Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-08-27
She came, bringing her husband, Free


On the night Of September IL, 1876,
soon after the arrival Of the Cargans.
the Smith barn was burned TO the
ground. Little was thought of that
fact, but by a singular coincidence
Charles Smith disappeared on the same
night, and no trace Of bis whereabouts
could be found. Suspicion was aroused
and careful search Of the charred
ruins Of the barn was made. Half
buried under quantity of burned
beams was the skeleton Of man. Only
the bones remained, and these were
partially incinerated. A post-mortem
examination was made Of the remains.
when it was discovered that the body
had been hammered almost to a Jelly
before being burned. Most Of the
bones were splintered into fragments
by blows from blunt instrument. The
remains were identified as those Of the
missing Charles Smith.
All the inmates of the Smith house
were arrested on charge of murder.
Suspicion centred upon young Alexan-
der and Mrs. Smith. 1t was generally
known that the familiarity between the
two had excited Smiths disapprobttion.
Freeman p. Cargan was the first to be
tried before the Saginaw Circuit Court.
During the imprisonment Of Alexander
and Mrs. Smith they had frequent con-
sultations with the prosecuting officers,
which resulted in several alleged con-
fessions that freed the two suspected
parties and fixed the murder on the
two Cargans. On the trial, which
was attended with great popular
excitement, Mrs. Smith swOre that
she and Alexander had long con-
templated the murder of her husband,
but neither Of them had the courage
to do the deed. She had, therefore.
written to her sister, Mrs. Cargan. in
New York, offering $500 if the latter's
husband would come on and do the
work. Cargan and his wife had come
to ChesaniDg for the purpose Of mu'-
der. and deliberately accomplished the
object by first clubbing the old man to
death and then burning his body.
Alexander cOrrOborated Mrs. Smiths
story. These confessions were so c)n-
elusive that Cargan and his wife were
both convicted and sentenced for lit.
he to the State prison and she to the
Detroit House of Correction. For
having turned States evidence and
conyctirg the Cargans Mrs. Smith and
Alexander were rewarded with light
,entcnces, the former being sent to the
Detroit House Of Correction for ten
years.
During Mrs. Smiths imprisonment
Superintendent Nicholson noticed that
She was burdened with some secret
mental aAiiction. 4 cancer Of the
stomach reduced her physically. and
she was soon on her death-beI. She
sent for the superintendent, and said
she had death-bed confession 10 make
to him. Her death was so near that
restoratiyes had to be administered %
preserve the lickering sparks Of
life. IN disconnected but perfectly
coherent sentences she stated that
her entire testimony against Cargan
and his wife was perjured. She aud
Alexander had been promised light
sentence ii they would give evidence
against the Corgans. With the hope
Of seeing her children again she de-
tcrmined to swear falsely. and invented
the story which had sent the Cargsns
to prison for life. NIatron Clarkscn
also listened to the dying statement.
When it had been concluded the woman
seemed apparently resigned to death.
She reSolutely closed her mouth, and
mover spoke again.
Superintendent Nicholson is satisfied
Of tie truth of the dying declaration.
Numerous circumstances have occurred
which corroborate it in many particu-
lars. Cargan has always been certain
Of his ultimate release. lie is a man
Of unusual intelligence, and has
striking appearance Of honesty and
straightforwardness in every line Of his
face. The most aiiectionate letters pass
between the imprisoned couple. and
they hope soon to bo united again.