Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-05-04
PAYMAsTER SMITHS RETURN.
He was Brought to His Mothers House
by Physician.

Ao was DTouSHt 10 MS NOtner1S HOUSE
by Physician.
UNABLE TO ACCOUNT FOR HIS MovEMESrs-rHE
STORY OF THE SEARCH FOR HIM A. ro1.p sY HIS
AUTHORIZATIONS MONEY ALL SAFE
Past Assistant Paymaster Henry r. Smith. of
the corvette Essex, whose disappearance in
New York last week caused much anxiety to his
friends, and whose case possessed such an ele-
ment OF mystery that considerable attention
has been paid to it by the newspapers, turned
up In New York yesterday. He was brought to
his mothers house, No. 344 West 14th street,
New York, by physician, DIR. W. R. Chi
chester, OF No. 36 West 26th street. The state
ment OF the doctor was that Paymaster Smith
had come to his Office last Saturday with a bad
cash on his left arm and hand, and had asked
permission to remain there under treat
ment, as he did not wish to alarm
his mother. Afterward. under the influence
OF opiates he was unable to recollect names
and addresses, and the physician learned who
he was through an advertisement. When taken
to his mothers hoase Mr. Smith had his left
arm bandaged. He was extremely PALE and
his stop was feeble. He was assisted into the
house, and sank into a chair speeches. and
soon fell asleep. He seemed to be In a stupor.
His friends, as soon as they could question him.
cl,SU
on his account as paymaster untouched
MR.. FOSTERS NARRATIVE
Mr. Chas. E. Foster, of this city, brother-in-
law of Paymaster Smith, who has spent a week
in New York. engaged in me search for Mr..
Smith, started home last evening, after the
missing man turned up yesterday, and was at
MS house when STAR reporter called this
morning. Mr.. Foster said that some of the
sensational statements published concerning
Paymaster Smiths case were without the
slightest foundation. Such were the state
ments to the effect that he had attempted
suicide at his mothers house the Wednesday
before his disappearance, and also that he was
not on amicable terms with his wife. The
facts concerning Mr.. Smiths disappearance and
temperance, as stated to the reporter by Mr..
Foster, are substantially as follows:
LEAVING THE ESSEX.
Wednesday, the Gath ult., upon the arrival of
the Essex in New York, Paymaster Smith went
ashore and went to his mothers house. His
mother was happy at the reunion of her son
after his long absence. He was somewhat dis
appointed at not meeting his wife there. This
failure to meet was due to the fact that the Es-
sex was ahead of time. Paymaster Smith and
Mrs. Smith sailed from China by different
routes on the Sd of January and had not seen
each other since their parting there. He spent
the evening of Wednesday with his mother
lie went DICK 10 the snip, reported,
got leave to go ashore again and went off to
collect a comparatively small amount of money,
which he wanted to pay on account to some of
the crew. He had $4,000 to his credit and
drew but 81 200. That evening he was seen at
the Gilsey house by brother officer. He re-
manned over night at the Gilsey house and the
next morning was seen with a man whose name
was given as Mr.. Ferguson, and with three or
four other persons, supposed to be casual ac-
quaintances.
TRACED TO OTHER HOTELS.
This was the last known of him when Mr..
Foster went to New York to direct the search.
Detectives were employed, photographs were
sent out and Mr.. Foster himself visited many
out-of-the way places, where persons insane or
found sick, or who came under the care of the
authorities for any reason might be taken
Mr. Foster got trace of Mr.. Smiths movements
after he left the Gilsey House. He learned
that on Friday both Mr. Childs and Mr..
Abbey, the theatrical managers, had a talk
with Mr.. Smith, who was an acquaintance
of theirs, and both said that he was then
in perfectly sober condition. He went on
their invitation to take a drink and de-
clined to drink anything stronger than soda
water. They joked him because after return
ing from long sea-voyage he drank soda. Mr.
Foster found that he spent Friday night at the
Morton house and Saturday at the Normandie
at both places registering his name. So far as
when at these houses Mr. Foster lost trace of
him at the Normandie. The search was con-
tinued with vigor, and on several occasions it was
thought that new traces had been discovered
The detectives had about given up the search
yesterday, concluding that he may have been
thrown in or might have fallen into the river
IN THE DocToR's OFFICE.
An advertisement was put into the papers in
curing for the man Ferguson, and this appears
to have brought the physician, DR.. Chichester,
to Mrs. Smiths house yesterday. 1t is q point
of some interest that while MIR. Foster was hav-
ing New York city searched, as probably it
was never searched before. Mr.. Smith was w.
ing in this physicians Office within three
squares of the place where Mr.. Foster was stay
ing. When brought to the house, Mr.. Smith
was still under the influence of opiates, and
doings during the past nine days.
The physician said that he had him under his
charge for several days, and that he was suffer
ing with severe injury. When the injured
man came to his Office he refused to state his
name or where he belonged. and asked to stay
there, being afraid that his mother might be
if she knew of the accident that had
befallen him. His patient becoming delirious,
the physician administered opiates.
HOW HE WAS INJURED.
The patient explained the injury by saying
that he was about to open and pass through a
glass door when some one came hurriedly from
the opposite direction, slamming the door
against him. so that his arm passed through
the glass. In Withdrawing his arm instinc-
lively jagged piece of glass entered the flesh
and made a deep cash. Before Mr.. Foster left
New York last evening Mr.. Smith had not been
restored to a normal state of mind SO that he
could recollect and explain his movements.
When asked about his money he said it
was all right. The $1,000 he had
drawn was found on his person untouched
He did not seem to comprehend anything that
had occurred or remember that he was due on
the Essex a week ago yesterday. Mr.. Foster
had no theory as to his conduct He was graft
fed that he was found, and that the money he
had drawn and his accounts were all right.
MRS. SMITH JOINS HER HUSBAND.
Paymaster Smiths wife, who came from China
by way of Yokohama and San Francisco and the
Isthmus, arrived here yesterday and proceeded
at once to New York to meet her husband.
The Sd of May was the date fixed for their
meeting in New York, and in his wondering
remarks in the doctors house he spoke of the
Sd of May and Of meeting his wife. He
also spoke of returning to his ship.
The physician supposed that his patient was
one OF the many strangers who were filling
New York at that time. Upon seeing the ad-
vertisement referred to, however, he asked his
patient if his name was not Smith. and got an
affirmative reply. The physician told him then
that his friends were much concerned about
his disappearance, and learning from him
where his mother lived, took him home.
THE SUICIDE STORY.