The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-03-20
ANOTHER.
VIM. G. SMITH, WE'LL KNOWN
IN AUSTIN, DIES BY HIS
OWN HANDS.
He had Many Relatives and a
Host of Friends Here Who
Mourn his Fate.
A Handsome FOOt-light FavOrite
the Cause of his rash act.
Full Account.

In Yesterdays issue the STATESMAN
had brief reference to the tragic
death of William G. Smith, well known
in this city. The San Antonio Ex-
| press yesterday gives the full particu-
lars of the tragedy, from which THE
STATESMAN gathers the following:
Last Christmas this tall, slender and
| handsome young man, aged 70 years.
William G. Smith, native
OF Waco, married at Meridian, Bosque
county; q variety actress name Lizzie
Mack, between eighteen and nineteen
years old, blonde with melting blue
eyes, golden hair, seductive smiles,
plump figure ana Slandi 'hin 8 man
ners. BIS wife appeared before the
footlights as the tayorite of several
variety theaters, finally came to the
Vaudeville show in San Antonio,
where she attracted many admir-
ers and succeeded ID arousing the
INTENSE JEALOUSY
OF her liege1ord. He threatened to
kill himself frequently, and they quar-
relied many times over the fact that
she had ceased to care for him, but
had cast the Witchery of her smile |
ONOI uOl 1AiO hAAoAAy
wrote him a note announcing her. in |
tention of abandoning him, and re-
questing him to forget her as she had
forgotten him, He then commenced
to Writsher notes, telling her that he
was going to kill himself; that she had
murdered him as much as if she had
taken apistol and blown his brains out
herself. He said he could not live
after she had ceased to love him, and
forgave her and gave her his blessing.
He wanted her when he was dead to
telegraph to his brother Bob at Waco,
who would send after his body.
SATURDAY
he purchased ten cents worth of NOR
phine from Ragsdale, the druggist,
and recorded his name in the poison
book. Ragsdale had asked him if he
knew the dose, and he told Ragsdale
he only wanted small quantity.
Sunday he came back to Ragsdale, and
as there was nothing suspicious in his
actions, Ragsdale sold him twenty-five
)cents worth more He got eight grains
of morphine from Ragsdale and twen-
ty-five cents worth of cigars. He then
went to his room at No. 1923 Acequia
street, near Salinas street, where he
and his wife had quarrel and he told
her he would commit suicide, poured
white powder into glass and
started to drinkit, but before he could
do so she struck the chalice from his
lips and the glass fell to the floor and
was broken to fragments. He
then cried, quarreled and went
off again. On his return.
HE TOLD HER
he had taken poison and she became
scared and started off to send for a
doctor. This was about o'clock Sun
day evening. AS she started he told
her he was only fooling and wanted to
find out If she still cared for him. His
wife, however, thought it best to send
for a doctor anyway, and told Mr.. Au-
gust LouX to go after one. Loux
thought he was trying to worry her.
and did not believe that Smith had
taken the deadly narcotic. Smith fin
ally persuaded his wife that he had
not taken the morphine, and sent her
off to Market street to fit up another
room which they had rented, and to
which they were intending to move.
Mrs. Flagg, ore of the dodgers
at the same house, suspected
something wrong after smlt ats
wife had gone, and she
WENT TO HIS ROOM,
when, looking into the door, she saw
him sleeping with his hand tohis face,
but his face was very much dlscolored,
his breathing heavy and stentorious.
He also groaned. Mrs. Flagg called
her husband, and he and Laux went
to Smith and tried to arouse him, but
failed. Flagg and Laux both went
tor doctor. Flagg brought DR.. Cup
pies about half an hour later. DR..
Cupples said Smith was too far gone
| to be saved, but he would do his best,
and administered atrophine hyperder-
mically, and afterwards DR.. Braun
nagel came in and assisted DR.. Cup
pies, Both worked faithfully. The
antidote had slight affect, produced
| partial restoration, but he died about
800 p. m. A coroner's jury sat on his
lifeless body a few minutes after the
mortal coil had been shuffied OF.
| THE TESTIMONY
in accordance with the above facts
was taken before the inquest, which
| was assembled In Justice Adams
court room yesterday morning. AT
| the conclusion of the evidence the jul
nv returned verdict declaring that
| the death of Smith had resulted from
the effects of morphine, administered
by his own hands and with suicidal
intent.
His family at Waco were appraised
by telegraph of his rash act. A dis
patch was received Monday from Bob
Smith, the brother of the deceased,
and another from E. A. Sturgis, an
nouncing that the former was on his
way to San Antonio to tBke charge OF
the remains. Young Smiths parents
were wealthy and owned considerable
property in Waco at their death.
| Will, who was quite wild, became in
fatuated with Lizzie Mack, the daugh-
ter of Annie Mack, who ran variety
show in Waco, near the toll bridge,
where Smith was employed. They
eloped and went to Meridian, and their
elopement and marriage created con-
siderable sensation in Waco society
, circles at the time.
The brother of the deceased arrived
, Monday night, and took the body to
Waco, passing through Austin on the
IL o'clock train yesterday. A large
, number of the friends OF the deceased
7 went to the station to pay respect tc
. the remains as they passed through
the CITY,