The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1890-04-06
FIDDLER SMITHS SANITY.
He Is Indicted for Murder. but His
Nefglibors Say He Is Crazy.

Neighbors Say lie Is Crazy
6peciot to the Sunday Moraiao Nescs-
| NEwARK, April 5, 1890 The Grand
Jury, II reports be true, lost no time in
acting upon the case of James Smith,
who on Monday killed George Hastings
in Valentine Herrmann's hat factory.
Hastings was buried early Thursday af-
ternoon. and his widow was summoned
to testify before the jury the same day.
The scenes and incidents of the terrible
tragedy We're fresh in the minds Of wit
nesses, ana the case WINS disposed of with
out the delays that attend similar inqui-
sitions in cases in which the evidence Is
| not so readily obtainable.
Smith, it is understood, has been in
dicted for murder in the first degree 1t
is not probable, however, that official in
formation will be given until after the
GrandJury appears before the court with
an instalincntl OF indictments found.
Not one OF the numerous acquaintance
OF the prisoner with whom a reporter con
| versed would say other than they firmly
believe that the murder of Hastings WIS
the act Of an insane man. The :. Fiddler,
as Smith is called, has made his home in
the Seventh ward ind vicinity for about
| forty years. How he received the nick
name Fiddler is not known. Certain it is
he never played the violin. The police
officers who gave it out that Smith was q
boxer and wrestler OF considerable local
| prominence, uiistook the prisoner for an
/ preached by handle somewhat similar
to "Fiddler's.n The Smith referred to
was an habitual fighter.
James Smith was never considered for
midable as an antagonist by the weak
llngs Of the ward. He WAS passionate
and disposed to wrangle and quarrel, and
Invariably received sound drubbings for
his conduct. AS halter, he was as
good as the best at his branch of the
trade, those who know him say, and
didn't spend all his money In drink, as
| reported.
His step-sister, Mrs. Smith, of No. 4s
Soaring street, says that he proved a good
| friend to her IN times of need During
her husbands last illness, about 1--we
| years ago, James supported her and her
family OF five children, besides seeing
that the sick man was provided with
good treatment. For two or three years
after the husbands death Mrs Smith
was supplied with money by her brother.
About seven years ago, Mrs. Smith
says, and her statements are cCrrobo-
rated by her neighbors, James Smith was
struck down by brick thrown by man
named O'Hara. The affair took place in
Soaring street. near Michael Summers
stable. The latter's skull was fractured,
and for two months he lay in St. Mi
chael's Hospital, lowering between life
ana death. 30 serious was MS cOndiIl0n
that the authorities took his ante-mortem
statement. When he left the hospital he
was told that If he did not abstain from
liquor he would, in all probability, be-
come insane.
A deafness, which was rather marked
previous to the accident became more
pronounced, and Smith grew more and
more sullen aud morose. He seemed to
think that everybody was talking about
him, and he was in consequence ever
ready to talk to and abuse every body.
About the time of his trouble with
Frank Chatowski, two years ago, he began
to show stronger signs of mental derange-
ment After his release from the Peni-
Tertiary. whittier he had been sent for the
Chatowski assault, he refused to work,
and hung about his sisters home talking
to himself and growing at visitors He
would not even respond TO pleasant salu-
tations of old friends. When his sister
insisted that he should go out and seek
employment, he replied
Where could | get work? Nobody
wants loon like me. l am called fool
by every one; even you and the neighbors
say Pm fool The children along the
street call me fool. What am to doYp