Daily Republican., 1885-04-28
Murder and Suicide
WHAT HERBERT H. NULL
FOUND In AN UPPER ROOM
OF HIS HOUSE.
A DOUBLE TR AGED Y.

Henry A. Smith, aged %, living at
1715 Vine street, Philadelphia, Penna.
shot and killed Mrs. Hattie M. Null,
aged 81, at her home, 1861 Alder street,
on Monday afternoon, and then com.
mitted suicide by taking poison. The
bodies were first discovered at half past
ten last night by the husband of the
woman, Herbert II. Null. Null tends
the eating bar aJ the st. Charles Hotel,
at Third and Arch streets. He goes to
his work at five o'clock in the morning
and doesn't get through until eight In
the evening.
Last night he went from the hotel to
his Grand Army Post-the Anna M.
Ross Post, No. 94-and reached home
about 1918. He heard from the scr
want, n young German girl who IL
slightly deaf, that young Smith had
called at the house at about II a. m.
Mrs. Null and he went up to tho third
story font room and at about O'Clock
sent out for five cents worth of beer.
They then locked themselves in the
room and had not re-appeared.
When Mr.. Null went to the room be
broke open the door and discovered the
bodies lying on the floor In q pool oi
blood. His wife was lying on her side
near the bed, with two bullet holes In
her face. Her head was covered with
blood, and from the fragments of 9
b-oken pitcher lying near by 1t wal
evident that her murderer had beaten
her on the head with it.
The pistol was under him and cover
cd with blood. 1t was nickel-platet
32-calibre flve-shot revolver aud hai
three loaded cartridges and two -shell
init. The man was swollen and black
and from his appearance had probAbl,
taken Prussic acid. A small, empt!
vial lay on the bed.
The bodies were perfectly cold whel
they were discovered, ,and the crime ha.
probably been committed early In tn
| afternoon. The deaf servant girl wa
| the little two-year-old daughter. Sh
did not hear anything and the neighb0r
did not report having heard the shots
WHAT THE HUSBAND SAYS.
"I was married in 1871," said he
Z" and lived happily with my wife unit
about six months ago. AT that tim
began to suspect that Smith and m
wife were too intimate and kicke,
him out Of my house. was then liv
ing at 1915 Warnock street, about
square from here. l have only been Il
this house about week and was jus
getting 1t fixed up. guess will neve
finish 1t now.
"Smith was bar. keeper at the 81
Charles Hotel when I first became &C
IQuainted with him, about oiehtee
months ago he formerly tended bar q
the northwest corner of Franklin an
Poplar streets for one Hoffheim. l wa
tending the eating bar there and W
got to be on quite friendly terms. II
came to board with me in Warnoc
street. He lived with us a year befor
suspected anything wrong. Then, Q
said, put him out Of the house. II
Inever came back but once to my kno W
ledge and that was to get pair ofglove
which his sister had left there. ttha
time my wife ordered him away. Fl
sisters often came to see my wife and "
Isent the baby to their fathers hous
while we were moving.
looming PREPARED FOR THE GRIM
"I do not think he saw my wife VI
til to day since the time he called fc
the gloves. He evidently came wit
the purpose of killing her, ss he brougl
the poison and pistol with him. II
was heavily built man and very darl
do not remember whether he wore
little mustache or not, but am und'
the impression that he did. He mus
have said something to his father abo,
coming here, as the old gentleman hi
never been in our house until to da,
!, There were no letters or anything
the room to show why the crime vi
committed.