The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-11-18
RFApING THE wHlRLwIND.

REAPING THE wHlRLW1ND'
Attempted Suicide Of Il. b.
Smith, City Attorney.
cA11sE OF THE ACT.
Ratraval OF Public Trusts-A Manla
for Gambling the Cause-Con-
dition Of the Sufferer.
While it is always the unexpected that
happens. there is certainly no man, woman
or child in this city who could have imag-
mad that Howard b. Smith, the we'll
known City Attorney, could ever ave oeen
ouilty OF the crime of self destruction. dao
such an idea been mooted twenty-iour
hours prior to this writing the man VINO
uttered the sentiment would have been set
down as a slanderer or fool Yet while the
bodv of the suicide Henry c. Bodley lay in
it's narrow casing awaiting interment, Mr.
Smith. in a fit of repentance ordesperatlon
concluded to add to a chapter OF crimes
and to expiate his offenses by the radical
cure of death. That he forced himself to
this conclusion is wonderful; he had youth
and health: he had q loving wife and dari-
ing child: he had been honored with a posi-
ton OF trust and emolument, by the sui
frages of his fellow. citizens; he had a grow
ing practice in his chosen profession; he
had q host OF warm personal friends; n
vet, as the terrible denoument proves, all
these were racri6ced for a mad
passion for gambling, which seems
to have taken entire possession OF
the unfortunate young man, and
made him it's slave. 1t is true h a in
many cases appetite is stronger than rea-
son, but this was hardly possible in the
case of Smith. OF a rugged build, strong
common sense and more than ordinary
ability, he had been compelled in years
past 10 lace adversely, and had done it
manfulls and maintained his self-respect.
The future seemed as bright for him as any
young man in the Territory, but when the
realization of his offense came to him in
full effect, he failed in moral courage. and
drawing upon his physical he committed
the deed which widowed q wife and Or
phaned a child, besides rendering more
wretched the other members OF his family
and his friends.
CAUSE OF hi RAGED
1t is hardly possible to give al intelligent
or accurate account of the tragedy without
reciting the causes which led to it. Mr..
Smith, in addition to his position as City
Attorney, was ex-0tfci0 City Clerk. Under
the rules of the Council he is required to
draw and countersign all warrants for bills
due by the city, the model being as follows:
The bills are first presented to the Council
and read in open session. They are then
referred to the Finance Committee and ex-
amined and reported back, either iavora.
bly, or unfavorably. II the former, a mo-
ton is made that they be allowed and the
clerk directed to draw warrants for the
several amounts, which he does, and has
them signed by the Mayor. There had
been no genuine suspicion that anything was
wrong until Monday morning, when Jerry
Murphy, an employe ofthe city. called upon
Alderman erik. of the Finance Committee.
and demanded to know why his money for
Alderman referred him to the City Clerk
saying that his account had been ordered
paid and that Mr. Smith would give him
his warrant. To this Murphy replied that
he had seen Smith several times and had
been told that his warrant had not been
countersigned by the Mayor. As this
seemed rather strange, Mr.. erik at once
called upon Treasurer Russell and found
that the warrant for Murphy and several
others had several days previous been pre-
sented to him for registration by j. A Hyde
vi the First National Bank. Much sur
| prised, Mr.. Grix at once sought out Alder
man Richard, chairman of the committee,
and together they went to the bank and
| had an interview with the bookkeeper, Mr..
Cooke.
AMOUNT OF THE REGULATION.
Upon inquiry he produced warrants
drawn in favor Of the following gentlemen
for the sums named: James Young, the
Chinaman who has been feeding the prison.
ers, $139.75; J. G. MCCLELLAN, Jerry Murphy.
A. Cameron and L. Odman, laborers, S72
each; William Thompson, lumber, 1920. o.;
Mulville & Dowd, blacksmiths, 1922;
Jamison Bros, blacksmiths, $50; o Sauce,
$27.5O; William Winter. blacksmith,
$27.3 J.. P. Young, policeman, 500, the
total being SCOTS &C.. On zach of the war
| scratched out and the words cor bearer"
substituted, and each one was endorsed
III. B. Smith," The Aldermen inquired
whether Mr.. Smith had drawn the money.
and were informed that it had been placed
to his credit. Mr.. Cooke was then requested
to be present at a meeting of the Council
that night, and on promising to do SO, the
gentlemen left and visited Mr.. Thompson,
who, in reply to their inquiries, stated tina
he had not received his money. The mat
ter was talked over among the members of
meeting that had been called for Monday
night.
AN ACCUSING Witness
The special session of the Council had
been called for a specific purpose. but in
view OF the gravity OF the situation, the
original business was abandoned and the
body sat with closed doors. According to
statements of those present, when Mr..
Smith entered the room and saw Mr..
Cooke, he at once became very nervous,
and after speaking to him in q low tone,
the pair retired to the office OF Mr.. Smith,
and after remaining there a short time
- "AC OOOkc whispered
to one of the Aldermen, II have Thomp-
sons money in my pocket" The business
wa then proceeded with and the attention
OF Smith called to the facts above stated,
and he was asked for an explanation. In
reply he said that everything was all right,
that he had been in the habit OF making
advances to a great many of the city
creditors, especially the laborers and work.
ingmen. and ~depositing their checks to his
credit in the bank in the manner indicated.
The Mayor stated that he did not deem
the explanation at all Satisfactory and sug-
gested that the matter be further inquired
into. At this point Mr.. Richard asked in
regard to the $500 collected by Smith Tor a
lot sold some time since. He responded by
taking from his pocket-book a check of his
own Tor the amount in favor oil the CITY,
and also checks in favor of the parties
a~bove-named. No decision was reached by
the Council before adjournment, but it was
tacitly understood that as Smith was in a
position through his relatives and friends
20 make good the amount he should be
gwen an opportunity to do 40 and then
MS resignation would be insisted on.