The New York herald., 1878-08-15
Mrs. MacGregor's Testimony Before
the Coroner's Jury.
SHE HEARD NO NOISE
Mrs. Smiths Conduct the Night
OF the Tragedy.

AlueTman Smlth's private counsel, occupied cnair
within the railing, and Assistant District Attorney
Taylor questioned both witnesses. Mrs. Susannah
MacGregor gave the following testimony
reside at No. $50 Pacific avenue; previously re-
sided at No. l33 Pacific avenue; Mr.. and Mrs. Smith
resided in that house, about dusk, Wednesday even
ing, saw Mr.. Smith and said 10 MIN, "We shall
have bad night Mr.. Smith; he answered ~ think
VIC shall, " and then Mrs. Smith called him went up
stairs TO my rooms, and when l got
there l heard Mr.. Smith go in; l cannot
tell whether my was home at tho time;
l think he came home between nine aud ten;
1 could tell at what hour we retired that night
retired hour afier my son camo home;
halt an hour after In bod heard Mr.
Smith in; slept in the front hall bedroom;
that night very restless; heard noise during
the night Smiths apartments; was aroused about
day break by Mrs Smiths scream when opened the
door l thought 1t was something happened 10 the
baby, and that It was my daugnter's scream Mrs.
Smith said 'It's not the baby. it's me; want Mr..
MacGresor; want, Mr.. MacGregor;" 1t was very
dark at the time my went down stairs, and /
heard someshin ng about a man; the next heard was
my son calling mo down stairs
WHAT MRS. SMITH SAID
went down Mrs Smith the front par.
lor; saio, "Mrs. Smith, what Is the matter ?" she
said "Look where Henry hes, murdered IN his beds"
/ said, "No," and she said, Eyes, whore he lies
murdered in his bed;' then she said that he came
in the nigh. before ABOUT eleven O'Clock; tnat she
wen. 10 bed that they were both worry
restless and about quarter before Two she got up
rcstcss you are; Ito sttil and 60 TO sleeps" after
that she wont TO Sleep and she was aterwara aroused
by something-she knew not what-by some ono
putting something before her nose; she opened her
eyes, but did not nave power 70 move, and that she
fe ks m Win sSs saw m man s ~
like that she him raise It and strike Harry
on TOP The head that she distinctly heard the thud
OF the blow; he struck him second time, but she
hoard means; she was awakened by feeling hcavy
cold pressure on her sds she put her hand down TO
then she came up stairs Mr. AacGregor; thas was
all she told me; could not tell how sho
shs Tus was ''' in her @ chemire; '1 would no. bo
positive about that she did not 60 up stairs second
limo; remained with her alter came down. those
are her exact words as near as can place them alter
awhile undressed her.
NIGHT
Tho second time saw her that day she was wrapped
up in a quilt; my ana the doctor wont IN the back
room while remained In the paror with Mrs Smith
wnero wo sat We could SOC the bed; then the police
officers came sick and went up stairs; cannot
remember whether Mrs Smith had u nightgown
away he refused to allow me 10 stay; she then had
quilt around her; was called down quarter OF an
hour after that; my son called me down; when
was called down took somo clothes down her;
when lctther she was on the sofa, and when came
down second time she was sitting by tho window;
then saw she had on a short nisnt dress; halt an
hour after that she had o.; did not visit smiths
room while the body was there; from where sat in
the room with Mrs. Smith could how body lay;
only noticed the side OF the bed, ana the only thing
saw distinctly was dark quilt and pillow; did not
scc Mrs Smiths side Of the bod never thought OF
looking at the clock that morn,ng; saw no blood
status Mrs. Smiths clothes; was surprsco at tho
absence Of ihem; whle asrobing her she remarked
that she had worn The clothing all might; took
notice OF her hands that morning; ! was
not in the habit OF going into the cellar;
day previous to the murder; noticed nothing wrong
in the collar; my daughter haa been down an hour
before and said that she mad seen man IN the collar
looked around tho cellar very carefully that morn
ing, but saw no man; had not seen sash weight
about tho gate that remember; never saw sash
weight around the house; never saw carving knife
In Mrs.. SMITHS house; mover visited tho house
except when she was taken win those nts.
