The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1894-09-29
A DESPERATE SHOT.
Convict Vim, Smith MortalIS
Wounded hV a Keeper;
He Attacked G.. w. Dean With Razor
In the Penitentiary Barber Shop and
Received a Ballet in His Neek-Dra-
matte Ending in the Career OF the
Williamsburg Burglar Who Nearly
Murdered l.. h. IT. CLAIR.

Williamsburg Burglar Who Nearly
Murdered L. h. ~. CLAIR.
The following account of the
shooting of a convict will he of in
terest here owing to the fact that a
guard who shot him and the victim
of the prisoner were born and raised
in this county. The Pittsburg Chrou.
icle Telegraph says
William Smith, convict at the
Western Penitentiary, was shot and
mortally wounded by George Wash
ington Dean, a keeper about 10
o'clock A. NJ The shooting occurred
in the barber shop in the penitenti-
airy, Smith had been taken there by
the keeper to be shaved He was
always desperate and surly, subject
To violent outbursts of temper, so a
close watch was kept upon him. He
had been particularly morose for
several DAYS, and when he went into
the BARRIERS room was cursing and
querulous He took seat in the
chair and swore at the barber for
putting too much lather on his face.
After the first stroke OF the razor,
Smith suddenly became Infatuated
He sprang from the seat, seized a
razor and slashed at the barber.
Keeper Dean attempted to seize tue
convict, but the latter turned upon
him like a mailman, and, with a
sweep of the keen edged razor, would
have cut open the keepers face had
the latter not been prepared and
lodged. As he did so he drew his
revolver and commanded.
drop that razor. y
For answer Smith hurled himself
toward the keeper There was a
sharp report, as the revolver was
discharged. Smith Strengthened for
moment, his form quivering and
then fell face downward on the floor,
shot through the neck He was
picked up and removed TO the hos
pital, where Drs. Rankin and Boyd
were summoned They made su-
perficial examination, and saw that
the wound was fatal. Then they
bound Smiths neck to prevent loss
of blood.
Warden Wright was summoned,
and when appraised Of the serious
nature of the wound sent for Goro-
ner Mcdowell and the prison in
spectors to hold an immediate eX-
animation The news of the shoot
ing spread among the conviets, who
became very restless, so they were
marched from the workshops and
locked into their cells to guard
against any possible outbreak.
William Smith was one of the most
desperate prisoners in the penal
institution He was burglar by
profession. In the winter of 1890, in
company with man named Grimes,
be broke open the front door of the
furnishing store Of Lee X. St Clair,
of Wood st, Williamsburg. Mr.. st.
Clair WAS sleeping on a cot in the
rear of the store on that night. He
was awakened by the men entering,
and siezing his revolver, went toward
them They saw him and drew
their revolvers. ST Clair then shot,
and Smith returned the fire, infict-
ing a dangerous wound. The burg
lars then fed, closely pursued by
ST. Clair, who, although attired on
" in his night shirt, ran through
the snow after them, emptying his
revolver, though without effect, and
the burglars escaped. For months
st. Clair lay between life and death,
so serious WAS his wound.
On the morning after the shoot
ing posse tracked the robbers
across the hills to Rankin by the
marks in the snow, but there all
trace was lost. Detective Robert
Mcclure began to work on the case,
and several months later traced the
burglars to a lonely place between
Braddock and MeKeesport. The
detective and an assistant came up
suddenly on the men, and ordered
them to throw up their hands. When
Smith raised bis right there was a
revolver in it. Before he could fire
though, the weapon was knocked
out of his hand. The desperate and
Grimes were brought to the Central
police station in Pittsburg, and af
forwards committed to Jail. While
awaiting trial, Smith made an at
tempt to escape, but his plans were
frustrated. After conviction, Judge
Collier sentenced him to 20 years in
the penitentiary, and Grimes got
about 10 years. They were removed
to Riverside in the fall of 1890