The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-07-30
NEGRVS CRIME.
Smith Outraged and Then
Killed a Woman.
The Culprit After Capture
Made a Confession.
Excited People Have Been Talking
About Lynching Him.

Washington. July 3o.-A coroner's Jury
yesterday found James Smith. a negro
waiter guilty OF the murder Tuesday
night of Marguerite Drown at Seat
Pleasant, a large country boarding
house about eight miles from Washing
ton. and late developments in the case
have added SO much horror TO the crime
that there are numerous threats OF
another Maryland lynching as soon as
convenient opportunity occurs. Smith
was arrested by the Washington police
yesterday in the northeastern part OF
the city, and I'm view OF the excited con-
dition OF the pople OF Prince Georges
county probably will be held until for
NAL requisition is made. In order to per-
init the excitement to partly allayed.
The negro made two confessions. partly
contradictory. but each admitting the
murder In his first confession. he said
that he had been intimate with the muir
dered girl, for whose foster mother he
had worked several years; that Mrs.
Drown had discovered the fact and had
discharged him. but had re-employed
him on his and the girls promise to
cease such relations. and that he cut
Miss browns throat on Tuesday because
she rejected advances he had made TO
her again.
In his second confession. he declared
that he had not told the truth when he
asserted that he had relations with the
girl. and denied that he had outraged as
well as murdered her, but also stated
that he had gone to her room for the
purpose OF making advances to her. had
been repulsed, had choked her into un-
consciousness and then had procured
knife from the kitchen end killed her.
The developments at the coroner's in-
quest tended TO discredit the more re-
voting part OF the negros first confess
sion.
Mrs. Drown. the foster mother OF tho
dead girl, testified that Marguerite had
complained to her last Thursday that
Smith had attempted to kiss her. Sew
eral OF the servants also swore that the
girl had called them and had made COM
plant that Smith was attempting to
kiss her. Mrs. Drown, in explanation
of Smiths continued employment after
this occurrence. said that Smith imme-
dlately after II, left the house, but came
back the next day, professed to be ex-
ceedingly penitent and begged to be re-
employed. He had been good servant
for years, and she had finally agreed To
let him come back. on the day of the
murder. she and DIR. Miller. a boarder.
had driven into town, leaving the girl
at home with the servants The latter
swore that they heard a noise upstairs
IN tho girls room loud enough to attract
attention, but said they could not tell
whetherit was laugh or a cry. A little
later Smith came down, and In answer
10 questions said that the noise they had
heard was Miss Marguerite laughing at
q story he had told her. lie had a small
basket on his arm, and at once left the
house. saying he was goinsrto a neigh
boris for some eggs.
The doctor who performed the autopsy
said that his examination of the body
showed that the girl first had been
kpocked down and rendered unconscious
by a blow on the forehead, that she had
then been outraged, and later killed by
the ssvering of the windpipe and jugular
vein.
The Jury promptly returned its ver-
dict Ia accordance with this evidence.
The negro servants about the place were
held In custody, on suspicion that they
knew more Of the affair than wgs dis
closed in their testimony.