New-York tribune., 1878-08-02
DETAILS OF THE TRAGEDY.

or THE CRIME-FORMER LIFE OF SMITH AND HIS
WIFE.
Jersey City was startled yesterday by the
details of a horrible aud cOd-booded murder Richard
II. Smith, young well-known in Jersey City, and
for three months member OF the police force,
brutally dubbed with iron window weight, aud re-
peaedly stabbed with carving knife while lying in bed
His wife claims have slept sOundly by his sde
conscious OF the deed. But the circumstances point
strongly in the direction Of her completely. aud the OH
the track of her lover youth twenty
OF age named Cope Bennett who is believed to be the
principal In the murder.
Smith belonged 10 a respectable family, and was much
liked by his associates. He used liquor in moderation,
but II is said mnch IN the society OF women whose
character good Seven years ago, when he was
tvcnty-six, and "a married man, his wife procured
divorce because of his intimacy with Jennie
Powers, handsome young girl, who In
very short time afterward became his wife.
This woman now only twenty-five years old, called
Jane Woolly after her father. hut when she left the
public school she became known as Jennie Powers
Her character then, 1t Is alleged, not above re-
proleh. When Harry" Smith, he was called, mar
ried her. dcported herself very well until recently
He, however, is said have been guilty OF some m-
propreties.
Last Autumn being in somewhat Strengthened circum-
stances Mr. and Mrs. smith accepted young Cope Ben
netts offer occupy house which his mother recently
dead had left him, Paehc-aye, near JOhnson-aye.,
about a mile aud a half southwest from the Jersey
CITY ferry Bennett received board for the
rent. lie was young fellow who had just
left school, egotistca domineering and quick
tempered Because lac was not noticed at primary
meeting where tried 10 exercise influence though not
OF age on election day be raised the National flag with
the union down. as insult TO the voters OF the district
The Smiths had been long in the house before Ben
nett Il Is alleged. became intimate with the wife This
ended IN serious quarrel Bennett made some Kind OF
/ N and February, a
soutl taking the third Of u of fine two-story cot
tages lie occupied only the gound floor, Jas McGregor
and family living upstairs Pacihcave here Is shaded
by large trees and the neigborhood Is very pleasant In
and quiet II is said that Bennett continued
20 be intimate with Jennie Smith after her husband
appointed In April last to night duty In the police
force Smith Is reported to have found Bennett
| twice In his house and TO have elected him.
within two or three days, Smith asked to be
transferred from the night force to tue day
force and 10 be placed the beat past his house He
was told by brother officer that day service would keep
him our additional hours duty. -" know, he said,
but there Is something wrong in my house aud want
IN he uear tt~ He was duty Tuesday night.
| and soon after his return home In the morning.
Mrs McGregor went down cellar for some kndingwood
and returned with scream, and said there was man
in the cellar Mrs. Smith said "Oh, no. that can't De
I,s your IMAGINATION" But Smith seized his police
mans club and ran downstairs but returned saying
| that he could find no one Mrs. McGregor said the
man she saw was not very tall. and somewhat slim.
Smith was on day duty Wednesday, but attended
meeting at Police Headquarters in the evening" aud did
not return until IL o'clock, when his wife says tey
went TO bed The bedroom Is on the first noOr between
| tho sttIng.room and the kitchen In the rear
tho only rooms they occupied. The house Is
noory furnished. In the bedroom Is common grained
ehamber-set the west side is the washstand on the
south wall the bureau, on which stands small clock
and a lamp the heal Of the bed rested against the
north wall, with small closet on each sde the body OF
the bed being in the middle OF the room Smith put his
clothes on chair between the washstnnd and the right
| hand closet and lay on the right side of the bed
DISCOVERY OF THE CRIME
Nrs Smith saws her husband was nervous ana she
rtess aud he asked her why she did not Keep quiet
and let him go TO sleep. She next remembers being
| wakened about . o'clock Then she went TO sleep ana
remembers nothing until she awoke again. about twenty
minutes after O'Clock yesterday morning to find a
towel over her face She reached over to her husband
who felt cold and wet aud she discovered by tue ad OF
the iamp which WAS burning all night evidences OF the
horrible tragedy.
Al this time Mrs smlth was heard In the hall and on
the stairs shreking and calling for Mr. McGregor aoove
Mr. McGregor's mother from her room and asked
what was the matter. Mrs Smith refused 10 tell ana
aim called for Mr. Mcregor when the latter appeared
| she cried HE Is klllcd lie Is killed. man did itP
| Mr. McGregor FASTENED down stars to the bedroom
and for two minutes stood with the wife OF the
murdered man before sickenng spectacle. The victim
law ON his right SIDE with his left arm aud leg hanging
| over the edge OF the bed. The bed clothes
| and tho mattress soaked with his blood
A bloody pillow covered his head. tbs re-
| moved. for Mr. McGregor thought there might be
| u,o en- bis unfortunate neghbor, disclosed long
dent and cuts on the left side OF the head coted hair
clotted moustache and streaks OF blood on the iace
The body was not quite cod and on the left breast were
numerous cuts and clots Of blood Mr Me"regor ieo
Mrs Smith into the slttngroo, where she tainted ana
was left with his wife and mother while he ran for as
sistance.
The lamplighter who was extlnguishing the street
lomps ran 10 call policeman, while Mr. MeGregor ran
| for Dr. Case Then the family OF Alderman smith,
brother OF the murdered man, was summoned as also
| Dr Converse and Coroner Roman. Omeer Banneid was
| near by and was found by the lamplighter The doc
tors found a long indenture on the head, which,
boever had not abraded the skin and two cuts from
| knife On the left breast were eight ugly stan
| wounds To all appearances, the murder had DeeH
| committed by a strong man, who, alded Dy inc
| LIGHT of the lamp on the bureau. had first struck
| a heavy blow on the head; then IL appeared
as II the victim had partially raised himself on his side
and fallen back and that the murderer Win e1citeu
ferocv had completed his bloody work with the knife
BLOOD had spurted over the partially opened closet
door and on the headboard The murderers hands and
sleeves must have covered with blood but ne neo
without leaving any marks the floor or any article o
| fiuiture window door-knob There was no Dioou
on Mrs. smith, except a little on the right hand and
sleeve She says she was sleeping with her face from
| her husband, and that when she awoke
| she had sweet taste In her mouth
hottie OF cbloroorm found on the floor with the
cork out but the doctors say that the drug was verJ
weak and that there was indication OF Its having
been used They feel certain that chloroform was ap
plied 10 Mrs Smith, The chairs which the clothes o
the murdered man hung were not disturbed. Another
strange fact Is this that Smiths blackandan dog
ant iu the sIttng-room and made no disturbance Ai
rule the dog is noisy. has troubled the hcGregoi
family and barked when the reporter rang the doorbe
detective McHarney who has known Jennie Smith
she was eight years of age placed On guard a.