Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1900-07-17
"PoLLY' SMITHS SAD FATE.
Fates Pursued the Guest Of Minister
C0nger.

New YORK, July 16.-The World
Of this morning publishes a startling
story affecting chapter In the life OF
Miss Mary Condit Smith, sister-i law
of Gen. Leonard Wood, OF Cuba, and
who is believed to have met horrible
death at the hands Of the Boxers Ia
pekin.
Miss Smith was well known In
Washington where she moved in the
III, ST exclusive social circles 1t Is de-
cla ed that, IL she be dead, she died
in trying to live down the knowledge
that she had been accused OF theft.
In Washington she was familiarly
known as Polly Smith, and no
young woman in the capital was more
popular than she.
Last fall she accepted an invitation
TO attend house party In Allegheny
City, Pa, and after the affair had
concluded the hostess missed jewelry
valued at over 81, 600. She sought the
aid Of detectives, who began search
among the guests. The Jewels were
wedding presents to the hostess.
The flrst clue TO the lost gems was
obtained from New York jeweer, TO
whom the precious stones which had
been pred from their settings, were
sent To be reset. The description OF
the person who left them was sent to
Washington and 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 help
less. She was innocent, but the blow
aimed at her had crushed her. She
no longer accepted invitations to So
cial functions and her cheeks. once
rosy, became sunken and her eyes red
with weeping.
To try to divert her mind the limo
cent girl was sent to her sister, Mrs.
Wood, in Cuba, but the change did
not bring about the benefit expected.
She tried to meet people as she had
done before, but it was of no use.
General and Mrs. Wood saw the
girl would die unless something were
speedily done to try to right the
wrong.
Nearly year passed before the mys-
terry was partially cleared up by find
ing the settings OF the diamonds In a
Pennsylvania avenue shop In Wash
ington, where they had been 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 findings Of the
jewels in disinterested sort Of way.
1t was when her family had despair
ed ofsefer making her well and happy
again that the trip to China was pro-
posed. The Congers were close to the
Condit Smiths. They loved the
sspolly" Smith they had known Of old.
The girl left for China with the ex-
pressed purpose of staying there al
ways. In China she could at least be
among people who would not gossip.
What II they were heathens? What
If they did kill her, as they perhaps
have dones They would at least make
her misery shortliyed.
1t is said that it was Miss Smiths
purpose TO eventually be a missionary
in China. She could never return to
Washington. 1t was urged upon her
that Washington had forgotten the
accusation made against her and was
only too ready TO right the wrong.
The wrong, however, was too great to
her thinking ever TO be righted, and
she choose to go from her home for
ever.