The sun., 1903-05-31
But Mr.. Smith was not the kind OF man

But Mr.. Smith was not the kind Of maj
| TO be deferred in doing what he be
| lieved to be right by any such cowardl!
methods. There was only one way to stoI
him. and that was finally employed,
He was thoroughly courageous man
| and for himself lie did not hesitate to meet
| the saloon men IN any or all OF tneir schemes
| ! think the only worry he had about 1t all
was for his family. He did take precau-
| have mis- house watched all the time and
his children guarded when they went
out. But for himself he would have no
such attention. He did not even carry
| revolver.
There was mucn talk among the liquor
men about what would happen to Mr.. Smith
| and some bitter threats were made. But
! there was one man who kept place IN
the lower part of the city who never said
| word
In the front window Of his saloon, how
ever, was placed large skull with cross
! bones Underneath was a strip Of paper
on which was printed: Sacred to the MEM
| ory of Watson b. Smith
| No one knew who put up the death
head. and the saloonkeeper would not
| answer any questions about 1t. III any
| one began to talk OF the thing in his
presence he turned and walked away.
No one ever heard MIN mention the name
Of Mr.. Smith, but the deaths head re-
passer could see it,
.Then came the killing. Mr. Smith was
clerk of the United States District Court
and travelled considerably In his dis
trict. On one occasion, when ne had been
away from home for a week or ten days.
| he sent word to his wife that he would re-
turn on certain day, arriving by. train
that reached Omaha late in the evening
| "He said he would 60 direct y to his Office
in the Federal building, as he had some
| orb 70 RI hat M
portance, and she need not worTy IL he did
not reach home until after midnight. He
| did reach Omaha by the train on which
! he had expected to come, ana went 70 ms
| office. II was on the third floor OF the
post office building. in corner. The door
| opened on the main corridor OF the building,
| swinging into the room.
Mrs. Smith had become extremely ner-
vous about her husband, owing to the
continued threats against him. and was
unable to sleep that night. She sat read
ing and waiting for him until about
O'Clock. and then, having heard nothing
from him. she sent one OF the servants
TO rouse a neighbor who was one OF their
closest friends, and to ask him to go down
TO the post office and see Il anything had
happened to Mr.. Smith. This was in the
days before the telephone had become the
common convenience that il is now and
messages were slower in delivery
, THE neighbor, understanding Mrs Smith &
anxiety, got up at once and started down.
town. He saw that there was no light
+ in Mr.. Smiths Office and concluded that he
had not returned to the city, But, to make
sure. he went up the stairs, meaning to try
the door.
; AT the entrance to the post Office he met
: the watchman and asked if anything had
occurred during the evening that had
attracted his attention. The. watchman
replied that il had been a perfectly quiet
night and that nothing whatever had hap
! pcned.
| The gentleman went up the stairs md
lust in front Of the door TO Mr.. Smith s
Office he found the body of his friend. Mr..
Smith was dead, but the body was not
yet cold, He had been shot through the