Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-03-02
FOUL MURDER.
Mrs. Zefa Smith, London
derry, N. H., Found Dead.
Believed to Have Been Killed While
Defending Her Fortune.
Remains Discovered by Brother-No
Clue to the Murderer.

Londonderry, N. H., March Lying
on the threshold of her bloodshattered
and ransacked room, today. was found
the horribly mutilated body OF Mrs,
leila Smith, a widow of 6S years, who
nude her home with her brother. job
Marshall. AS she was known to hay
had considerable money in her room.
is believed Mrs. Smith was killed VIII
defending her property against robbers
In addition to her skull being fraC-
tured. there were several deep knife
wounds both on the face and body, and
not only was blood spattered on the
walls and floors, but several trunks IN
the room were opened and her pocket.
book, completely empty. lay on the
floor by her side.
The Marshall house is about two
miles from the West Windham depot on
| the Derry Branch of the Boston &
Maine Railroad and being a somewhat
sparsely settled district the authorities
did not learn of the discovery of the
, crime until this noon, though the body
was found by Mr.. Marshall, about
| O'Clock, this morning.
The only occupants Of the house were
| Mrs. Smith and Mr.. Marshall.
Mr.. Marshall said. today. that he
heard no outcrics nor any noise during
| the night. although he occupied room
on the same floor as his sister. He
came down stairs. this morning. and
after building fire and making some
Preparations for breakfast, called his
sister to come down. On receiving no
response, he went up stairs and was
| fcarfully shocked to find the body of
his sister, dressed in her night robe,
almost covered with blood and with
her head terribly battered.
1t was some time before he was able
tC recover himself and then he notified
he neighbors. Gradually the news
spread until the medical referee of the
district. DIR. Newell, was notified and
reached the scene shortly after noon,
today. He found that the head had
been battered and the skull fractured
as if by blunt instrument. These
wounds, he said. were sufficient to have
caused death. In addition, however,
there was a deep cut over the right
eye. as well as several other cuts on
the face, and there were five or six cuts
and slashes on the body.
From the position of the body. DIR.
Newell stated that it was evident that
Mrs. Smith had been killed while at
tempting to prevent a robber from
carrying off her money. The walls,
floor and the furniture were all spat-
tered with blood and the open trunks
and pooketbook clearly showed the OBJ
ject of the intruder
County Solicitor John w. Kelley of
Portsmouth, was notified by DIR. New
ell. this afternoon, and he ordered ev-
crything be left exactly as it was
found by the medical referee, and
stated that he with Sheriff Coils would
be OH The scene in the morning. DR..
Newell also notified the county solicit
ors that Mrs. Smith had considerable
| money in her room, but how much he
had not been able to learn. The room
gave every appearance of having been
thoroughly ransacked by the robber.
as the trunks were opened, bureau
drawers Overhauled and clothing
thrown about the room. >
Tonight, Deputy Sheriff Norton
reached the scene and will be in charge
until tho arrival Of Sheriff Coils in the
| morning.