New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-10
ARRESTED FOR WIFE MURDER.
A POLICEMAN CHARGED WITH TIE CRIME.
THE WOMAN DIES FROM 4 WOUND N THE HEAD
SAID TO BE INFLICTED BY HER
HUSBANDS CLUB


HUSBANDS CLUB.
Policeman WILLIAM Smith, of the Harlem squad
was locked up III tie station in East Onc-hundred
and-twcnty- -siXth-st. yesterday on the charge of
wifc-murdcr. Mrs. Smith died in her home on
the second floor of the ~:ncmcnt-hOusc No. West
Onc-hundrcd-a -and-thirty-siXth-St. soon after noon
Two physicians who had been called to attend
her said that her death was caused by lockJaw
resulting from woundS on her head. She had
told the physicians that her husband had cubhci
her on New-Years eve. Later Captain WeScr-
welt learned that Smith had neglected his wife
and children for some time and had beaten the
woman on several occasions
Smith is thirty four years old, and has been a
policeman since $50. Ills wife WAS of the same
age and her maiden name was Mary Hagan. She
was married to Smith ten years ago, and five OF
her children are now living. III" youngest being
a baby SIX months old Smiths record a
policeman was fair and he is said 10 have treated
his family well until about three years ago, when
be became infatuated with Mrs. Mary Stuart, a
large. light-haircd woman. living with her hus-
band at 40. Loss Thirl-ave. The policemans
devotion 10 Mrs Stuart caused no end of trouble
In his own home. which was at No. 3i5 Fast One
hundred-and-thirt,cnth-St. until two months ago.
Not long before smith moved his family to No
West Orc-hundred- ed-onl-thr'y-SiNth-St he came
near killing his wife. if her story was true. She
said hc threw her down and struck her on the
head with q Smoothina-iron.
Mrs lIasan. her daughter Ellen and her TWO
grown sons did not dare TO interfere. because
Smith was a policeman, but they helped % sup
port the poccman's helpless wife and children
when he failed 10 provide money On January
! Ellen Iiagan went 10 see her sister and found
her in a wretchcd state Mrs Smiths face was
swollen her eye, wcro hackcne1. and she had an
uglv scalp wound at the back of her head The
wound had not been cared for. Mrs Smith said
that on New Years eve she had gone To her
husbands post in Fifth-aIc,, near Onc-hundred-
and-thirty-hfth-st. 10 ask him for some money, as
he had not been home and she did not have a
cent Size found HIM in company with a woman
who ran into hallway Mr., Smith thought the
woman was Mrs. Stuart and she began 10 uphrad
her husband. who on his post in full uni
form Smith ordered his wife 10 go home. and
AZ She turned 10 ga he struck her on tho back of
tho head with his long night-club The blow
opened the wound in her scalp. but did not
knock her down. She went home crying. IN com
pany with her son John, eight years old, who had
followed her from the house and had seen his
father strike her. The little boy corroborated
hl> mothers story.
Elton Ilagan when she called on January ?
waited with her sister until nehtiall, when they
knew Smith would be on his post in Fltth-atc
Then Mrs Smith and Ellen went ont 10 look for
hIm. Mrs Smith Knocked at the door of Thomas
! Lcwi>s liquor store At Opc-huudrd-and-thlrty-
nth ST. and asked if her husband WAS there
The policeman was in a back room of the store
in company with Mrs. Stuart. and he went ont
on the sidewalk His wife asked for money, and
said She must have some to get poGltcc for
her wound He gave her :! with a bad grace,
and she could get no more from him. although
hc had received about : 90 that day She went
back home, telling her sister not To accompany
her.
ON Monday Mrs Smith went 10 Onc-hundrcd-
and ccycnth-st 10 see her mother, ana left TWO
of tie children with Mrs. llasan. The I'M
fortunate woman seemed 10 be recovering from
her wound although il had not been dressed
Smith went home to SEE his wife the same d1\,
but did not stay long. Yesterday morning one
of Mrs smiths brothers went 10 see h'r' ana
found her in bed. Blood poisoning from the
neg cctcd wound had set in. DR. ID. /. NmaIG'
of 30 2,203 Fifth-avc, and DR.. I. l.. fhlllPS
of 80. ~ East Onr-hundred twenty -lilS'-St.'
were called 10 see the sick woman lhcN -"
that she was dying. and when they lrarn' GMoW M
She had received her injury they asked loli''
CAPTAIN WeStcryclt 10 send for a coroner l." tahc
the woinan's antc-mOrtcm statement 'oI,,'I
levy was summoned. but when lie arrived MIS-
smith dead. -, ,:., l
Coroner Levy had n brief talk with smith ana
ordcred him under arrest, pending an Official Ill,
ycstigation Smith denied that hc nag caused
hi, vite> death and declared that SIN" haI nurt
hnr.cIf when She was drunk All the trouble he
had with her was ON account of her drunkehhes''
Ic said Mrs Smiths relatives and nelslhorS,
Lowcyrr said she was not drunkard. nut was
= respectable woman. Captain Ne>terNrIt lr'rh''i
Of Mrs Stuart's connection with the TRAGEDY ana
caused her arrest. She was taken To the poll'c
station at A D. M She admitted That Shc was
In the Huuor store with Smith on the evening oI
Januory , but she denied that she ever had seen
Cnnfoin Wcstcrvct took Smith 10 Police Head,
quarters and Chief Inspector l%rnCS suspehirh
fhr poIiccman from duty and took away ms
Shield. Then Smith was taken back to @ ilaTiem
and locke. IN , ccll. lie vii. be alragned al
'In Cnrnncr's Office to-day The body OF Mrs.
smith was placed in charge of an undertaken.
via had instructions not TO remove IT from thc
ho'se in Observation-Disclosures iXth-st until an
antopsv had been performed. Inc pohcemah
m"tbcrIess children were placed in the care OF
their grandmother