The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1883-10-06
Suicide in Jail!

At the recent trial OF george w.
Smith for the murder of Mrs Mary
Petch in Yamhill county, the jury after
being out about 25 hours, returned a
verdict of murder In the first degree.
When the news was communicated to
Smith he asked to be allowed to have
an interview with his wife and children,
in the sherif's office at Lafayette,
where he babe them farewell in an af-
fecting manner.
William Rogers, an alleged burglar,
occupied the same cell with Smith, and
said that Saturday night at $50 o'clock,
Smith said to him: 81 think it mean
that the sheriff won't allow me to have
a light, and take my last farewell of
my children. Tuesday, at | o'clock,
I'm to receive sentence, for they have
brought in a verdict of guilty, as
charged. Here is half dollar; keep
that in memory of me, and when you
are tempted to take drink look ct the
pieee.of money, and it will keep you
from drink want You to deliver
some messages for 1ne-one to my wife,
one to W. D. Fenton, one to the sheriff
and another to the public"
The message to the sheriff was to tie
effect that he wanted no AUTOPSY held
on his remains, as his death would be
caused by morphia; that he wanted his
body turned over to his wife, and de-
sired that no priest Oh preacher might
be allowed to say word of any kind
over his grave. Also that his gun, pis-
tol, ammunition and $31.25 be given
to ". D. Fenton, his counsel.
His message to the public was as fol
low: ~ want the public to under
stand that | do not take my life through
| fear Of death, because [ am not afraid
to die. I am not guilty of the crime
with which | am- charged, but eircum.
stances have prevented me from exon
Grating myself. I do not take my own
life because I murdered Mrs. Petcn
for am innocent. I want to die in
this manner because I don't want my
children to SO through the world ham
pered with the disgrace of their father
having been hanged"
I His message to his wife was: "Take
charge of my body ard bury it besid,
one little body who died within the
year. I wish all the love you ever en-
tertained for me to be given to the
children, and do not care if you marry
again; and if you like you can sell th'
property and GO elsewhere"
The message to W. d. Fenton wal
in relation to his gun and pistols, ane
the publication Of poem.
Rogers says that Smith talked in hi
cell from $50 P. NJ. to 10 o'clock, wher
bot,l fell asleep. He says he wa.
awakened about l1:30 o'clock by hear
ing loud breathing, and a gurglins
sound coming from Smiths side of ths
cell. He became alarmed and shouted
for the jailer, who aroused the sheriff
The latter sent for DR.. Littlefeld, wht
Iabored with Smith, but without avail
He never spoke after his last words
with Rogers, and died at $50 A. II
Sunday.
Smith was in good spirits unit
Wednesday night, when he becam,
much depressed. Rogers claims t.
have had fifty conversations with smitl
i'll relation to the killing, but defendan
stoutly protested his innocence always
and said the shooting was done by Jo
Petch, and the public would find it on
some day.
A. n. Hurley, justice of the peae
and acting coroner, held an inquest
The jury returned verdict that Gee
W. Smith came 10 his dearh by poison
! ing, produced by an overdose of MOI
phine, administered by himself, wit
suicidal lntept, and that the poison wa
concealed in the collar of coat wor
by him at the time.