The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-08-10
THE MURDERED POLICEMAN.


INTEREsr-JAMEs M CoREooEs TESTIMONY.
Az inquest was begun last evening In the Hudson
County, n j., Circuit Court room, Jersey City
He.gnts. IN tue OF chard Harrison Smith, the
police oficer, vino was iound murdered in his bed
the morning OF Thursday August l. The
court room crowded almost as denscly
during tue trial OF kev. George b. vosburgh, Tor
attempted wIis murder. Coroner Ranan was assisted
by Coroner Crane. and both officers occupied seats
on the judicial beach. Mrs. smith, the wife OF the
deceased, an Covert B. Bennett hcr alleged accom-
plice were MOI present Messrs James FlemmIng
and Leuis d Rowan, OF this city, Beunetts COUNSEL
were present, with stenographer. Alderman John
E. Smith, the brother OF the murdered officer, sat be-
tween William b. Day aud William Taylor, Prose-
cutor MeGi's assistants Al eipat O'Clock Coroner
Roman called the jury together, ana directed TO
called
THE TEsTIEoNY
James MacGregor, VINO testacd--t reside a, No
$50 Pacific avenue; formerly resided ut No l33
Pacific avenue; am needle straightenor In Singers
Sewing Machine Works; knew the deceased, Onicer
r. II. Smith, since April last; was awakened on
last Thursday morning by hearing a noise and hear.
ing my name called was asleep tho top floor oil
the house No. 1873, and dressed my sail as quickly
az 1 could; went DOWN the drst n.ht Of stairs and
found Mrs. Smith standing on tue lower flight sue said
she wanted me down stairs. and exclaimed, "Hs's
killed he's KILLED! A man did III man did III" l
should Judge It was just before daylight; we went
together to the parlor ana entered the bed
room there the bsd the policeman lay. the body
covered BY quilt and his covered by pillow:
she said that the had put someth ng sweet Der
nose stupelcd her aud when she awoke the body
NV mother down stairs and went out for policeman
aud doctor; | returned with u doctor and meeting
s,Sr arrved wnsn Inc doctor
rived he moved the pniow aud made
examination OF the body, at the conclusion OF which
he suid tho dead the police made an exam.
nation oil the premises anu they discovered small
bottle which the Doctor sa!d contained chIoroiorm;
the Doctor also stated that he had smeed chloroorm
when no came In there Was also towel found with
marks Of blood upon 1t; Tho police made thorough
SEARCH
Mrs. Smith owned small terrier dog; he was .
very watchiuI animal and Mrs smith always told me
thai 1t slept tho foot OF the bed aud tuat the night
OF murder Harry (her husDand had objected tnts
night tearing aeas, and the dog slept on the sofa
IN IN. front room :: wnsn 1 nrst saw Mrs
Smith that morning she seemed TO have presence
covered smith up to his neck and tho pillow
his head; saw no WOUNDS; nrst noticed tho blood
under tho pillow and ON the closet door; the doctor
removed the pillow from oil Smiths face; Mrs. Snita
appeared 10 be excited while tue physician was IN the
room; did not examine the bloody lowell while the
smiths living IN the house mover hoard the dog
bark night; the DOG always snapped ut sirangers;
saw sash weight the alley gate about six eight
then until II IN the police station; was
the habit OF going into the cellar OF the house, and
knife living around the cellar; never saw a Ratchet
In the cellar whilo Smith resided there; when went
down stairs with Mrs. Smith tho parIor door, The
door leading from the parlor to the bedroom the
door leading from the bedroom 10 the Kitchen wore
a open did notice whether the door leading 10
the back stoop was open; did not notice whether
the door reading To the bathroom was opcn; when l
was first Awakened rsssr1i1ea , my mother o yoics
awoks me hrst; l cannot rene nber what Mrs
smith nrn sad, but l remember her saying,
shes Killed ~ sue spoke louder than usual, Dui
perfectly rationale she remained on the stairs until
came down; there was no light IN the bouss AZ The
time; Ia the bedroom there was lamp standing on
the dressing case burning low but showing sufficient
light enable TO discern object ~ the room;
whilc walked from the stairs TO the bedroom Mrs.
Smith kept repeating "a man did u, man did II; -
Mrs. Smith appeared TO be In her night dress; the
quilt; did no, notice whether there were any
knife cuts IN the quilt; while the physician was
or did not appear as II she going take a NJ
icit The dead mans foot aud II was cold; felt ne
otner part oil the body.
HEARD NO NOISE.
Tho night OF the murder myself. my baby, my
mother 10 The house That night, and lar I
had not seen Sir. Smith that evening that
1 remember: saw Mrs smithIthat evening at sig
across ,ne strset Lowy's newspaper store, corner
OF johnson avenue; remained there I'LL ten O'Clock,
with my mother; my Kitchen was directly over
smiths bedroom; heard NO noise or talking aown
that most usual way 81
going into tho house was through the front
door; don't remember whether went
through tho cato or Tho door that night The only
quarrel the witness ever heard between tho couple
morning when smith entered very late. aud
when Mrs. smith inquired the cause OF his lateness
ne said that had been cciayc nty minutes at
tho police station. remarked That no had better
get homo earlier the morning. TO which he replied
harshlv; that was the only quarrel he had ever
heard
ms completed MeGregor's testimony and tine In
quest was ADJOURNED
MRS. SMITH DYING.
Whe the inquest vas Ia progress an onicer from
Police Headquartcrs catered tho and
called out the chef Of Police The latter entered his
carriage aud was driven ut once ~ his offce AZ
he catered Police headquarters CITY Physician
Varick was driven ~ The door, and he entered
Rev. Wneelock IA. ParmIy, pastor OF ths First
Baptist Cnurch Ia Grove street, reached the door.
Inside the trio were met by Jodle Davis, who mad
FIRST been sent Tor by sergeant keeer, and the our
went stars 10 the detective's room, where the
ordered officers widow WAS confined. DR.. varick
nrst approached her, and loud hsr suffering only
IRON hystsra but also from anectien
OF tho heart ard pLcumonia He reported the matter
to I'M Chie ana the latter sent Rev. DR.. Parmiy 70
tho prisouor with whom ncid private con versa-
ton. Al Its conclusion no said that although Mrs.
Smith was aware that she was 10 dying eondislon,
she would say nothing but TO rcaflrm her entire In.
OF the crime and her ignorance OF the
In which tue murder was committed. Justice
Davis also interviewed her. but she would say noth-
ing more.
Rev ". n. Parmly Is the clergyman Who married
anything 10 toll she would tell u To him.
Al midDight Mrs. smith was transferred from the
dctectves' room TO Judge Davis room, where she
DO made much more comfortable.