Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-21
SMITH ON THE STAND.
He Processes Only Hazy Recollections
of the UXOricide.
THE DEFENSE STRUGGLING HARD.
County Treasurer Hill Makes Report for
Four Months of 1889.
COLONEL DAKKS' CASE COMES UP TO-DAY
Thomas Robinson Sues for Possession Of His Dead
Kife's Clothes.
THE DEFENSE STRUGGLING HARD.
COLONELDANKS' CASE COMES Up TODAY

The Smith murder trial continued to drag
out its slow length in Criminal Court. The
murderer testifes in his own behalf. The
Sawmill Run nuisance acquires a legal
standing. Colonel Danks on trial to-day.
The Smith murder trial was continued be-
fore Judge White in Criminal Court yester-
pital, testified as to the nature of Smith s
wounds
William d. Smith, the defendant, was
then placed on the stand, and he testified
that he was 40 years old and was born in
Maryland. He was married in 1886, and
from that time his trouble began. His wife
was untrue to him, and he often went home
and found men visiting her, one man in
particular named Patterson, all of which
made his life unbearable. On the day be-
fore the shooting he was so troubled and
could not work. Then he took to drinking
whisky, and purchased two quart bottles.
at night he went home and laid down on the
lounge and went to sleep.
He remembered nothing more until the
morning when he woke up and found his wife
dead and himself wounded. If he did the
A FUTILE CRoss-EXAMINATIoN.
District Attorney Porter then took hold of
the prisoner and attempted to get some infor-
NATION out of him, but the witness evaded
all answers by saying that he did not recollect.
He could not remember having any converse
tions with Detectives Coulson, Fitzgerald or
anybody else.
During the afternoon session, Mr.. Marion and
the Court had several little tilts. Mr.. Msrron
persisted IN a certain manner of putting GER
tain Questions to witnesses as to the prisoners
character, aud to this the Court objected and
would not allow. Mr.. Marion each time took
an exception to the ruling until finally His
Honor got out of patience and informed Mr..
Marion that his persistency in putting such
questions showed disrespect to the Court.
Frank Bundy bTOther-in-law of the de-
fendant, testified that on the night before the
shooting the prisoner had come TO his house
and stopped all night He brought bottle of
whisky with him, and drank it. Next day he
secured another quart of whisky, which he
drank.
Daniel 7. Lewis, ]. W. Scott, Payton st.
Clair and Henry Kurtz knew Of the defendant
drinking considerable just previous to the
]. K DUR and Grant Miller were called as to
the witness character, but their evidence was
objected to, and not allowed to 60 in.
Henry MOhler, proprietor of the First Ave-
nue. Hotel. knew the defendant for four wears
and had him in his employ as cook He also
knew Mrs. Smith, and she often came to the
hotel after money from the defendant. Wit
ness saw the defendant in February when his
wife LETT him He quit work on account of it.
He afterward saw him on Wylie avenue, and
he had been drinking and was acting as though
half crazy. A few nights after he saw the de-
1endant in the kitchen at the hotel. Smith
was sitting in chair with his head resting in
his hands and was moaning. Witness as far
as he knew, stated that Smith was very much
attached to his wife.
BRoADAX SMITH AS A WITNESS.
Thomas Murphy, constable, testified that
he went to Smiths house on the morning of the
tragedy to make a levy on the goods for rent,
and found several whisky bottles in the room.
He could not tell whether they had been re-
Gently used OF not
When court reconvened in the evening
the first witness called was '.Broadax' Smith
He was called by the defense to testify as to
the good character of Smith. His testimony
was all right for the accused until he related
one occurrence. The defendant had come from
Washington, d. C.. bringing a wife with him,
an antecedent to the one killed, and going to
board with "Broadax.' One day his supposed
son committed piece of mischief and the
threat was made that his father, the defend
ant, would be told of his action. The lad re-
pied: "Oh, don't care; he amt my pap. My
papis In Washington" This revelation caused
-'Broadax" to tell the other Smith that be had
better step out
ton on the part of the attorneys for the de-
Tense and "Broadax' was allowed to retire.
SMITH TAKES THE STAND.
The defendant was next put on the stand to
febut testimony given by Officer Bagby. He
denied having shown Bagby any letters and
swore that Bagby said he found the letters.
General Blakely was also called. and cor
roborated Smith by saying that Bagby had told
him that he found the letters referred to.
This concluded the defense, and the prosecu-
tion called several rebu4tal witnesses.
Mrs. Bagby was put on the stand. and said !
that she thought Smith was sober the night be- 1
fore the murder when he came into the house
She said she did not tell him he was drunk and |
should be ashamed of Unsatisfactory that |
she was alleged to have given before the Cor |
oner.
N. Maloney, the restaurateur. and Harry
bosch, his bartender, testified to Smith having
been employed as a cook in Maloney's restau-
rant and leaving week or ten days before the |
murder.
Mrs. Scott, sister of the murdered woman.
testified as TO Mrs. Smiths visit TO Tyrone She |
said no one went with her but Mrs. Ellis and |
her brother-inlaw. She knew of no other man |
going with her.
Mrs. Bundy, another sister of Mrs. Smith, |
gave the same testimony.
Lizzie Talbot l4-year-Old girl. testified as to |
Smiths improper conduct on several occasions.
Smiths denial of the affair
Detective Coulson said that Smith had ad- /
mitted to him when on the way from the hos |
pItal TO the station that he had shot his wife |
when she was sleeping.
Undertaken WillisOn testified that he saw |
Smith on the morning of the murder and he |
thought he was sober.
This concluded the case for the prosecution. |
The defense decided to call Officer Bagby to /
rebut his wife's testimony as to what she said |
before the Coroner, but he was not present. |
Court adjourned until $50 this morning After |
Bagby's evidence the arguments Will be made /
and the case will go to the jurv to-day.