Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-10-16
BRUTAL MURDER.
Tho Utime committed by Two Brothcrs In
UoIunbia-rho Murdercrs Arrested


sceno of most brutal murder last night
about II o'clock. Tho victim was Henry
Struck, young married man about 20
wears old. a sDn OF Constable Frederick
Struck, of Columbia, and tho murderers
are two brothers, George and Winfield
Smith aged respectively about IL aud 20
years.
II appears that there has boon an old
grudge existing between tho two families
for sometime past. Last evening the
Smith boys were drunk aud wero heard TO
say they wero going to Kitchentown to
kill Struck. Kitchentown Is that part Of
Columbia in which the Struck family rc
side. Meeting younger brother of Henry
Struck, thoy assaulted aud boat him, but
ho made his escape from thom. They then
went to tho residence of Henry Struck,
who was in bed aud made 4 great noise
outside. Henry thinking that his father.
the constable, gwas having some trouble
with party of roughs, got out Of bed,
and having only his night shirt and pautl.
looms on, ran down stairs and across tho
street 10 SEQ what was tho matter, lIo
was Immediately attacked by tho Smith
brothers, who were armod with knives,
one Of them striking him In tho lower
part of tho abdomen and ripping
out his ontrails, tho other cutting a fear
ful cash in his side near tho waist. He
fell helpless TO tho ground aud the mur
dcrcrs ilcd. Mr. Struck was carried into
the house aud surgeons were sent for, but
his hurt was beyond their skill. Squire
Frank was sent for aud took his ante
mOrtem statement. lie declared that both
tho brothurS cut him with their knives,
and related tho circumstances substantially
as given above. He fingered in great
agony until about o'clock this morning
when ho died
Warrants for tho arrest of the Smiths
we're Is sued by Squire Frank and placed
il tho hands OF Onic3rs Wm. Wittick AID
John Gilbert, who found the criminals in
bed at their homo and arrested them be
tween ! aud O'Clock this morning, aud
lodged them in the county Jail To await u
hearing before Squire Frank on Friday
next. They mldo no resistcuCo about
being arrested, bat complained ui b9iug
taken out Of bed o. Su1h au unreasonable
hour. This mDrniuE after bsiIg informed
Of Struck death th"y became very reti.
cont and would say worry hLtlo about the
affair. George confessed that he did tho
cutting, but slyB that he did it in self
defense, a. Struck ran across the street
aud assaulted him WITH u club. He deniGs
that his brother W.uda.d cut Struck at all.
Gcogo Smith is good deal battered and
bruised about tho head, bat whether hc
received the wounds in tho may no says is
rot known.
The Smiths bear u bad reputation in
Columbia, being drunken aud quarro,-
some. They were tho ringleaders in tho
rios which took pllcs on Decoration Day
two or thrcO years ago, and were active
participants in a quarrel ~ tho stow
moulders' picnic few weeks ago and l.
is said they generally go armed.
The knives with which the murder was
committed were not found. Tho accused
say there was bat ono knife, a big bladGa
pocket knife, carr cd by Gtofge, and that
he threw It down the water closet of tho
NIgiiaut engine hOusC after the rOEcJutTH
with Struck.
The murdered man, though married
and havius one child, did not live with
his wife, owing to some family trouble.
Drs. Alexander Cra'g and & +. Markell,
who were called to attend Mr.. Struck,
state that the cut on ;hc left side Of the
victim is four inches long, and that the
tCLlh, eleventh and twelfth ribs were
sulcred by tbs knife. The cut on the
right side is oae aud quarter inch long
and two and qu after inches deep and
penetrated the grO!u. Either OF the wounds
were sufficient 10 cause death.
The coyouer's jury will not render their
verdict until Deputy Coroner Frank shall
have had consultation with District At
tOruGy Davis.
Tho funeral Of the murdered man will
take place on Thursday afternoon at
o'clock from the German Lutheran church
on Walnut street,
The accused have been visited to day in
Jail by reporters, but they decline % bo
interviewed or to give any particulars con.
corning the origin of the trouble, further
than to say the cutting was done in self
defense. They say they have retained
VIM. b. Given, esq, as counsel to defend
them.
Tho Smith boys belong to a very re
spectacle family, their sister Miss Lillian
Smith, being one OF tho mosteflicent and
highly respected teachers in Columbia.
The family are overwhelmed with grief by
the disgrace brought upon their good
name.
There are two charges now pending in
court against the dead man ono for deser
tiOn brought against him by his wife and
tho other for assault and battery on his
mother in law.
Anorher story OF the Murder.
The INTELLIGESCER correspondent ~
Columbia sends the following account o
the sad affair
The town has been excited all day over
the details of horrible murder which oc
CURED here last night. The full details
are as follows: Winnie aud George Smith
brothers, aged 20 and Is years respectively
made threats last evening that they in
tended killing young mau named Henry
Struck, aged 81 years, with whom Winnie
Smith had had 4 }ht about month age
IL appears that they were on their way t,
Manor street, whGIo their victim resided
when thCy met Charley Struck,
younger brother Of Henry's. Thel
assaulted him, but he finally brokt
loose and ran towards home, pur.
suod by tho Smith boys, Iu front of thl
house where the pursued resides with hi
father, Policeman Struck, no was agaiI
caught and beaten, Harry Struck, VIII,
resides in the house adjoining his fathers
heard the noiso and left the house to in
vestigato the cause, suppOsing his fathc
was making an arrest. AS soon as th
Smith boys saw him they rushGt
upon him. Struck was stabbed il
both sides of the back Til
murderers then flsd, and their vlctir
was carried into his homo by persons VIII
had been attracted to the scene by tn
noise. This occurred about 10a5 O'Clock
aud by o'clock this morning the wOuud
ed man died. Ia his post mortem STATE
ment Struck stated that both of the assai
ants had stabbed him. George Smit