West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1881-12-07
ST. PAUL PHoNoGRApH.

WI. w dtooi u. Hillltu, clerk OF
the United States court, was foully
assassinated at the door of his office
IN the government building at
Omaha, on the night of the 4th
inst. He had been clerk of the
court for twelve years and was uni
versally esteemed by his acquain-
tances. He took an active part in
enforcing the Sloeumb license law.
and thus called down condemnation
on his head from few parties en-
gagged in the liquor traffic,
BLAIR PILOT.
The murder of Col. Watson B.
Smith, at Omaha, is without a par
allel in the history of crime in Ne
braska, for atrocity and diabolism.
In this murder there could not have
been semblance of a motive ex-
cept that Col. Smith was u promi-
nent temperance man, &c.
PLATTsMoUTH ENTERPRISE.
He died a martyr. Col. Watson
B. Smith, clerk of the U, S. Court at
Omaha, who was assassinated at
midnight, November 4th, at his Of
tice door, died martyr to the cause
of temperance, and the enforcement
OF the laws Of Nebraska. He was
murdered because he had dared de-
mand that the laws of the State
should be enforced; because, as a
temperance man he had dared to
ask that the Slocumb license law
should be needed and obeyed 1t is
an infamy that is as damning as
the Olive tragedy, and it stands
on the records against the law and
order Of the State of Nebraska.
What can be said? Words fall
powerless to express the indignity.
There is a spirit of depravity ahoat
in the State that violates law and
assassinates the man who enters
his protest against it. 1t is the
same spirit that in Plattsmouth.has
filled the air with threatenings. Is
there no remedy. Are people who
ask that the laws be obeyed stand
ing in jeopardy? Is it too much to
hope that the spirit may be throt-
tied? Is it too much to hope that
the day will come when the metro
politan press of the State will be
one-half as industrious in uphold
ing a man in upholding the law,
as it is industrious in encomiums
after he perishes martyr.
NORTH NEBRASKA EAGLE
One of the foulest murders that
ever occurred in the State of Ne
braska was committed in Omaha
on Friday of last week. 1t was the
murder of Col. Watson B. Smith,
clerk of the United States circuit
court for the district Of Nebraska, a
place that he has held for many
years. Col. Smith has taken a very
active part in the enforcement Of
the Sunday and Slocumb liquor
laws in that city The best and
shrewdest detectives in the country
have been engaged to look up the
case.
We could fill several columns
with similar extracts, but will let
the foregoing suffice.
The United States Court and Bar
held a public meeting, and paid
tribute to the exalted worth of Col,
Smith. Many eloquent addresses
were made, all filled with uniform
encomiums upon the noble life and
eminent virtues of this latest victim
of the malicious spirit of the miser-
able traffic that is legalized in the
land.
At the public meeting, Hon. J.
M. Woolworth, among other things
in his eloquent tribute, said:
He was called from US because he
dared to perform his duty. For
principle he lived, to principle he
consecrated his life, and for princi-
pie he died. This is the lesson we
should draw-put behind us the
duty we owe ourselves for the duty
we owe society.
Hon. John Redick was the next
speaker. He said he thought the
churches and moral element of the
community are responsible for the
n II l. l. L,