The daily gazette., 1881-05-17
CLARA SMITHS DEATH.
The D0Hbe ax 90 whether af Was
Causedby BxnaRl-Pox or Personal
Violence.

On Tuesday last, 10th inst, q young
negro woman named Clara p. Smith,
aged about twenty years, died at the resi-
dence OF her mother, in Guthrie's row,
South Wilmington. The next morning
her death was q general topic OF conver-
sation among the negroes Of the neigh
borhood, some declaring that she died OF
smallpox, while others stoutly main
tanned that her death was the result of
beating received on the Saturday night
previous OF one Atwood Carpenter, coll,
whose mistress she had been for three or
four years previous. The attention of
GAZETTE reporter was called to these
rumors and he promptly investigated
them, but on examination the negroes
who previously talked so glibly about
a murder knew nothing beyond the fact
that "Clara aud her man" had had
fight on the Saturday night before her
death. An examination at the Regis
trar's offic showed that physicians Ger
tificate of the death Of Clara p. Smith,
had been duly reported, with smallpox
noted as the cause of death, aud three
days as the duration of the disease. This
certificate was signed by DIR. j. t. V.
Blocksom, and under the circumstances
considered proof positive, at the time,
that there was nothing suspicious con-
necled with the woman's death.
The rumors, however, continued to
fly around, being freely circulated by the
deceased womal's mother, and by ne
gro woman named Martha Jones, who
was with Clara Smith when she had the
quarrel with Carpenter. The facts, as
l00a hot tk.f.sx "a fall
On Saturday evening, May 7th, Clara
Smith, in company with Martha Jones,
came up to the Second street market to
do some dealing. After leaving the
market the two proceeded to Gray's
store, Second and King streets, where
Clara stood outside while Martha Jones
went into the stols to buy some things.
While Clara was waiting on the side
walk man by the name of Atwood
Carpenter, better known as Sab" who
had been going with her for some time
came along, and he and Clara went of
down King street together. They walked
along very quietly until they came to
Front street, wnere they turned and pro-
ceeded out Front to the Market street
bridge, when some Iadnts used by Clara
made Carpenter angry, and the tive kept
up lively running quarrel until over
the bridge.
As they passed Q. w. Weld,n's lum-
ber-yard the girl said something unus.
ually taunting, and Carpenter with an
oath, roughly push:d her Into the yard,
and knocking her down, jumped on her
aud commenced kicking and beating her
In an unmerciful manner on the. back,
head, stomach and shoulders, the girl all
the time screaming. A white man,
whose name could not be ascertained,
attracted by the noise, quickly ran 10
tue spot. Carpenter, rs soon AS he saw
him, ran off aud escaped in the dark.
ness.
The unfortunate girl was taken homs
vomiting blood and moaning pileously
complaining of excruciatlng pain all
through her body, but more particularly
In her stomach. Her left eye was
greatly Sunday, and Monday afternoon
DR.. Blocksom was sent for. The doctor
sent her some medicine, but did not Set
her personally. Tuesday afternoon hs
went 10 see her. Her mother, accordin,
to her testimony yesterday to the coro
ner, said 10 the doctor that there was
case OF smallpox iu the square IN which
they lived, and she was afraid CLAIR
had caught it. DR.. Blocksom said tina
lie was unable 10 tell at present wha
was the matter with her, but that 70
four or five days at least there would b.
no danger Of anyone catching 1t from
her.
Tie young woman, however, contin
ued To grow worse, suffering mainl
with the hemorrhages, and on Iuesda
, evening she died.
CARPENTER ARRESTED.
Coroner Weldin investigated the al
fair, yesterday, and deemed the circum
stances sufficiently suspicious to war
rant hin In ordering the arrest of CaI
penter, wBich was effected about si
O'Clock, last evening, at Front and Maj
kst streets, by officers Brickle aud Cal
ey, who lodged him in the City Hal
cells. Carpenter says he procured th
. certificate from DIR. Blocksom the da
after the woman's death, after which b
, procured burial permit from The Regis
trar and took the body himself, tbs
night, TO- Potter's field, whore he had
buried.
DIR. Blocksom has been In Wa.hinf
!, ton for several days, and when q Ga
zErTE reporter called at his office, thl
morning, the announcement was mad
3 that he would not be home until ever
3 ing.
] Carpenter had been living with til
D girl Tor over three years, and she La
I three children-only one of them bein
now alive. lie asserts that he offere
the girl no violence on the Saturda
a night In question beyond slapping he
In the mouth. The Coroner is now IL
> vestigating the affair.
ACTION OF THE CORONER.
This morning coroner Weldin sun
moned ajury anu proceeded to Potter
Field, where the body is buried. rh
jury was sworn over the grave, aud aite
u an interchange vi views it was decide
10 hear ths witnesses first, and II IL W;
4 then deemed necessary The oody will h
t sxhumsd anu postmortem examins
:. tion held. The jury then adjourned
q meet in the City Hail this evening
T.30 o'clock.