Daily Yellowstone journal., 1886-12-29


house being on drunk, he and Emma
Richmond kicked open the door of q
room In which girl named Clara
Chase was sleeping, and Al, dressed
and with his overcoat on his arm, fell
over on the bed and went 10 sleep.
Clara Chase was in the middle, Emma
Richmond on one side aud AL Smith
on the other. In this position they
were discovered by Flank Smith,
who was angry ut Clara Chase,
with whom he had had trouble
previously and had sworn re.
venge. His former passion, intiamed
by the liquor he had imbibed arose at
the sight that met his gaze, and sud-
denly stepping up to that side OF the
bed on which his brother lay.
he reached over him and striking
Clara Chase with the barrel of the pis-
tol he applied foul name to her and
then fired the shot. He missed the
object of his hate and the bullet passed
almost entirely through his brothe RS
body, penetrating both lungs and only
stopping when coming In contact
win the shoulder blade. In an in
slant another shot was fired and Al
Smith rising to q sitting posture said,
Frank you have killed your own dear
brother,n and then fell back and in IA
moment breathed his last. Crazed
with grief the surviving brother fell
upon the corpse and frantically i'm
plored his victim, the brother whom
he loved to speak to him once more.
OF the subsequent actions OF the
unfortunate Frank Smith, We have
treated above, aud he now lies in the
cell at the county Jail, the victim Of
the bitterest feelings of remorse, call
ing upon God to strike him dead and
end his misery.
WHO THEY ARE.
Before going into the detailed evi'
dence given before the coroner's jury
a brief history of the Smith brothers
as far AS known in their career before
the Miles City public is not out OF
place. In the early part of October
last they appeared in Miles City as
professional athletes aud acrobatic
skdttIS, anu WCIC aCCoIllpahiNu p1 q
third party who is yet in the city,
working in Durkee's saloon. The
combination gave several perform-
auces here, but not being financially
successful the troupe disbanded, the
smith brothers taking charge of Rus
sells Roller Rink in the capacity of
managers, and have until recently
been SO employed. Their step-father
is said to be a prominent stockman of
Fort Bascom, New Mexico, named
Jos. NJ. Waddingham, manager of the
Waddingham cattle company, and
has been informed of the tragedy
and asked what disposition shall be
made of the body. The Smith boys
were not unlike in personal appear
ance, the elder, Al, being somewhat
shorter in statue than Frank and OF
lighter complexion. Frank, the sur.
vivur, is OF medium height, well built,
heavy black brows and moustache.
They wefe remarkable for the attach.
ment existing between them, one
being rarely seen without the other.
According to all known facts in the
case the killing of Al Smith by Frank
was the result Of all unfortunate acci.
dent, but that the weapon was fired
with murderous intentions upon
Clara Chase Is almost incOntrovertiule.
CoR0NER's INQUEST.
A post mortem examination was
held upon the body OF the dead man
which had been conveyed to the
court house, and was laid out in the
corOner's room. the result of which
has not yet been made public. The
Jury had, however, viewed the body
Immediately after the shooting, aud
again viewed it after the post nlortem
examination.
At the inquest yesterday after
noon the following witnesses were ex.
amined by the coroner, DR.. Redd, and
Jos phi l.. Cox, Milton Prickett, Jas.
Sipes, Abe Leroy, and Charles Smith.
ELLA WRIGHT
was the first witness called and made
the following statement:
Frank Smith was in my room and
afterward went out and put the revol-
yer to his temple; he was crazy drunk;
/ heard some one hollow aud went out
aud did not return for an hour or So
when he (Smith) was dead.
Question. Who was Frank Smith !
Answer. He was the one in Jail.
q. Who was II followed? A. Do
not know who IL was.
Q. Did you hear the shots? A.
No, sir; 1 did not.
q. What kind of a pistol was il the
shooting was done with? A. 1t was
a whiie-handled, long revolver.
@. Was you in your room at the
time of the shooting? A. / wai GO
ing out of the door.
@. Why did you leave the house?
A. Because; heard the following
and ran out of the house.
q. Could you hear any of the con-
versatiun that took place between the
Smith brothers or anyone in the room
where they were? A. No, sir; could
not hear word that was spoken.
q. How long was you in the house
when the shooting occurred? A. |
had just got up. 1t was about 2 O'Clock
in the afternoon.
q. Did Frank Smith say anything
in your presence? A. No, siI; he did
not say word.
q. How many people were in the
house that night? A. The Smith
brothers were there all night and there
were several Others in the house dur
ing the night.
q. Was there any ill-feeling be-
tween the Smith brothers that you
know of? A. No, sir; not that
know of; l never heard them quarrel
ing any.
q. Did the Smith brothers have
any trouble with Emma Richmond?