New-York tribune., 1878-08-02
SCENES AT THE BROTHERs HOUSE.

SOENES Al l1E DhOlnlA - ilOOCb'
THE FAMILY's THEORY OF THE MURDEi'-THE DEAD
MANS WIFE BROUGHT TO THE HoUsK-WHAT
ALDERMAN SMITH SAID OF HER.
Richard Harrison Smith was the youngest
Of four brothers and was thiry-twO years old. The
father has been dead for several years. and the mother
who Is sixty-two years DID, lives with her eldest son,
John f. Smith, whose house ia short distance south OF
and on the same side OF the avenue where
the murder was committed. John Il. Smith
is conductor the Central Railroad OF New-Jersey,
running train on the new NewYork and Philadelphia
route He has been largely several
poltical matters In Jersey CITY, and is member Of the
present Board Of Aldermen
rhe several members Of the family assembled
last evening in the paror OF Alderman Smiths house.
while their wives and mother were in the
family room near by. All appeared oppressed
nv the sudden death that had broken their
circle and some OF them wandered restlessly
about the house The passed In and out OF the
room gong occasionally toward the street door, Ihey
talked freely about the murder OF their brother the cir
cumstances attending It, and the motives that they
thought may have led to It, The murdered man had
been married twice In May 1871 his first wife obtained
a divorce from him on the charge Of adultery. aud on
November 81 following. she became the wife OF his
brother Isaac r. Smith, In June july however, pre-
yous 20 their marriage. and within six or seven weeks
after the granting OF the divorce, Smith had married
his present wife. The marriage OF his brother
Wi his former w1re resuueu III nhuch hi-leci-
ing between the brothers. who aterward spoke TO
each other The difference did not reach TO the point OF
omen enmity but they would hold no intercourse to-
geher They rarely met and although the house OF the
Oldest brother served neutral ground for the family
TO meet upon meeting between the estranged brothers
was avoided carefully by all. Richards second vile
was received upon familiar terms by the members OF
the family.
II seemed last night 20 be the general opinion among
the brothers that Richards wife knew about the
murder than she willing to confess In support Oh
their conviction they referred TO the statements made
nv her and 10 the extreme improbabty OF her remain
ing aseep or unconscious during the commission
OF the murder The theory Of her having been under
the influence OF choroform had BEEN they said, dis
proyed TO their satisfaction. The bottle containing
chloroform which had beeu found in the SMALL
and although the cork was out, was nearly two-thrds
full They had found, upon inquiry OF prac-
teal chemist that the quantity used from the bottle
would have been wholly inadequate to render her un-
conscious tor few minutes III then she was un-
conscious only from sleep. IL was Impossible tnat her
sleep should have been so deep anu sou11 M ~ & 70 Es
the murderer ,,,,. ~, -. . ,., .no,
the sitnation of the wounds the head Indicated
he ge S be bed He must therefore have struck the
first blow while leaning over MS Tlte' VINO Jay on
the side nearest him. At the first blow, smtn must
have sprung eonvusIvely but before he could have
awakened IRON sleep or recovered CONSCIOUSNESS from
snd with fatal effect The murderer. they suppose,
then passed the foot Of the bed and perhaps nd
Voluntarily plunged the knife rapidly and wildly nte
his left breast until the muscles ceased neir action
DurnR this time the wife, according 10 her statement,
resting quietly In the bed unconscious OIL the cre
One of the brothers suggested that there might have
been two persons engaged in the murder put lhe only
that he assigned Tor tne Ss , e @ Sss
heavy man, weighing tally lS0 short tniek
neck aud possessed remarkable physical power. " lie
hod naW MIN" SAID Alderman Snlltl. But tne
brother who was walking restlessy 70 ana lro hcross
ing ~ Ra%ylor Wall and said No there Was only one man"
At this moment the street door opened hurriedy.
Slna sed through the hall into the sItingroom be-
yond the parlor followed by the officer In charge Her
cloak and removed and she seated herself 10
low cocker In which she swayed herself TO and fro
as In a sort OF maze. Her face looked drawn and
haggard, the complexion somewhat salloH ana the
ewes dull aud with dark circles, AZ II frOm weeping or
seepessness Lowered for the most part OF the time,
and veed with wandering look her eyes now ana tne
| threw swift, keen ganees about the room ana
at the persons around her. IL she saw tnmt .n, & hef
looks were observed, her gaze mmedlaey isl,i Dus
there was steahy furtiveness and eager watchuness
IN her frequent glances that showed she took deep In
AIderman smith said OF her: could not endure
have her stay U1sS Sssn iyey social woman with
fondness OF dress and ornaments Everything
Inv brother earned has gone at once upon her back or
fas, She loved gayely and amusement more than al
most any one knew, and she dressed better tnan
women whose husbands have vastly larger Incomes than
smith the murdered man. had been out Of employment
the police force Ills brothers had assisted him TO a
certain extent but he owed considerable amount OF
money which he had been unable TO pay. Some OF his
creditors had pressed their claims urgently but they
were for small amounts. -
"About this man Bennett" said the brother, " there
was a strong friendship between them without doub
bnt do NOT care 10 think they ermlnay ntmate
The conversation was Interrupted by the entrance Of
| Chief Of Police Nathan, with one or two
| officers. They examined the kDife that mad
| heen found IL an Ola carving
Knife with bone handle somewhat broken. The blade
Was long and narrow and the marks on IL showed that 1t
| bad heen recently gharpened The point was broken
iust at the tip but IL ugly looking weapon NO
doub was expressed it the knife used In the
murder II has been identified one used in Smiths
house although t had not been shown at that time TO
| his wife.