The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1882-11-22
The Pcoasset Tragedy in IA. .
sachusetts Revived--Bo,h Pa
rents Kill Their Boy in the
Sacred Name of Religion
horrible Details

SAN Francisco, Nov. 15.-Thc de-
tails of the sacrifice OF the oldest son by
q Mormon family of fanatics at West
Minister. Los Angeles county, has Just
rome To light. The murder is shown to
be one oil unusual atroclty. Josiah +.
Smith the father who killed his boy be-
,gu,r. he said, he lad Il revelation from
tine Lord to do so. is 40 years old. lie
ZANE To Westminster five wears ago.
md since then, with his wife and family.
has been picking up a meager sub
.i,tence by odd jobs. Finally the
family settled down to fishing, estab-
fishing their home III a desolate island
of tine coast, which could only be reach
81 by a boat. 1t was seldom visited eX-
cent nv hunters and fishermen, who
-... the boat which the Murdered boy
l.H r.urge of. The murder was COM
..u the 18th inst, but was not dis
u, until last Thursday. when a
hunter. who called from the
.. .nr the boy were told BY the old
rs. smith that the boy was dead. and
r... be- had been inspired by the Lord
fa Ri his child. .he hunting party
secured the services OF a younger boy
and cgully went on with their sport, only
rrportIng the crime to the authorities
that night. A constable and doctor
went out next day to the scene of the
crime. They drove down to the beach
and shouted to Smith and he rowed over
to them. ON making the object of the
visit known he gave himself up quietly.
The mother and children were then
brought from the island and the entire
family AIKEN to Westminster Friday
morIng. before the officers arrived
the boy mad been buried about thirty
lcct from t e house. On arrival OF the
prisoner and family at Westminster ALI
inquest was ordered. justice Aldridge,
accompanied by Dr. James Mccoy and
others. smith included, returned TO the
beach ana rowed across 10 the island.
smith pointed OUT where the body was
buried, { e grave was opened, a rough
box. which tae father had made, vas
raised and the lid lifted. The sight is
described as most sicK.nin.. The I'M
natural parent looked IA cOmplacently
and spoa.- OF the murder With no feel
M. Finally. i'll reply to a question rs
ID how he struck the blow, he stopped
over the corpse, thrust his knife into il
drew il out OF the cavity without a sign
ul rlhotioh.
\ few weeks ago Smith gave up fish
ing. and being asked why, replied that
the Lord lad commanded it,. and had
promised to hereafter provide for him
From that time on he has made, and has
commanded his family To make, no effort
To- gain Il livelihood. The boy, how
ever. put no faith in his fathers belief.
and from time TO time purchased tea,
~gJ-ar. &c. with his " money On the
Wednesday before the murder the boy
purchased and took home some sacks o
Hour, which angered his father. and tins
was found emptied out upon the ground.
together with some other provisions.
close To the spot where the murder was
committed. Except a few green apples
IuJhing eaJable was found III the house,
Tie crime was committed about three
hundred wards rom the house. The boz
VA, taken out tenind a clu,hp OF bush,
both parents beng present. They ciai.
that .c knew &c was 10 be sacrificed All
made no iesisG.nre whatever. but cain
knrlt before them. ready to ne Die.
up while III tins posIt.un the father stru
the fatal blow. ono OF the first ques.
tons asked III t.e arrival OF the family
at Westminster Was whether they woul,
MAKE further SdCf ices Oh Their CnlluTeIl
and both father and mother replied tina
il the Lord called on them to sacrltic,
all. ii would have to be done. At tie
examination neither Smith nor his witt
made any effort TO conceal anything. hu
tuiI the whole story i'll its horrible de
tails. smith pleaded guilty as charged
and was committed for trial on the charg'
ot murder. He Is now imprisoned II
Los Angeles. From the first the muir
drrer ..us shown no feeling whatever
ana regards the crime no more than IA
would the killing OF IA hog. The mothe
BEGINS To teel great remorse and to dpub
the divinity OF Their inspiration.