Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-01

Smith Was Cool When Taken Into
Court.

HE WAS DEFIANT.
Smith Was Cool when Taken Into
Court.
James Smith, the negro who murdered
Miss Drown at Seat Pleasant. was sur
rendered to the Maryland authorities yes
terday afternoon, as stated in The Star,
and they Immediately took their charge to
Baltimore, where he was lodged lin Jail to
await trial at Marlboro next October.
Bailir James Springman brought Smith
up from the police station to the City Hall
a few minutes before o'clock and at
once took him into Circuit Court room No.
l, where a large crowd had gathered to
catch a view of the fend. Springman re-
moved the handouts from the man and
seated him just In front OF the judges
bench, taking a chair beside him, while
Star reporter occupied the chair on the
other side of the murderer 1t was several
minutes before Judge Hagner came In, and
during that time. through the courtesy of
Deputy Marshal Robinson, and in marked
contrast with the lack of consideration
shown newspaper reporters by the superin
tendent Of police. the reporter was accord
ed every opportunity Of conversing with
the self-coldemned man.
Smith seemed to really enjoy the dis
tinction of being the subject of SO much at
tentfon. and. throwing one leg over the
other, threw himself back in his chair in
an easy, indifferent attitude. smilingiy re-
plying that he felt splenddly, to the re-
porter's inquiry. He stated that he was
aware that they were about to take him to
Baltimore for safekeeping, and when ii
was suggested to him that he might never
reach there, he laughed in half-sneering
manner, and replied: ITS all the same TO
me now. L have done the thing and that's
all there is about 1t. l don't care what
they do with me-
But do you know that they have threat
ened to take you from the train and burn
you alive?" inquired the reporter.
Yes, l have heard all that" the murder
er ' coeliy replied, and that's all right, too.
They can do just as they please with me, /
gay, and the sooner they do ii the better
III like it. 1 know I've got to suffer for
II, ard let it come as quick they want
10 make it. I'm prepared for it."
Asked If he had any regret for what he
had done, Smith besitated a moment, and
then evaded direct answer by saying:
The things done, i tell you. and that's
enough about it," Then he shut up like
clam, and sneeringly smiled when advised
to make the best of his remaining time.
Just Their Judge hagner came into court,
when Assistant District Attorney Armes
explained that the requisition Of Gov.
Lowndes appeared to be in proper form,
and he moved that the prisoner be surren-
dered to the Maryland officers. After
glancing at the papers to see that they
were sufficient. Judge Hagner said: Smith,
step up" The negro did SO, informing the
judge that he knew what the paper was,
that he WAS the man mentioned i'm il, and
that he was willing to go to Baltimore. not
caring to have the assistance and advice
of counsel.
Very WELL then" remarked the judge,
'let the prisoner be turned over to the
Maryland officers. Smith resumed his seat
as Sheriff Underwood and his deputy, Mr..
Waring, signed a receipt to Marshal Rob-
inson for the mans body, and then the
murderer was again securely handcufred,
hustled out of the court room into car
v~f,. ,-r,,,
ficers and quickly driven to Sixth Street
station, where the 3:15 train for Baltimore
was boarded 4 moment or two before ii
pulled out. At the request Of the sheriff
The Star reporter telegraphed the Balti
more authorities in his name to meet the
party at the Union station, Baltimore, with
the Jail van, and when The train arrived
there after an uneventful trip, Smith was
driven 10 the city Jail and there securely
locked up in murderer's row in the prison.
In baltimore.
When the murderer reached the Bal.i-
more jail the prison officials saw no reason
why he should be treated other than any
other ordinary criminal, and the news
paper men were allCwed not only the privi-
iege of seeing him. but they We're allowed to
il teryiew him Smith was not very talk
ative, however for he had had nothing 10
eat since morning and he was apparently
very tired. When he reached the Balu-
more prison. he vas given a thorough
search for incriminatin evidence, hut moth
ing vas found upon him, not even blood
stains, ard after beng given a bath he
was assigned TO cell No. IL in murderers'
row. He was stretched at full length on
his cot when several reporters called upon
him and remained in this position while
talking. But he would say but very little,
for he told the reporters thai he had told
all he had to tell when he was in this city.
He did say, however, that he had not
claimed to have been on intimate terms
with Miss Drown, and although the evil
dcnce is to the contrary. he denied tina: he
had committed criminal assault upon
her previous to numbering her.
Baltimore paper says that Sheriff In
derwood gave as his reason for bringing
Smith to Baltimore that ii would he cheap
er than to hire men TO guard him at the
Jail at Upper Marlboro.
Last night Sheriff Underwood and Dep
uty Sheriff War:ng stopped here on their
way home. They talked freely about the
case and seemed relieved now that their
prisoner is in safe prison.
He will be tried in Marlboro said the
officials. Court will not convene until Oc-
tober, and then the murderer will he taken
back there, tried and given a legal execu-
ton. He will not be lynched.