testi-
mony, developed at the long delayed inquest
on Thursday last, shows it would appear that
Wallace Smith and Peter Anderson dis
covered the body on the side of
the road, at distance, as the for
mer stated, of about four feet off
the road. 'sThe same witness also said there
we're marks to show he (the deceased) had
been drawn out of the road, and tracks
showed team had passed, turning out of
the road.''
The mystery regarding the body having
been moved and the wheels marks of the
team passing the spot after Smiths death
can now be explained. On the
night Of the supposed murder, man
of that neighbo1hood was quite sick, and
word was conveyed to this city to his rel
atives. The sick man was supposed to have
wandered from the house in state of ment-
al alteration, and, accordingly, a party was
A4oAO w W AAStAtuLo u ecdICus Ills party
consisted of Mr.. and Mrs. Sweeney, II. M.
Shearan and J. c. Murnane who proceeded
| south on the river road to Hastings,
Mr.. Murnane was interviewed Yesterday
by GLOBE reporter. He said that rain
poured down in torrents on the night in
question, and pitchy darkness prevailed, SO
lantern was carried by the explorers. The
whole distance was walked from
West st. Paul, Mr.. Murnane and
MIR. Shearan taking turns in carrying the
lantern. When the spot was reached where
they discovered Smiths corpse, Mr.. Muir
name was slightly ahead, Mr.. Shearan follow
ing with the lantern, while Mr.. and Mrs
Sweeney were in the conveyance. Murnant
was the first to discover the body, and th,
party halted to make an examination, it
being at first thought that the corpse NIGH
possibly be that OF the individual of whom
they were in search. The body was fount
within the wheel tracks of the sand,
road, and was just getting cold. The tim
was about 1850 A. M. The cut upon the heat
of the corpse was observed b.
all present, but there were no indications
showing how death had been caused. Anaiou
concerning the individual of whom the fou
were in search, a consultation was held, an,
it was decided to remove the body from tn
road, in order that any passing team Nigh
not run over it, and to give warming at tn
next farm house. The first intention was t
have alarmed the basket-maker living in tn
shanty near by, but it was finally conclude
to tell the people in the next farm house, a
those in the shanty might be implicated il
the death, and then return for the body
, The corpse was lying upon its BAG
IN the road before it was re
, moved by Messrs. Murnane an
Shearan. The party then went on, an
their wagon tracks were those which wer
testified to at the inquest as belonging to
, team which must have passed subsequent t
, Smiths dropping upon the spot. None {
: the party then discovered anythin
that would show how the death had bee
occasioned, or, if murder had been con
mitted, by whom the deed had been don,
. Stopping at the next farm house, the alarl
) was given, and the party proceeded to il
3 destination, and found the sic
man for whom the search ha
t been instituted, was all right. Mr.. Mu
name and his friends then started for IL
spot where they had left Smiths body, an
8 found it had disappeared, and, judging tx
+ friends Of the deceased had meanwhile di
t covered and taken away the corpse, tt
whole party came back to St. Paul.