The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-07-24

for . long time was committed last
night
John Smith, without any provooation
whatever, shot Peter Aliff down in cold
blood. What makes the tragedy all tho
more sad is the fact that Aliff had Just
returned from Clifton Forge, where he
has been employed recently.
He got in this morning and stopped
for several hours with some friends in
Brick Row, and then proceeded to his
house, only to die at the hand of a
cowardly assassin. DR.. Morgan, the
physician first called in, labored with
the wounded man from the time he was
shot until he breathed his last, but Aliff
was past all human aid. He fingered
until l2:45 this morning and then quietly
passed away.
John Smith is an employee of the Roa-
noke Machine Works, and lives in a
frame house back of brick row, at what
is known as the spring. He has young
wife and three weeks old babe. He
and his wife had misunderstanding
and little after IL o'clock yesterday he
Wiped her.
Mrs. Smith ran across the street and
into the house of Mrs. Aliir, and told
her what Smith had done and asked her
to talk with Smith, that she did not
want him to leave her. She then left
the house and Mrs. Alif called Smith
over and told him what his wife had
said.
While they were talking Chas. III OIL
Inns, Smiths brother-in-law. came in
and the men soon got into fight over
the matter. At this iuncture Peter
Aliff appeared and told the men they
could not fight in the house and must
get outside. Smith cursed Aliff and
asked him If he would like to take it
up Smith started for Aliif, and the
two men clinched, but were separated,
and Smith left the house.
When outside Smith said, in the
presence OF Mollie Robinson, his wife
Alice Smith, and several others that he
was going to get a pistol and shoot
Aliif. After trying in vain to borrow
revolver from those present, he started
for the city to procure one, accompanied
by Clarence Calvert and a negro whose
name could not be ascertained.
In short time Smith returned, and,
going up to Alifr's door, called Peter
out. lie spoke in pleasant man
ner, and called him several times,
AliF's family advised him not to
go out, as Smith would do what he
threatened him. Potter said he guessed
there was no danger and without
pistol or even knife in his pocket
started out to meet his doom. Smith
was waiting for him right in front of
his house, with his hand in his hip
pocket, grasping the pistol. AS Alitf
approached him he drew the revolver
and shot twice. One bail struck the un-
fortunate man just above the navel on
the right side, passing clear through
him, and lodged beneath the skin on
the right Of his spinal column, the loca-
tion Of the ball being easily seen by
small round lump in his back The
other shot cut his clothes in the back,
but did not strike the body.
Mrs. Aliff, mother of tho wounded
m an, his brother Tom and several others
ran up and grabbed the pistol which
Smith still held in his hand 1t re-
CURED quite struggle to get the wea-
pom, which is a beautiful pearl handled
Smith ~ Wesson hammerless, 3S-calibre.
The wounded man was picked up and
carried into his house. DR.. Morgan
was the first physician to reach the
scene OF the tragedy and he was soon
joined by DR.. Koiner.
After the shooting Smith walked into
his house and crowd quickly gathered.
About this time Thos. Dunn came
along and inquired what the trouble
was. On being informed and seeing no
policeman around, he called on some OF
the people present to help him arrest
Smith, as the crowd was becoming ugly
and it was likely that an attempt would
be made to avenge the shooting unless
the murderer was removed.
Finding that no one would assist him,
Dunn boldly entered the house, un-
armed, and finding Smith in his shirt
sleeves informed him that he was under
arrest and ordered him TO put on his
coat. Smiths shirt was torn and his
face was slightly scratched. All the
braggadccio had left the trembling
wretch, and no begged not to be taken
out as he was sure some one would
shoot him. Dunn assured him he would
not be molested, and taking hold OF him
stepped out on the porch. An immense
crowd was in front of the house. but,
nothing daunted, Dunn told them that
Smith was under arrest, and any one
who attempted violence would suffer the
consequences. No one attempted to in
terfere and the pluckY captor was lead
ing his prisoner away when the latters
wife ran up, and throwing her arms
around Smiths neck, kissed him pas.
sionately, declaring that she loved him.
Notwithstanding what he had done.
Smith broke down and husband ard
wife sobbed on each others shoulders.
The murderer then asked permission to
60 back to the house and kiss his baby
goodbye, as he never expected to see it