Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1900-08-08
Sad Story About Miss Smith.

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The New York World published a
startling story affecting q chapter in
the life of Miss Mary Condit Smith,
sister-in-law to General Leonard
Wood, of Cuba, and who is believed
to have met horrible death at the
hands of the Boxers In Pekin.
Miss Smith was we'll known In
Washington, where she moved In the
most exclusive social circles. 1t is
declared that, if she be dead, she died
In trying to live down the knowledge
that she had been accused of theft.
In Washington she was fsmilisrly
known as "Polly" Smith, and no
young woman in the capital was more
popular than she.
Last fall she accepted an invita-
tion to attend house party in Allie
gheny City, Pa, and after the affair
had concluded the hostess missed
jewelry valued at $4,000. She
sought the aid of detectives, who be-
gan a search among the guests. The
jewels were wedding presents to the
hostess.
The first clue to the lost gems was
obtained from New York jeweler,
to whom the precious stone which had
been pried from their settings, were
sent to reset. The description of the
person who left them was sent to
Washington and the detectives there,
it is alleged, cast suspicion upon Miss
Smith.
Then came the change oyer the
pretty, light-hearted girl. She had
heard the scandal, but she was pow
erless. She was innocent, but the
blow aimed at her had crushed her.
She no longer accepted invitations to
social functions, and her cheeks, once
rosy, became sunken and her eyes red
with weeping.
To try to divert her mind the IN
nocent girl was sent to her sister,
Mrs. Wood, in Cuba, but the change
did not bring about the benefit ex.
pected. She tried to meet people as
she had done before, but it was of no
use.
General and Mrs. Wood saw that
the girl would die unless something
were speedily done to right the wrong.
Nearly year passed before the
mystery was partially cleared 10y find
ing the settings of the diamonds in a
Pennsylvania Avenue shop in Wash
ington, where they had Oeen taken
undoubtedly by the real thief No
one knows to this day exactly how,
when or by whom the jewels were
purloined. The discovery of them
came too late. An Irreparable injury
had been done to the young girl with
out the slightest fault of her host,
hostess or the detectives. So Wash
ington accepted the finding of the
Jewels in a disinterested sort of way.
1t was when her family had almost
despaired of ever making her well
and happy again that the trip to
China was proposed. The Congers
were close to the Condit-Smiths.
They loved the "Polly" Smith they
had known of old. The girl left for
China with the expressed purpose of
staying there always. In China she
could at least be among people who
would not gossip. What if they were
heathens? What if they did kill her
as they perhaps have done? They
would at least make her misery short
lived.
1t is said that it was Miss Smith,
purpose to eventually be missionary
in China. She could never return
to Washington. 1t was urged upon
her that Washington had already
forgotten the accusation made against
her and was only too ready to right
The wrong. The wrong, however,
was too great to her thinking to ever
be righted, and she chose to 60 from
her home forever.