The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1885-06-02

this city, is a small enc story white house,
with brown blinds, surrounded by a dense
forest of shrubbery, almost obscurit the
view from the street. The dwelling, fenoe
shrubbery and walks Ill denote that some
body of Taste and one who loved his home
| resided there. To-day this home is a
house Of SORROW ard grief. All that is left
mortal OF Will am G. Smith, Lite postmss.
ter of this city, lies 10 front room cold in
death, and that death caused by his own
hand.
HISTORY OF THE AFFAIR.
A few days ago John Mahin, Of Musca-
tire, To-, postofice Inspector of the money
order department received a notification
that Postmaster Smith, of Holden, had u ade
a statement ON April 29tb, showing q sur
plus of $40 on hand which he did not re-
init, and instructed him to come here and
invt siigate. On examining the records at
st. Louis, where the Holden postmaster
RENTS, he found that the last remittance
made by Smith was on January %. Yes
terday Mr.. Mahin was in Kansas City. He
telegraphed Mr.. Smith at this place to
met hum at ten O'Clock last night, as he
wanted to see him ct his office. TIE in
spector arrive on the ten o'cl OK train,
and in company with Mr.. Smith the two
WENT TO THE PosToFFICE
The two went over the accounts, end
found on making the foOtings that 81 POS
was wanted to balance. the books and put
the postmaster and tie money order de-
pertinent square. Mr.. Smith op=ned the
safe, and in d drawer exhibited $l91, in ma
tiopal notes, and Let of silver, which they
did not count.
"WelI, where is the balsnce?" asked
the inspector.
"Well, il is in safe which hsSa time
lock, and cannot get it until hylf past
eight to morrow morning." cody remarked
Mr.. Smith.
"But / will go to Kansas CRY on the
early train and / must close This up to-
night" firmly replied the inspector.
''Oh but you had be. ter stay unit i to-
morrow and 60 on freight train, said
Smith In his usual urbane manner, "and,"
he cortinusd, "lf you do not want 10 st Y,
will make TIE remittance in the morning
to 81. Louis" .
''Ihst viii not do. / have b en- sent
mere to get this money or know
the resson why and the depart
ment would not justify me in leaving un-
I'll the money Is IN my possession" the in-
spec or tod him.
II was finally understood that Mr.. Mahin
should stay all night and the two parted
very pleasantly, Smith going 10 his home
and the official to the Bell house.
A DOSE OF COLD LEAD.
This morning the Inspector got up and
went to the postofice lev inmates after s
o'clock.
"Mr. Smith has not come In" said Billy
Marsh, The clerk, to Mr.. Mshin, when be
a. ked for the rostm sster.
"Ps is at home sick" said lad seated
on q stool outside the boxes.
Mr. Nah n was not pleased with this last
informstion and went upon the street with
a memors nds of the names of the bonds
men in his hand, looking at the signs. He
stepped into. Mrs Smithston's store. That
gentlem an was not in. He then called on
DanI Stearps; he, too, was out. VIM.
Steele was found aud The inspector intro
duced himself and was conversirg, when
boy ran up in an excited manner and said, ::
"BILL SMITH HAS SHOT HIMSELF"
"That tells the tale" said the inspector
to Mr.. Steele" and he continued, che has
ended his troubles on earth in summary
manner"
The young city was in great excite
msnt in W minutes
The street wfs soon filled with people
running toward the postofic', for the news
went with the velocity of the wind. The
balance is socn told.
A coRoNER's JURY
was impannelei by Justice Biewett. The
following is the evidence given by w. p.
Smith, SON Of the deceased:
"Pa came in the back door and had some
paper In his hand. / said 10 him, pa, take
8 chair, you don't look WELL He said, Il.
will in a moment He called me to him
and kissed me, and id, Cap, always be
good boy, obey your mother, treat her well,
and 60 up and put the papers away L
went up and heard the shot, and saw aim
fall over the desk. did not see the pistol
in his hand. He shot himself with Billy
Marsh's pistol. That was all saw. The
shot was fired So minutes afer 8 o'clock
Friday morning. May 20, 1885"
Several other witnesses were examined
but nothing new developed. He shot him
self in the right temple with self-cocking
pistol ard lived about one hour and twenty.
i've minutes IN q cOma' ose cODOltlOns Inc
verdict OF jnry was in accordance with the
fac's.
PosToFFICE MATTERS.
The bordsmeD, H. d. Smithson, Daniel
SteArnes, VIM. Steele, w. Fl. Liddle and
jos. E. Mcclure, put III. p. Rennick in
charge of the office to-day, who will run il
until an appointment is made. The exact
deficit, sfter deducting the S191 and the
change found in the drawer in the safe, to.
tai 1888, amounts to 1915, which the bonds
men paid to-day, all but $40: Inspector
Mahin was loud 10 the praise of the bonds.
men for their promptness. Smith was sp-
pointed postmaster in June, 1882, by Presi-
dent Arthur, and was an affsble and aiten-
tive officer to the duties of the office and 10
the wants of The public.
There are now four applicants for the
office here. viz: H. p. Repnick. Geo. 8.