The daily state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 188?-1891, 1890-12-04
defendant was Mr.. Burnett, of Will
M racxtn rL1,

80 or 80 years; know Thomas Smith:
first knew him few years before the |
war; smith was running on a steamboat
at that time; have seen the lady thew
called his wife; some people called her
Ellen and some Mrs. Smith; don't know
Wnat became OF her; saw some children
about the shop, but don't know whose
they were.
knew woman by the name of Bride
ct Massey. While Smith and his wife
lived OH the corner of Church and -
streets, she lived at public house and
was loose woman. She was not a ma.
tive born American. She was not the
same person as Ellen, who lived with
Smith as his wife,
Gross examined, by Judge Russell, he
said : am 66 years old. I've known
Thomas Smith since 1850 l remember
things in the past; l remember old
things better than new. The woman
Bridget had no children that I know of;
never saw any children with her; don't
know where she came from to Whining
ton three women came to Wilmington
at the same time, she being one of the
three, and went down to live at a place
called a ''Hole in the Wall"-a disrepu-
table house.
There was q woman in Wilmington by
the name of Becky Matthews; she was a
different woman from Bridget Massey.
did not say Smiths wife was named
Lucy, | said her name was Ellen; if |
said her name was Bridget Matthews l
was mistaken; I can't hear WELL The
| women who frequented the "HOle in
the Wall' were tough characters-wan-
derers about; | never saw Thomas Smith
with Bridget Massey in my life; | have
| been to the "Hole in the Wall" fre-
| quently.
w. H. StyrOn's Testimony.
The next witness was Mr.. W. II. Sty-
ron, who said:
| knew Thomas II Smith. Knew him
first about 1871; l was intimate with
him; 1 had conversation with him
about his first wife's death. objection
by plaintiff on the ground of Smiths
having an interest in stating the fast Of
his wife's death, as he was then contem-
plating another marriage.) The objec.
tion was overruled and exception noted.
Continuing Mr.. Styron said: knew
his handwriting have seen him write
many times. A Bible was offered to
prove handwriting, then not proved, to
be Thomas Smiths. Objection for same
reason as above offered, but was over
ruled Mr.. Styron continued: Mr. Smith
told me several times about his family
affairs. He told me that at the begin
ming Of the war he took his wife to Mas
sau and she died there, and that he sent
his two children to England.
Cross examined, by Judge Russell he
said:
have often heard Mr.. Smith talk
about his family-I have great feelings
for the defendants 4 have not taken a
very active part in getting up testimony
i am not connected with the family;
heard Mr.. Smith say that he Smith,
had made will-don't know what be
come Of the will-wish had been keeper
of the will. l don't remember when tht
conversation took place. He Otter
, talked to me about it.
, On re direct examination he said:
/ He told me several times that hi
. wife died in Nassau at the beginning o
r the war.
Q Mayor Fowler Examined.
: The next witness for the defendant
was Mayor John j. Fowler, of Whining
ton, who said:
4 l am now the Mayor of Wilmington;
;, know Styron; he is a man of the highes
5 character. know Mr.. Burnett; hav
. known him ever since | have know
y myself; his character is good.
:. Cross examined, he said.
= | have heard certain things abOr
- Styrons assignment; l made inquir
- into the matter and found no wrong.
:, The parties defendant all live near m
!. residence in Wilmington l know the
40 very well, but am not intimate Wit
them.
The Widow on the Stand.
o. Mrs. Mary E. Smith, wife of Thom
he H. Smith, one of the defendants, WI
OF sworn. She said:
er This is my husbands Bible. (Bible
IS hibited.) It has been in my house sin
. my marriage to Thos. FL. Smith.
er TIE entries were made in the Bible
fe my husband; the first one before
to married him; it has been in my pc
e's session ever since l married him; knt
,ly my husbands handwriting, and the II
ut lowing entries were made by him:
ssThis certifies that Thomas Smith a
Ellen Smith were united it marriage
700 Liverpool on the 2nd of June, lo54-EI
land"
lie, .'Thomas H. Smith and Mary r. w
lot son married in Wilmington, n. Co. Js
M uary 10th, 1867"
Der Gross examined she said:
lad never had any correspondence wi
RS. nv husbands mother; my daughter c
BY, she did all of my writing. Here y
the Jno. D. Bellamy read letter frt
the Smiths father and mother who live
hat England to him, congratulating him
ate his marriage to Mary E. Watson, and
mas dressing them as ''our dear son
wis daughter" -,
.ln- Re-cross examined she said: All
entries were in the bible when
Smith gave it to me, except the entr
of my own children. [ was born
1s45. was not acquainted with III
isel II. Smiths first wife. Have seen b
lers I'm 55. I live in Wilmington on
OF street. remember that Mr.. Smith
his wife lived on Church and Fou
streets. I saw them there. visited
nee Brickhouse family, but not frequen
h After oot to be Is or 16 visited tn