Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-07-29


a grotesque travesty on justice
was followed by tragical scene at an early
hour yesterday morning In Judge McCon-
nells courtroom, when James W. Smith was
convicted of a crime of which he was inno-
cent and sentenced to nine long years in the
With a brain aflame at the
thought of the awful wrong which had been
done him, the half crazed man plunged a
knife into his breast, while on his Bonded
knees protesting his innocence. This des-
perate act marked the climax of a story in
which selfishness, cunning and revolving cru
city reached depth almost beyond human
belief
History of the Case.
Jamos W. Smith is draughtsman, and
until his arrest had for many years been EN-
ployed in the office of the New York Chi
cago and ST. Louis railway. He is married
and has one child, girl, born about nine
years ago, previous to his removal from New
York to Chicago. About the time Mr. Smith
moved to Chicago he met with an accident
of 50 serious a nature that dangerous sur
gical operation was necessary. Although the
man recovered, it left him in
such a condition as to preclude the POSSIBLE
ity of committing the crime Of which he was
convicted Saturday night Mr.. Smith re-
sumed his work at the railroad office, and by
strict sttentIon to duty built and paid for a
comfortable home
His Wife in the Plot.
According to the story as 1t is told now
Smith had enemies in the office, who were on
the watch to do him harm, and aided-un-
Willingly or unwillingly-by Mrs. Smith
they concocted most outrageous plot
against, his honor. For some reason Mrs.
Smith wanted divorces, and her hus-
bands reputation without a spot she
knew she could not got 1T, and was the
easier led into the plot A few months ago
Mr.. and Mrs Smith adopted child from the
Home for the Friendless. Anna Louise Kee
was the name of the little bright-eyed,
Swear old girl The child was discovered by
Mrs. Hope, of Akron, Ohio, who frequently
visited the Smith family Mr. Smith was
glad to take the little girl into his home on
account of his own child, who had no little
sister or brother for companion.
An Infamous Charge.
The opportunity was presented to his
enemies by the girls presence in his family,
and matters reached climax one after noon
when Smith was arrested on a charge of
criminal assault on the Kee child, made
against him by Mrs. Taylor, who lived in
the neighborhood. When the case was heard
before Justice Murphy a certain woman
sNore positively that he was guilty, and as
serted that she had examined the little girl
On thi. testimony Smith was held to the
grand jury and on it indicted by that body
and held 10 the criminal court on the
original charge. This was perfectly salts
factory TO all the conspirators but Mrs.
Smith. She was not trying TO send her hus-
band to the penitentiary, but had either
started the rumors in circulation or had per-
united them to go uncontradicted for entirely
another purpose
Mrs. smith Repents Her Error.
This was plain from her action during the
trial She visited her husband In the Jail,
and with tears begged his forgiveness and
told him all she knew of the alleged plot
promising to do her utmost to right the
wrong she had done him. But she was prac
tically powerless, as she could not go on the
stand 10 testify, and if she had been permit
ted to do 50 her testimony would have been
discredited because she was WIFE She at
tended her husband daily in court when his
trial came on The testimony for the prose-
cuiion was proven false in the most con
elusive way. Witnesses were introduces
who testified to Smiths good character
Among the witnesses were several of the best
citizens of HYDE Park As final and seem
ingly overwhelming proof that he WAS not
guilty, Drs. Lovewell and Todd were placed
on the stand. Both are we'll known physi-
Clans and testified that in campany with DR.
Egbert they had ex tminei Smith, and found
him utterly incapable to commit the crime Of
which he was charged Testimony was also
erfx- L. 49,, 7
Kee had not been assaulted And a speedy
acquittal was confidently looked for
The IncomprehensibIeJ Jury.
The case was given to the twelve good mer
and true Saturday at Ais p m, and it wa.
not until IL ;45 p. m. that they had agreed
During this time Smith sat in an agony OF
torment and apprehension His wife sat by
him holding his haad. As the moment
hew Smiths excitement increased CALLING
his lawyer he said, in a voice trembling witt
Anxiety:
MY God, Briggs, are they going to con
vict mef
The lawyer assured him that there was n
| danger, and expressed the opinion that SOM
trifiing technicality kept the jury waiting
| But it was no technioality. At the tim
noted above they came in, and to the over
| whelming surprise of the court and counse
rendered verdict of guilty with nine year
In the penitenti airy as punishment
| Agony of the Convicted Man.
| Smith staggered to his feet his face wa
| white as death, and bis breath came in con
vulsive gasps. He attempted to speak, bu
| could not. His wife threw her arms aroun,
his neck and fell back into her chair in
| faint.
Mrs. Smith partially recovered, and sup
ported by Mr.. Briggs was led to the door
"Ob, don't let them take him to the peni
tertiary" she moaned.
Il can not stand it'll can not stand itr b
exclaimed with strange light in his eyes
They may kill me, but they can not tax
away my honor"
Mr.. Briggs attempted to calm the man
but to no avail Placing his hands to hi
head he moaned in agony, walking nervous
y up and down the room Judge McConne
was overcome with emotion, the teal
streaming down his face.
| Tragical Sequence.
| Smith paused in his wax and faced Judg
Mcconnell Falling on his knee and ran
ing his right hand above his head he ex
claimed, with all the sarne stness of marty
II swear before the God / am about I
meet that l am innocent of the crime &
| utNc bt-H D6tOr6 fO
and in the presence of tn s, witnesses
solemnly swear that Ihave d n, NO wrong t
Annie Kee or to any other little girin
As he sad this h brought his upr raise,
aand TO bis breast AL present thought ii
movement gesture. None saw the shar]
,ned knife concealed in the palm of the cor
, victed mans hand
, Asking to speak to Judge Mcconnell
l Gr,tth toll hat Ia. Grl l.
, ters in his pocket which he wished he wou
, road. They contained facts that could N,
be brought out before the jury. The jude
said he would read them and the wound
man was taken to the hospital
The Wound Probably Not Eatal.
Upon examination it was found that {
knife had been detected by rib and ju
missed the heart, penetrating the lungs. T
doctors say he is worth any number of de
men and are hopeful Of saving his life, VIII
2 there is scaTcSly "A doubt that a new trj