Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-03-25
AGAIN COMMITTED.
SMITH AGAIN BEHIND BARS TO AWAIT THE
ACTION OF THE GRAND JURY
Only One Witness Called to the Stand To-Day.
The Judge Creates a Sensation-The
Status Of the Case Described.
An Interview.
Special rlegrqn 10 the Rsqist.y.


SrEUBENvHLE, ONO, March 24.-The
testimony in the Probate Court was con-
cluded at an early hour this morning,
and Frank Smith. the alleged murderer
of his sweetheart, Bella Simpson, is
again committed to await the action Of
the grand jury, which meets in April.
Only one witness was called to the stand
to-day. That was Mrs Smith, the
mother of Bella Simpsons brother-in-
law. at whose house for days the
unfortunate girl lay in the agonicS of
death. Her testimony threw little ad-
ditional light on the tragic Circum-
stances surrounding the case, but unless
broken i'm some way may prove an impOr-
tant link in the chain which the State
is cndeavoring to WELD. The package
of arsenic. which was kept i'm cup
board In the house. and of which only
three members of the family knew. was
shown Mrs Smith. She identified il.
and declared that the package had not
been broken, and no arsenic had been
taken from il since the last time she
had put il in the cupboard, which was
several days previous 20 Miss Simpsons
death. The package had been kept in
the bottom of a pitcher and was entirely
covered by garden seeds. The witness
was confident that it had not been dis
turbed Mrs. Smith was closely cross
examined by Counsellor Cook, but her
evidence was mistaken in the main.
The effect of her testimony was 10 con
tradict the theory that the girl poisoned
herself. and obtained the arsenic with
which 10 do il from the package kept in
the house.
THE JUDGE CREATES 4 SENSATION.
With Mrs. Smiths testimony the
State rested. and the defense declined
To introduce any evidence. Judge Mans
field carefully and ably reviewed the
testimony which had been presented
and concluded by recommtting Smith.
One part ofthe Judges ruling created
decided sensation. He took mp the
story which the blacksmith Martin
Sworc to ON Saturday. II was To the
effect that Smith had come to his shop
and there asked him what medicine
would produce an abortion. and also de-
sired Martin 10 secure some drug Tor
him. In the course of the conversation
smith is represented To have said that
only arsenic would answer in his case,
and indicated purpose TO put his vie
tim ont of the way. Judge Mans
field said that this was one OF
the most astounding stories ever
heard i'm a court of justice.
The evidence was most improbable, and
if true 10 indicated that the defendant
was either a fool. a lunatic. drunk, or
possessed of the most hardened heart
that any human being could conceive
of. The Judge also referred 10 the teS-
timony of DIR. Werlich. He said there
seemed 10 be- something very mysterious
about this witness. He had testified
that hc gave medicine into Frank
Smiths hands that would produce abor-
tion. Vet il was not given for that pur-
nose. Ii was also stated that the mcdi-
cine was not procured for Mrs. Simp-
sons disease. This matter ought To be
Investigated further.
STATUS OF THE CASE.
The representative OF the REGISTER
had a short interview with Hon. John
VI. Cook. counsel for the defense. after
the Judges decision had been an
nounced. He said he was not surprised
at the order rc-committing his client.
In fact. ne had fully expected it. and
the sole purpose in applying To the Pro-
bate Court for Smiths release was 10 OBJ
tain some idea of the character OF the
testimony ON which he is charged with
murder.
There is a wide divergence of opinion
here concerning the case. 1t is a no.
ticcable fact that there seems To be very
little prejudice against Smith. In TINS
particular the case presents a striking
contrast 10 the famous Van Baker case,
I'm which the people of this entire section
were so deeply interested. There are
also very contradictory reports concern
ing the amount of evidence which the
State will be able to adducc. Smiths
friends claim that there Is yet no proof
even that the girl died of poison, ana no
careful analytic examination of the vital
parts has revealed poison in sufficient
quantities to kill. On the other hand,
counsel for the State informed the rep
resentative of the REGISTER that they
would not have the slightest difficulty
i'm proving that Miss Simpson died of
arsenical poisoning, and they believe
that they can show that the poison was
administered. or at least furnished, by
Smith himself.
Thousands of Bushels of Coal Lost.
CINCINNATI. o., March 24.-The tow5oat
b. ID. Wood. with a tow of coal from Louis
willie. while undertaking To pass between
the {. x o. bridge. made mistake ana
collided with the Ohio pier. The crash re
sni.ed in the loss of three coal boats
herring - 900 bushels of coal each, and two
barpes and a fuel boat. The demoral-
lied tow then struck the RATS at kineon's
Coal Landing and loosened three OF them
They however were recovered. Inc