Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1892-09-27
sn00z Escapes The GaIoHs!
Death from an Overdose Of Opium.
Letter Showing Suicidal Intent.


Letter Showing Suicidal Intent.
Being absent from town at the time
of the death of the prisoner Smooth,
last week, We avail ourself of the
very excellent report of that tragic
event made by Mr.. j. F. Engle to the
Baltimore Sun, as follows:
Harry F. Smooth. who was confined
in jail here awaiting execution for
the murder of Miss Susie G. FerrelI.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., on the 21st of Janu-
airy committed suicide Tuesday night
by taking opium. He retired at IL
o'clock in his usual health, and must
have taken the drug after retiring
There was guard in the celIwith him
all night, and there is great mystery
about the conveyance of the poison
to Smooth. The first intimation the
guard had of anything unusual was
about o'clock Wednesday morning,
whenSmootz began tobreathe heavily.
The guard called him by name twice,
and receiving no response took hold
of him and shook him, but could not
arouse him. He then called the Jail
or, and physicians were summoned,
but after exhausting every means of
restoration they were unable to re-
suscitate Smooth, and he died about
8 O'Clock Wednesday morning.
At 10 O'Clock the coroner, David
Howell. empaheled the following jury
of inquest: S. S. DaIgarn, j. VI.
Simmons, w. w. Inskeep, d. A.
Phillips, George Il. Flagg and H. o.
Talbot, who, after being sworn and
viewing the body, proceeded to hear
testimony as to the manner and cause
of the prisoners death. s
i Drs. G. L. Richardson and John
/ Bishop testified that they were sum-
moned at O'Clock by the jailor and
found Smooth in an unconscious con-
dition from the effects of an overdose
of opium, in what form they were I'M
able to say, but gave it as their opin-
ion that it had been taken in the form
of morphia. They administered
emetics and hyperdermlc injections
and applied electricity, but all failed
to resuscitate the prisoner.
ID. w. Hannah and James Albin
testified that they had been guarding
Smooth day and night since the re-
fusal of the Supreme Court to grant
him new trial, and that not mo-
ment passed that one or the other
was not in the cell with Smooth. Al
bin went on duty Tuesday night and
shortly thereafter Smooth prayed and
retired. Before going to sleep
Smooth complained of feeling badly
from the effects of cigarette smoking.
He inquired of AIbin if the execu-
tion would be public; he hoped the
hanging would be private. The
guard told him he thought il would.
Smooth complained of being cold in
bed and turned his face toward the
wall and covered his head with tile
bed clothes. 1t is thought he took
the poison at that time and had it Sc
creted inhis heavysuit of hair. sAlbin
says Smooth frequently pat his hand
upon his head and pressed his hair.
After lying in this position for few
minutes he turned over and asked the
guard for drink, and getting the
same turned back and went to sleep.
after requesting the guard not 10
make any noise TO disturb him in his
sleep.
Sheriff A. F. Davis and Tailor S.
G. Young testified that they had been
exceedingly careful in guarding the
Jail and last Friday searched the cell
and prisoner. They allowed no one
to see the prisoner except in their
presence or IN the presence of the
guard, or the attorney; that about
three weeks agoSmootz's sister was al
lowed an hours private talk with him
about his spiritual condition, with the
consent of the prosecuting attorney,
but that the jaiIor's wife searched
her before she was allowed TO 90 into
the cell. When she came out of the
cell she said her brother ought to
have pistol 10 protect himself
against the mob in case the Supreme
Court granted a new trial. Nothing
was allowed to go 10 the cell without
the inspection of the jailor and no
food from the outside was allowed
him. Last Monday Smootz's sister
Alice brought him box of cdiblcs,
'hI Liz JAliOI .IS1uSSu ~ leu uIIn
have them and would not permit his
sister to see him. The strictest
watch was kept in view of the follow
ing letter, which Smooth wrote Sun
day night and requested the guard to
address and mail to his sister, hut
the guard gave the letter to the jailor:
Sunday, Sept. 1s-Alice, write to Law
renee. (the prisoners brother druggist, } Just
as soon US finishing reading this Tell him
that last night. Saturday. took every drop
the bottle contained. but it had no effect
whatever on me- did not eat any supper
hardly. so that would not have anything in
| me. Ask him il he cannot put up something
in the form Of pills that will act quick. but
long cnongli to let inc get from the window to
| the bed and have n few minutes to spnrc
something that will have odor and send me
off quick When you come let Mr.. B.. (Cupt.
| Baylur. his counsel know That you want him
to come with you Ia see me. Be careful ;'don't
| speak OF having received any letters from me
at any time fOu came very near letting Mr..
| Young know the other lime when you spoke
81 ticket business Now If you get anything
from l.. sit on the. he'd when you come. OIL my
| right side il you have ANYTHING put ii III your
left hand. Let your hand fall nlon. my side
and put what You have i'll it in my pocket.
| Be caretul and Try not bG afraid ard cause
them TO suspect Don't srcin too anxious. LIT
Julia know about the bottle, but he careful
and destroy everything i'll or about whit