Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-12
ExPIA{ES HIS CRIME
(Contibasakrom First Pase1

on the ground floor. on the right side of the
south wing. branching from the rotunda.
Father Matthews breakfasted with Smith
Soon thereafter Father Sullivan arrived at
the jail and the three were left to them
selves. ar
A Star rep3rter.H through Warden Harris.
sent message to the condemned man. ask
ing If he desired to say anything. His re-
ply was:
Not one word"
Father Sullivan and Father Matthews de-
clined to say any thing regarding what
transpired in the cell during the morning
I'VE know nothing, and therefore can say
nothing" was their answer to the inquiry
of the reporter.
Time Devoted to Reading.
The time up to the appearance of the
warden in the cell to read the death war
rant, however, = was devoted to religious
reading by the priests. Father Matthews
and Father Sullivan alternated in reading.
Smith listened intently to every word that
was uttered and seemed to be deeply i'm
pressed with the reading.
Shortly after II o'clock Warden Harris
visited the cell and inquired of Smith If he
desired luncheon, some fruit or anything
wha tever TO eat.
Il will take no more nourishment," he
replied, politely.
Half an hour later the Jail physician
visited the cell. He found Smith entirely
calm and thoroughly at ease. When asked
if he would like drink of whisky Smith
appeared greatly pleased. and smiiingly re-
piled in the affirmative The liquor was
taken to him and he drank it. Then he
shook hands with the attendant who served
him, pleasantly bidding him goodbye.
Burial at Mt. OIivet Cemetery.
The remains of Smith will be inferred,
according TO the rites of the Catholic
Church, in Mt. Olivet cemetery. Brief
services were held this afternoon at the
Jail and the body then quietly removed
to the cemetery. At late hour it was not
definitely known whether or not the inter-
ment would occur this afternoon tomor-
row If not today, then the remains will
be placed in a vault over night. Undertaken
r. F. Harvey took charge of the body.
History of the Crime.
The history of the crime is that Smith
occupied the down stairs front room in
house ia Madison alley, between LIST and
I'd, E and F streets, and Edmonia Jackson
had room directly above that occupied
by Smith. The other rooms in the house
were assigned to different persons. About
) pm. Friday, November 10, 1897, Edmonia
was found dead in the bed in Smiths room,
with wounds in her neck and throat There
was a pool of ciotted blood beneath the
head of the woman, and nearby was a
bloody Ratchet, blade OF KNIFE was
embedded in the clenched hand of the wo-
man. This knife identified the
property of Smith.
November IL tIdmona went to the Dis
trict Jail to visit her husband, who was
confined there. When she returned to her
room she called to Smith. requesting him
to get her some beer. He upbraided her
for going to the Jail. She denied going
there. Smith inquired of several of the
other roomers in the house if Edmonia had
visited her husband and received replies
in the mega tive. g.Not being satisfied, he
quarreled with the woman.
Later she wentto Smiths room. That
night other parties in the hDnSp heard a
noise, as thoaghSa person had fallen.
few minutes thereafter some person left
the house and proceeded to hydrant in
the yard. The water was turned on,
sounds as though some one was washing
followed; then the water was turned off.
and the person returned to the house.
Contradictory Statements.
The next day, Tuesday Martha Williams,
who rented room in the house. asked
Smith what had become of Edmonia He
replied that she had gone to a service
place. The following day, saying she had
an important message to deliver Martha
demanded lucknow where Edmenia could
be found Smith made answer that she
was working at III 18th street AT that
number Martha learned that nothing was
known of Edmenia Jackson. The attention
of Smith was called to that fact. and he
explained that he intended to say 1873 18th
street, instead of 1l15 When Martha called
at 1135 11rh street she met with no greater
success than at l1f5.
1t was declared in court that from Mon
day, November II. till Friday, November
49, 1897, Smith occupied the room whereof
was lying the body of Edmonia Jackson.
Thursday he moved his pallet from his
room to the kitchen, taking il by way of
the front door, and not opening a door
leading from his room to the kitchen
Friday Smith met a police officer and told
the latter that he thought Edmona was
dead. The policeman began an investiga-
ton that resulted in the finding of the body
and the arrest of Smith.
The prisoner told different stories of the
affair, denying that he killed the woman
and declaring that she took her own life
The preceding July Smith had trouble
with Edmonia's husband. and both men
We're sentenced TO Jail for assault. After
II she ever again lived with her husband
he tSmith) would cut her throat
W nile in jail serving the sentence for as
sault Smith made threats to kill Eldmonia,
and at the time of his release from Jail
remarked that he would soon return but on
charge far more serious than that for
which he had just served time. Smith was
released from Jail the 10th of November.
Five days later Edmonia was dead.
Called to Account.
AT the first trial the defense attempted
to show by the Jail records that Edmonia
jackson did not visit the Jail on certain
day that witnesses for the government tes-
tilted she had called there.
Somewhat of q surprise was caused by
tho announcement of the defense at this
point that 1t had no further testimony 10
offer and that its case was concluded. The
defendant did not take the stand.
rms trial was preceded by an incident
that for few moments rather eX
citing. Just prior to leaving the Jail for
the court house Smith attempted to muir
derousiy assault John Nelson, one of the
most important witnesses for the govern
ment. Had 1t not been for the watchful
eye and prompt and decisive action on the
part OF Deputy Marshal Jas. Springnann,
Nelson would probably have been in no
condition to testify for some days to fol-
low.
Nelson later testified that while they were
fellow prisoners in the District Jail Smith
informed him that it was his intention to
Kill Edmonia Jackson. According to Mel
son, when he babe farewell to Smith al the
expiration of the term on a Police Court
sentence the latter was then serving, the
reply was: "Oh, III be back in a few days,
but I'll come to the other side of the Jail,
meaning the Wing wherein are confined the
prisoners awaiting trial in the criminal
courts. That Was the 10th of November.
Five days LAGER, the dead body of Edmo-
MIA Jackson was found and, true to his
prophecy. Smith Was returned to the Jail
and relocated 10 atipel1 in murdererS' row.