Al this point Coroner Crane vcnturod u question and
Mr.. Wakeman objected He urgod that while the
parties detained charge OF the murder Coroner
Crane had no authority TO ask any questions
Coroner Crane-Coronsr Crane IS not easily fright.
MI waksman-I don't want to frightcn. but to call
In two men 10 cross-cxamne one Witness is
To Ass,stant District Attorney Tayior-I was re-
Qussted undress MRS. Smith by Captain McHerney;
her sisters also requested me TO undress her; think
the wives OF Mr. Smiths brothers were present when
l undrcssed her; whom she was again dressed sno
wore all my clothing except the dress; gave the
cIothes l took from ner 10 Captain McHerneyj sho
own; loaned her flannel skirt pair OF stockings
aud a water proof cloak; her hair was fastened up
about her head.
wHoD HAVE THOUGHT Ir9
At the time The privy vault was emptied Mrs Smith
was In the kitchen with Mrs James smith Mrs.
Smith said to me, "We have no carving knife" at
that time nothing had been said about the murder;
knew that the kuife had been found IRON where Mrs.
Smith could not see the knilo when II
covered; she said nothing TO me about iOrk !;
l had not soon iork about the house; Mrs.
Smith said to me, ''Who would have thought about
the omptying me water closetY 1 should ncvor
have thought of IL" l replied that l should
have thou gnt that a would be the most key pl ace
Tor people TO throw things down. she very cool
and collected while talking to me; II there was any
unusual noise IN SMITHS apartments that night
would have heard IL: when first won't down stairs
there no light burning In the hall or front
1 took NO notice Of the windows; when arss
entered tue rooms thought l smelt othcr; tho
smell was pretty strong; Mrs. smith was crying
while she was telling her story; she did not
az she sSd no had been pretty good and she sdn,s
know he had any enemies was SO little at the house
that could not hear any quarrels If they occurred
To the Coroner-fhe nightgown worn oy Mrs. smith
when came down appeared TO DO very much soied !;
whom sno called me aid not notice whether she had
on shoes or not think smith cano in that night by
tho back door.
THE DocroRs TESTIMONY
DR. Charles u. Converse was then called. He tosti.
ned-I reside In Jersey City County Physician
In thus county; received call on the morning Of
mufdsr had s.s" answered the Has cali a.
once; ! went TO the house No. lob Pacific avenue,
where found the body oI man said to DO Richard n.
smith; tho body was covered with blood and tncrc
were several wounds Oh the left side and
.ae scalp; a, ,h' Pos,.%or':m post. s1 sxamina; ,..
wounds The right side Of tho body three OF wncn
penetrated tho chest and one OF whcn penetrated ho
abdomen; these iour penetrating wounds were from
one inch and nall inches length the otncr
eleven wounds In the breast were very small OF
them bcug not more than quarter vi tucn
length; there two scalp wounds on tho bead,
each about Two inches In length; found
In the chest = large quantity OF nuid blood; the
left lung had been wounded In three places;
there were wounds near the base OF the heart and
others near Its apex; exposed the top OF the skull
and found that IL had been depressed very extcn-
sivey; the left portion OF the frontal bsne Was rac-
tursd; the brain had been compressed and portion
o n sad becn disorganzed; think no must have re-
ceived Two blows ou the hoad, either OF which
would have boon fatal
To ajuror-My own idea nrst Is, that tho blows on
the head were struck nrst; don't think the body
had been moved when hrst viewed u; tho holes
In tho night shirt corrssponued with tho wounds
tho body; l judged from the appearance OF tho
wounds that tue cuts had been made by double
edged knife; IRON what l OF the wounds tbey
could have been made from either side OF the boi,
but more conveniently from tue right aide OF tho
bed; the wound cutting both ribs believe was done
with "a two-cdged knife
Al this point the inquest was then adjourned
THE pASSAIC TRACEDY