Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-11-28
new FACTS
Shed a Peculiar Light on
Mrs. Nm. Smiths Career
Relieved 10 Have Shot and Killed
Husband IN FIJI Of Anger.
HAS Been Mixed Up In Quite a Num-
Der Of Shady Transactions.

New York Nov. 21.-The Tribune To-
dav saws: AS fact after fact comes 10
lioht concerning Mrs. Nicholas NJ
smith IJr. who killed her husband and
herself in New Rochelle on saturday,
setting fire to their house. 1t seems
more probable that the crime was COM
mitted in a fit Of rage caused by the
refusal of Smith to allow any longer
the swindling of tradespeople anu
others. by means of which it seems
that the couple were enabled to keep
in the pretentiouS state they anected
in New Rochelle. They lived as IL
their means were practically unlimited
while. as a matter of fact. Smiths in
come averaged less than $1,000 Il year.
all but $4,000 being dependent upon the
amount of Ills sales.
Mrs Smith, under various names. op-
taincd property from various persons
all Of whom she led to believe that she
was either a member of the Bulkeley
family, of Connecticut, or was soon u
receive her share of an English estate.
A friend of Smiths. who sald ne
knew the man as we'll as any one. ex-
pressed the opinion yesterday that MIS-
Smith had been married at least twice
and probably three times before sne
met Smith. There seems to pc nttie
doubt that Smith lived with her ABOUT
five years, and was used by her IN op-
tanning goods from merchants. posing
as her brother There is doubt, now
eyar. as to whether Smith knew what
was being done, for to +. j. Laplace,
a dealer in antiques. Mrs. Smith, then
calling herself Mrs. Acton. said that ne
must pay no attention to her "proth-
er" il he should ask that credit be de-
MED to her. as he was crazy. Lapiace
gave the woman about $4,000 worth OF
goods, he said yesterday. and he was
sure that $500 worth was in the house
al New Rochelle. He expects to re-
plevin this property.
The facts learned in the last day or
two seem to justify the opinion that the
crime of Saturday morning was by no
means the first committed by the wo-'
man. She had been a nurse on Wards
Island before she married DIR. Acton. and
a few months after the marriage DR.. Ac-
ton. according to the records of the COR
oner's Office, died from morphine poison
ing. It was said yesterday that his wife
often administered doses to him. and re-
cent events would seem to strengthen
certain suspicious held at the time with
out much evidence to back them.
II Mrs Smith was not a pyromaniac.
she at least appreciated the convenience
of an occasional fire. for there are records
of two fires CT a suspicious character in
apartments where she lived in this city.
In one case she tried to convince Laplace
IL. l.<~,
stroyed. but he found 1t later in an
apartment in Riverside drive. and recov-
cred q good deal of it. Later, in this same
apartment Mrs. Smith died." creditors
having become pressing. and met some
Of the same creditors as her own sister.
1t was about this time that Smith. who
had been living at the Riverside Drive
place, went to Former Lieutenant Gov
ernor Buckley of Connecticut to tell him
that he would marry his daughter. the
then Mrs. Acton. IL he would acknowledge
her. He was apparently convinced at
Hartford that the woman's pretensioils
were false. but afterward came to believe
In her again, and was finally married t.
her. despite details of her past that
must have been familiar to him.
The friend who spoke of Smith yester.
day said that the man was infatuated
with the woman. and that he was utterly
unable to he reasonable in regard to her
Nothing else will account for the way
she was trusted by hardheaded bushes.
men.
1t was learned yesterday that Mrs
Smith had filed a claim for a part of Tn,
Bulkeley estate. which is to be settled to
morrow at Hartford. and the impendin,
disclosures in this connection may hav,
had something to do with the tragedy
None of Mrs. Smiths relatives elaine,
her body. and it was decided to bury i
at baltimore on Saturday at the expens
Of the Smith estate.