The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-11-24
THE EXECUTION OF JOHN SMITH.

at Oakland Friday of last week for
the murder of Josiah Harden near
Elkins, May 10, last. The day was
about as cold and bleak as could be
imagined. Snow to the depth of near
ly an inch fell during the night, and
more or less snow came down during
/ the day. A cutting wind prevailed
! and outdoor exercise was decidedly
unpleasant. This and the knowledge
that the execution was to be private
prevented the arrival of many Stran-
gers in town and the affair passed off
quietly,
THE CRIME.
John Smith, the condemned man,
was a coIbred boss on the West Vir-
ginia Central and Pittsburg railroad,
in course of construction, and lived in
a cabin near Elkihs. He was in the
neighborhood of forty years old. Har-
den, the murdered man, was white
shoemaker, living near Elkihs. On
May 10 Smith had been drinking and
making Threats against various per
sons, among them Harden. Between
6 and 7 p. NJ. on that day Smith went
to Harden's house and remained there
| until about p. NJ. conVersing with
various members ut the family. He
paid Harden FIVE cents for mending
his shoes, and while the latter was
odt said tn his son Robert "Your
father don't like me very WE'LL" After
more conversation Smith left the
house. After that the family COM
menced preparing for bed. Little
Alice, nine-year- old daughter, was
asleep in bed in corner of the room.
Harden was sitting with his back to-
ward the widow, partly undressed,
with his wife and two children beside
him. About haitian hour after Smith
left two shots were fred through the
window in quick Succession, smash
ing the glass. Harden jumped up,
shook his hand, felt his shoulder; and
said: Don't do that, Smith don't
do that any more that's enough of
that" He told his family to run up
stairs and started toward the door.
The door was then broken open,
man entered, a scuffie ensued and
three more shots were fired. Little
Alice testified that she was awakened
by the noise and saw Smith holding
her father by the throat and shooting
him. She then ran up stairs and as
she did so saw her father fall. Smith
then went up stairs, seized Mrs. Har-
den, and dragged her into the woods,
despite the efforts of her son Robert
to protect her. When she got free
from Smith and returned, about half
an hour afterward, her husband was
dead. The family gave the alarm and
a party of men came to the house.
They made an examination and found
Harden's body lying near his house,
with gunshot wounds in the back and
neck and flesh wound on the head.
The house was found in disorder and
in the earth under the window was
found peculiar foot-track, positively
identified as that Of Smiths. The
party then went to Smiths shanty
and called for him, but the murderer,
after parleying with them a while,
escaped from the building by going
up the chimney and thence to the
woods back of the house. After the
party Of men left the sfianty Smith
returned to it ard inquired of Mitch
ell Russell, another colored man who
lived with him, what the men want
ed with him. Being told that he was
charged with the murder of Harden,
he said: "They haye got old Smithy
to CATCH" babe them "good-bye," and
left. Russell further testified that
Smith had told him that "Harden
was id old rascal had cheated
him in pair of boots, and he had
Started to kill him last summer"
Smith, after escaping, made his way
to Winchester. Virginia. but was
arrested there, May 80, by a police
man. On his person were found a
revolver, bloody butcher.knife and
bundle of old clothes, containing
coat worn on the day of the murder,
Which had blood spots upon it.
FIFE TRIAL.
Smith was brought to fail at Oak
land, and Silas Jefferson, a colored
witness for Che prosecution, unable to
give bond. was confined with him,
While there las Jefferson afterwards
tesitfed) Smith told him that he did
kill Harden and was only sorry he
had not killed Mrs. Harden too. The
case was tried at the September term
of the Garrett county court, and the
prisoner was ably defended by Messrs.
T. J. Peddicord and II. Wheeler
Combs. States Attorney Veitch con-