The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1882-09-20
The SmithHeId Tragedy.

The SmithfeId Tragedy.
The public naturally desires to know
the particulars of all important occur
rences; aud our experience as a jourualis
teaches the wisdom of stating the fact
fairly and fully. withholding nothing
The least attempt to conceal gives rise Il
suspicious and rumors which far out>rul
the facts; particularly if a lady be con-
nected Herewith. Many a case is dam
aged because the friends of the partie,
foolishly seek to have it hushed up-o
held back until Court time" The kill
ing of Col. Blair by Capt. Halle, il
South Carolina, was telegraphed ans
written all over the land as cold-bloodec
murder.-a ''cowardly shot in the back
"a political conspiracy to get rid of thu
Greenbacker leader" ETC., etc Wherea.
at the trial it was proved that Blail wa!
a ''shootist," and had been carrying
double barrel shotgun the previous day
breathing t~hreatenings and slaughter
He attacked Halle with a club In hand
drove him into the house, and was ad-
v~ancing upon him with one hand thrus,
into his breast pocket as if feeling for a
pistol, when Halle fired the fatal shot
If the latters friends had caused these
things to be known the whole worlC
would not have been shocked" as it has
been for three months past, over this
--latest case Of Southern brutality"
The facts of the Smjthfeld homicide,
as given us by disinterested parties are a:
follows: Or. Robinson formerly Of Colds
boro, being a brother of the Republican
Solicitor of the Federal Court came to
johnson county about three months ago.
and began to pay addresses to Miss Julia
Snead. Soon afterwards the Midland r.
r. was completed to that point, and Dar
Laughlin, a young New Yorker Irishman,
aged %, was appointed Time-Keeper.
He found favor with Miss Julia and
Robinson's letters, etc, were returned
as in the case of Garland VS.. Addison, in
Virginia, recently; only that no i'll. fe cling
grew out of it, on either side. On the
day of, or before, the tragedy, Robinson
and Laughlin were taking a drink at the
public bar, when the latter dropped a
note from Miss Snead. The doctor pick
ed it up, and 10 handing it to him remark
ed that he ought to be more careful how
he handled the missives Of his sweetheart.
No exception to this was taken at the
time. but as Dan grew warm from ''spir-
its" he fancied the remark had been de-
signed to insult him and he swore to
make him apologize, or take a whipping.
Later he notified Robinson, who boarded
at the same hotel, that he wished an sin
terview." After supper, as the Doctor
was lighting his lamp, Laughlin stepped
in his Office, and shut the door behind
him, which blew out the light. An alter
cation occurred; and Robinson says be
ordered Dan out of the room, and called
loudly for the police. Then came q
struggle and the latter received three
cuts with a surgeons knife which hap
pened to be lying within reach. One
penetrated between the ribs. The youne
man Immediately left Robinson's room
and went into the hotel. where he receiv-
ed all attention. Col. Andrews u. W.
came on a special car, with DR.. Spieer,
to save his life if possible. 1t was not to
be; and he died next day. The lady put
on mourning it is said. DR.. R. was ex
amined by magistrate. and held: but a
writ of Habeas Corpus was sought, and
will be heard by Judge Gilmer at Baden
court to-day. Col. T. G. Fuller was tel
egraphed for.