The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1902-08-23
NEGRO MURDERS
HIS WHITE Wife
George Smith Shot His Wife in
Left Breast Because of
Jealousy.
HAS CONFESSED HIS GUILT
Attempting to Escape He Ran
Into the Arms Of Police
Officer-Q Questionable
Character.

PORTLAND. Aug. 22.-JeaIousy
caused Little George Smith, colored,
10 murder his white wife at 1880 to-
day in cheap lodging house at Sec
,ond and Couch, by sending bullet
through her left breast. In trying to
make his escape he ran into the arms
Of Officer KitzmIller, and was lodged
in jail short time afterwards. The
inquest will be held this evening at
s o'clock.
Carl quail was standing at the COR
ner Of Second and Couch and saw
Smith crossing the street toward The
lodging house over the Boston saloon
where the wife roomed. She has been
separated from Smith of late, and had
rented the room a couple Of days be-
fore. Smith muttered something about
a white -. and that he would fx her
lat that time Officers Roberts and
Kitzmiller were patrolllng their beats
near at hand
A few seconds after Smith crossed the
street shot rang out. Smith ran out
of the place and the alarm was given.
officer Roberts went straight TO the
scene. and KitzmiIler lined up along
Flanders street 20 head of the mur-
derer Smith ran through olsen's sa-
,on and said that he had killed his
wife and was going to commit sui
eide. Young Olsen made himself
scarce, not knowing but that Smith
might send shot in HIS direction.
The latter ran from the place and
ran into Officer Kitzmiller.
Where are you going?" said the Of
| lficer, grabbing him.
Il heard shot answered Smith,
| and believe some one shot my wife"
| The officer told him he had better
come along and they would go where
the shot was fired and see about 1t.
Upon Smith was a revolver with one
chamber containing an empty shell
and all the others loaded. BY the
time they reached the saloon the wo-
man was dead. The pulse was slight
v futtering when officer Roberts
Reached the room. She was shot in
the left breast and was lying on the
led at the time. The handouts were
1laced on Smith. and he was taken
! to headquarters. He made several
wild statements to the captain, one
of them to the effect that his uncle
had murdered his wife. Coroner Finley
was summoned and the body of the
woman removed to the morgue.
The victim is evidently about q
years old. She was legally married to
Smith about three yeas ago. 1t is
said she formerly lived near Forest
Grove. For the last year or so she
has been In the cribs of the North
End. Some time ago she left her hus-
band. claiming that he abused and beat
her.
Smith has Il bad reputation among
The police. He has been 10 for vag-
rlncy number of times, and was once
convicted of robbery. Several shady
affairs were believed to have been the
result of his work, but it prove diff
ficult to get positive evidence.
MAKES A CONFESSION.
Within an hour after his arrest
Smith sent word to the chief of po-
lice that he would make a full free
confession of everything concerning
the crime to the chief and no one else.
The murderer was taken into the
chiefs office, where he was closeted
for long time reciting the details Of
the crime and the reasons that conf
Ipelled him to take the woman's life.
He said he meant to kill the woman.