, 1881-11-06


seycrine the head from the body. The
victim was Il mere baby, being but years
did Later the madman finished his awfsri
wDrk Dy cutting his own tlroat. dying 4 few
n,,,,,cuts after doing the deed. The Tact Of
Webdtn having made Il will only the day be-
fnr.. committing the double crime is taken
by many rs evidence that the act. was pre-,
,H1r;i:ated. ~ lie was ali old resident, and
widely known throughout the region.
THE LIQUOR War In Nebraska Bringing
Forth xassasins-IlAe Murder OF Col.
smith.
OMAHA. Neb., Nov. 5.-All Omaha was
startled this morning BY the announcement
in the mornln. papers that Watson j. Smith,
Clerk Of the United States Court, had been
found murdered 1T about2 o'clock this
morning ut his vtticc door i'll the third story
of the United States Court ilnuse. Col.
Smith not coming home last night at the
usual hour, his mother became anxious con-
cer1,ing lin, and called on DR.. Moore. q near
ncigh,or. to 70 and look for him downtown.
The Doctor 1elcphoned to druggist knhn
about O'Clock tu go IT, Col. Smltll's office
and see il he WAS there, rs he
lad been complaining Of being sick.
Kuhn di, SO, and fonnd Col. Smith lying
dead upon the floor III tile hall, in pool OF
blood, with a builet-hole in his head.
THE ALARM WAS GIVEN,
and investigation WAS begun. \ revolver Of
a large caIbrc was found sticking in his left
pantaloons-leS, near the foot, with the butt
end expused. His key w;ls still III Ills door,
which he wa, about to shut UP Oil departing.
The door was partly open. Two letters
wlicl, he had written. directed, aud
stamped were Oil the floor at his
feet, as they had fallen from his
hand, 1t was apparent that he ill.,
tended to mail them downstairs
III the post-oflice IT'S lle should leave tile
building. Ills hat was OIL the back Of his
head, full OF blood. lie had turned out the
gas in Ills office, and the murderer pvoDably
turned out the gas in the hail. and laid Ill
wait for him, anu, rs he was about to close
his door, put /: revolver to his head and fired,
striking above the left temple, the ball
GOING Cl.E..i: THROUGH THE HEAD
and landing OIL the floor. Tile revolver that
was found tlid not belong 10 Col. Smith,
which exploles all theory of suicide. Every
thing shows that the deceased had no idea OF
tlla Kind, but that he was preparing to go
home Ills own two revolvers were found 1T
Iii, homie At the Coroners inquest today
scycra! threatening letters were produced.
Col. Smith was 4 prominent temperance
uall and had taken all active part to enforce
the Slocunlb Liquor law, compelling s'!ooHs
to pay 81 600 license. lie also caused The
saloons to close OH Sunday, For some time
past bitter feeling has existed toward him
OH the part Of so,lle liquor men on this ac-
count Letters containing threats came from
that source, and are ylllainous productions.
tIbe Coroner's iurv returned 4 verdict Of
murder. ..-.
AT A CITIZENS MEETING
this afternoon Indignation was expressed ami
$4,000 subscribed for a reward for the arrest
and conviction Of thenlur'tercrs, to WHOM as
yet no clcw has been Obtained. lhe allalr
retlalns Il dark and painful mystery. othet
rewards are offered. one OF S''oo by Tue
Liuuor-Dcalcrs' Union, "ne Ut S:oo oS the
Guod Icnapl;lrs' anu anotller ol S@'o W oof;
Nance. Great excltehle1!1 pte'n's. 1'cce:'seo
was prominent anu Respected citi]eh' "l;.t'
OF correct haol1s, Il zea1'us 1'e'nuc' ~ '''o
Baptist Church. anu was "loels Allo"'. !.
through Ncoras"a. 11e il''u pcen tlclA W
the Unlteu States courts LOT o'cr t"eNe
years. .
sueciat Di,pateh TO The Chicago Tribune.
/ 1,<c,,,y Nph Nnv 5-'rbe news of the
o,:.,','' s.VAs, ~' n,,,'1. - w,tsnn"H Smi,I
s1lootlnE at on1a!l' % ""'soI - 1,!''1n' ',N''I.
Clerk OF the United States Distrlct Coutt'
was brought into thu District Court i'll this
citv ,hjs ,,or,,inr. and it caused u profound
e'1' ',t'' mr. s,,,4 ~ ,1s.,.,. ,,rI,i,.,.,,,,
sensation 1'ic Ion. -t".uoette "'1ulesss
the court, and said that te'eSfa'ns rece'Ga
from Omaha announced that. Watson, Is.
Smith had been murdered at the door OF his
ol'1ce at ou'''''"" Ae 49, ,.1
oe II meeting oi lne ot'' " tn0 o"!.1u
States Court .llls e'en.nS' anu tu''
MS Aonor preS"e; Af' N"'1ue..u ;. l"!
ther remarked ti'at Al' 1n'itn' =. ~
MS ONCE hao peeh liien' - a't 49, ncip.; y,
uie attorneys WHO p,'ct'eeu ~ .ns un'$ns. 80
otaecs eouFts' rol tnc p.,'t ivy ''1 ..4"1's"a ns