The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-09
He Absolutely Refuses to Re-
CeiVe Spiritual Con-
ISOLATION.
CURSES FOR HIS ENEMIES
Declares His Innocence and De-
nounces His Attorney-No
Fear of Death.


the brutal murder of Mis- two chum Usher
men, "Dolph" and Charley" near
CoIusa, is probably the most impenltent
murderer who ever occupied a San Quen-
tin death cell. He utterly refuses the
spiritual comfort rendered him by Father
Lagan, and replied to the offer to send
him Protestant clergyman in exceed
inplv coarse terms For days 1t has
seemed that nothing could move him IN
the least. He believes neither in God nor
in the devil, and only speaks of the Al
mighty in the most shocking and profane
manner.
Indecent jests and brutal jibes accom-
pany his references to his terrible fate
and he longs for hereafter only that he
may meet his lawyer, Edward Swinford of
Colusa, that he may get even with him
for, as he claims, selling me out"
Smith has, however, one redeeming
trait. He loves his old mother, and the
depth of that affection was shown this
afternoon when he spoke of her. Poor
old mother" he said. "It's awfulIy hard
on her. If it was not for her L wouldn't
care a -. For myself l don't care a
cent, but mother-she'll not live week
after I'm hung" Tears glistened in his
eyes as he spoke and his voice trembled,
while the curious jailers watched silently
the display of emotion by the man who
had no fear OF the gallows nor any dread
OF the hereafter.
A moment later, however, the con-
demned man was again the brutally jocose,
hardened harlequin that he has been ever
since his trial.
b,,L
pears to have been at outs with nearly all
his relatives. His mother lived in San
Jose, but recently sold her place and now
awaits in San Juan the news of the execu-
= ton of her youngest son. She is 81 years
old and feeble and the condemned mans
fears for her may prove well founded.
3 Five sisters of Fremont Smith have mar
ried in California. Ex-Judge R. F. Peck
man, the wealthy wooden manufacturer of
San Jose, is his brother-in-law.
His wife is dead else" says Smith, 81
would have had plenty of money to fight
the case"
William Jeffries, formerly of San Jose
but now butcher at Washington Corners,
Alameda County, is another brother-in-
law OF the condemned man. Frank JET
fries, who is connected with the San Jose
motor line, is a nephew, and Bert Jesfries,
who was so horribly burned by the explo-
sion Of torch during the Cleveland parade
during the last National campaign. is an
other. John Breen of San Juan, brother
OF Superior Judge Breen of San Benito
County, George Chalmers of San Juan and
the late James Bigley, all married sisters
of Smith.
Before his arrest on the murder charge
Smith had borne a fairly good character,
IN spite of his undeniable toughness. He
had been in Jail in Colusa once for stealing
meat from butcher-shop because he was
hungry, but he had never been in prison.
The statement which he says Lawyer
Swinford put in his transcript on appeal,
that he knew Chris Evans and had been in
Jail with him in Fresno, he brands as fairy
tale. Concerning the crime for which he
viii suffer the extreme penalty, he pro-
fesses the profoundest ignorance. and, of
course, his utter innocence. zone of
the men," he said, twas shot, l believe,
and the others head crushed in with an
ak. They were then thrown into the river
/ was away travelling through the country
on blackboard. l had gone two days
journey to Willows and Collinsville, where
.. was arrested. Yet the arrest took place
f0rty-two hours, l think it was, after the
death of those men.
~ never would have been convicted if
that --- Swinford had not sold me
out. He would sell his own mother for
$50. He thinks less of mans life than
do of a coyote, and that's - little He
has been running to the Governor to do me
up, too, else the Governor never would
commit such cold blooded murder as to
hang me. Swinford has been slander1ng
me, or else no man smart enough to be
Governor could fail to see my innocence
and let me hang.
''The fact is man without money is a
- fool to let himself be arrested. Yet,
any old woman would have taken me, for
l did not know what he trouble was and
was so sure they had made mistake.
They would not take me again If | was
out of this; guilty or innocent. There
would not be officers enough in the United
Statest to take me so long as l had shot
left in my revolver. If 1 couldn't get
away I'd use it and blow my brains out. )"
Smith was asked if he would break
down. A quizzical smile passed over his
face and he replied with peculiar drawl:
"That amt my calculations. I've always
had grit enough to carry me through most
places, and l guess I'll have enough for
this. l forgive all my enemies? Not
much amt built that way, and l amt
got TO that point yet. No, sir. I'll die
leaving my bitterest curse on all who have
been connected with my murder and that
of my mother I'll die in the religion OF
Ethan Allen, Thomas Jefferson and Abe
Lincoln, and in company with such men
as them I'm willing to take my chances"
. Smith is not a handsome man. His
nose was broken in a fight at Willows
twelve years ago, and remains bent and
twisted. Since being in prison he has
grown very fat, and weighs probably 220
pounds. The arrangements for the execu-
ton have been all perfected, and the only
concern now was limited at in a remark
this afternoon. Smiths got big neck to
break
Death of HiIL Haight.
LOS ANGELES, CAL. Aug. S.-Assistant
United States District ATTORNEY Will