Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-11-25
cHrcAo0S LATEST C8rgE.
A as.ssua Brs.. al. wn. Bssls. oa.

q shot in the front room OF their tit,
on the third eoor Of the building at No.
$40 Mc1roe street. last evening. The
room bad been rented since the middle
Of September to samuel z. Smith. who
drove a team for a preserving com
pany. and his wife, Emma. The
Smiths we're respectable-appearing
people. and apparently were not
inclined TO make friends. " What's
that. asked Engineer peiong, going
to the door Of the front room. " Only
a cartri6g gs exploding, answered Smith,
opening the door. Delong went back
10 his seat. Maybe some Of our stsh
was HIT said Mrs. Deloug. referring
10 the simple furniture Il the room,
which belongs to them. Did 1t hurt
the furniture? called Dclong. going
again 10 the door. g. No" shouted
Smith. without opening the door;
..ro harm was done" This vas A.
O'Clock. An hour later the belongs
heart smith door close aud somebody
90 down the steps. After breakfast
this morning Mrs. Delong, still anxious
about her furniture. went 70 the lOdge7s
door and knocked. There vas no an
swer. and, pushing the door open. she
walked IN. followed by her daughter.
As she did so she screamed and ran
from the room. followed by her daugh-
ter. Delong ran through the open door
ard let the vindow-shade fly up.
On the foor lay the body Of Mrs.
Smith, with 2 pillow over her face.
Under this was handkerchief. The
engineer put his hand to the head 10
llls il. Then be found thst the entire
back part of the skull had been blown
off with 4 charge Of buckshot. and tha;
the right hand. which had apparently
been raised 20 defend the head. vas
torn 10 shreds. Detectives and police
men soon crowded into the room. Il
was all guesswork a. to what bal hap
pened there llst night. The de-
,ectives looked at the table on
which there were the remnants OF
supper. Of stewed oysters aud bread.
and then s.ured out that smith ha!
hot his wife while she sa; AZ the table
with her back t. him. ani tha, she e7i.
IDENTIFY saw his purpose hni instinctvely
raised her hand to her head. Then,
according TO their theory. be laid her
body On the floor, pa. the pillow aud
handkerchief over her face, ant de-
lIheratelg walked out. tie hal start
Of fourteen hours. and no trace Of him
has vet been found. The couple always
seemed "a 1--we happily together. They
said ,hey we're married 4 year 40
IN tlegcland. ald came directly %
Ch.cago. They were poor ant hII
only al ordinary education. Mr,. Saith
said ore Jay she hal married agains.
the wishes Of her parents, who were
rich. She was only eighteen a1i 4
daFk-skinred. viyaei1u, little woman.
yerY fond Of rolIer-sAlJiny. Smith
was twenty-seven end s0melhi0. of I
hunter. owning a fine breech-loading
shotgun. This vas found empty III
the room.
l. the room we're found the f5llo~.ns
letters. both dated Chicago. This one
was written Angus: lith last. and be-
gan:
" Ar. Smith:
Dear Sir.-The ri7alshp between
Us Is over. and I feel IN justice % you
20 write YOU 4 few parting words. We
have both been wronged and suffered.
| cannot enter into an explanation now,
but | think YOU know that Emma was
nv br,rothed wife before she ne. and
married you while still engaged 70 ne.
was led 20 believe tha. Won enticed
her from home and compelled her %
marry you. followed you here. With
thoughts Of revenge IN ny heart to-
ward you. procured entrance into
your wiie's room anI proposed 10
her 70 fly with ne. lt was then
she told me that had heard falsely /;
that she came With you gladly and
willingly because she loved you with
her whole heart and soul, and would 20
to the end Of the earth with you.
became enraged. aHd told her that |
would shoot you. AM she fain,ed. |
took her IN nv arms AMI aid her on the
bed. snd. God forgive me. | placed my
revolver II her breast, when one word
'' sammy escaped her lips and ar
rested my hand. ! waited until she
began 70 recover and then left her.
Once proposed 70 her
that We get married. She told
ne that she did not love ne
half so much as she dii sammy if
he was unkini % her sometimes. Mr.
Smith. this il my confession. Now you
have her al 20 your-eli-the girl that
has played havoc with two true hearts.
Tor another died for her. Love her be
kind 70 her. You are all she has, AMI
never say such cruel. taunting things 70
her again while you live. You 10 not
know how | grieved her. Forgive this
liberty. and think as kindly Of me as
YOU car. I bear no resentment toward
you. Yours, J.S. II. BIcKFoRD.
Don't let Emma see this letter."
The other letter vas addressed to
Mrs. Smith. but was not dated. II be-
gan, - Darling" and after announcing
that the writer was on his diving couch
and would never see the recipient again,
and protesting the greatest love for her,
said :
"You triled with my heart vi hen but a
child. You trife with it now. You are
a woman. and you tell me in the end
that you hate me that you would die
before you would be my wife. Oh.
Emma | felt my brain reel when |
knew at last that you were lost TO me
forever. Do not grieye for me, my lost
lore. shall be better. Live for your
husband. and make his future life hap
pier than his past has been. He IS wor.
thy Of you. God bless goa
y. :. II. BICKFoRD."
Nothing has yet been discovered con.
cetning Bickiord. His name does not
appear in the directory.
FORESTS or SIBERIA.
Where TIE Greenwood Grows at n rrenieu
dsas Rate.