The professional world. (Columbia, Mo.) 1901-192?, 1902-02-07
SMITH BOSWELL KILLED.
Found Wednesday Morning in His
Room With His Throat Cut.


Smith Boswell, well known Col
umbia negro, was found dead
Wednesday morning in his room over
the implement store of N. ID. Rob-
nett. There was terrible cash cut
in his throat, and he was lying in
pool of blood.
Upon being notified, Coroner Par
ker Immediately impaneled a jury
and began an investigation. The
jury was composed of: A. J. Winn,
X. l.. Chandler, Geo. Klingbeil, r.
l.. Acton, G. M. Wheeler, and o. l..
Tyson. After being in session near
ly all day the jury returned the fol-
lowing verdict: "That Smith Bos-
we'll came to his death by his own
razor in the hands of parties un-
known to the jury"
1t Is the opinion of many that
Boswell was murdered, although no
motive can be found for the crime.
There were two rooms which were
used by Boswell. The west room in
which there was a stove and kitchen
furniture had a stream of blood
which led from the south wall to
near the door opening into the east
room, where he was found Near
this door was large pool of blood
and in the edge of the pool was a
blood-soaked pillow, while nearby
lay a towel, on which it seemed
bloody hands had been wiped. Fur
ther out and little west of this pill
low lay the trousers which had been
torn in removing them and blood on
the inside of the bottom part. BOs-
we'll had seemingly reached the door
and had fallen through into the east
room where he was found lying in
another pool of blood, nearly across
the center of the floor. A folding
bed stood beside the door of this
room and was down ready for occu-
pancy but no blood was upon it. On
the door knob of this room was a
blood stain, as if 1t had been gripped
Nhy a bloody hand.
A stream of blood was found wher-
ever Boswell had been before this
during his struggle after he was cut,
but no blood was between this door
and the body, though blood was upon
the knob.
The jamb of the door, opening be-
tween the two rooms was bloody and
evidences of struggle were shown,
but whether with another party
could not be determined.
In support of the murder theory
are the facts that no blood is on the
floor near the door with bloody
door knob, while there is blood ev-
erywhere else. Also that it would
seem impossible for person with
two gashes in his throat deep enough
tc sever the jugular vein could be
able to do the things which he would
necessarily have to do to leave HIM
self and the rooms in the condition
WOtC slOuhu, oioo 6oS'Sot
which were on the right side, if in
fiicted by his own hand, were contra
ry to the ordinary way of handling
the ral or, since he was himself right
handed.
The arguments in favor of suicide
were: The razor used belonging to
:. him, the watch and jewelry which
were found carefully wrapped and
put away, his talk in regard to kill
ing himself and his dependency and
sickness.
1t was found that Boswell had been
sick for several days, that he had
been drunk and Respondent for some
time and had told his half brother,
Eli White, that he would some day
find him dead. The razor used was
his own and was found lying on a
table near the bed in the east room.
If he had been killed by some one
else, this person must have procured
Boswell's razor in order to do the
deed.