Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-09-03
NEGRO CAPTURED
Officer Joba Csvspsuph Landed
 Prisoner Ia Cell.

The quiet town of Middlebury wss thrown in spasms of excitement last evening when 1t was learned that the arrest had taken place here of the negro William Smith, who is said to have left his aged mother-in- law, Mrs William Hendricks, for dead in her own home near Quas- sapaug, It was said that feeling of securing immediate justice spread through the community and that it would be unsafe to deliver the man to the authorities In the dark of night. For that reason, probably. Smith was held here until this forenoon in the police station in the custody of Constable Fl. B. Smith and First Selectman D.. L. Wheeler.
 The assault took place on Tues- day evening. The woman's husband was away fishing at the time and when he reached home he found the doors locked and rear window open. Through this he got into the house and found his wife stretched on the floor apparently dead. The news spread immediately that murder had been committed. Med- ical attendance was on hand as soon as possible and 1t was found that the woman had been assaulted in most violent manner. Cuts and bruises were all over her body, her head was bleeding and bruised and 1t is supposed her skull Is fractured. Hendricks searched the house to as- certain some clew to a motive for the assault and finding $14 missing it was concluded that robbery was the incentive. Then a search was made for the assailant. It was said there had been some i'll feeling be- tween Smith and his lmother-in-law and as he could not be found suspi- cion directly centered on him.
 Meanwhile. Mrs Hendricks, who was unconscious, was removed to the Waterbury hospital, small hope of her recovery being entertained.
 Yesterday morning the search for the missing negro was resumed. In the afternoon two sons of Mrs Hen- dricks came to Waterbury and in- formed the police that Smith used frequently to visit colored people liv- ing on North Park avenue. While Detective keegan sauntered around in that vicinity last evening Officer John Cavanaugh went on the lock- out on Cooke street. Of all the colored men that passed to and fro on Park avenue not one of them had the slightest resemblance to Smith. It was about o'clock when Cavan- rb tni y1pu approach him from North Main street and he took the man in. In the police station the fellow admit ted that he hailed from Middlebury and the injured woman was his mother-in-law, but he was emphatic in his denials of assaulting her, or having had any quarrel with her, whatsoever. Even this morning, notwithstanding the evidence against him, he persists in his denials of being the assailant.
 At g o'clock Constable Smith with Selectman Wheeler came to town and immediately got into communi- cation with the accused, but to them also he insisted he was innocent.
 Soon after the officers from Mid- dlebury arrived telephone message was received by Superintendent Beach that 1t would be we'll for the officers to be on the lookout against a demonstration upon their arriving in Middlebury. This message was understood at first to be that friends of the injured woman had set out armed with weapons of various kinds, agricultural implements, mostly to take the prisoner from the officers before they would reach the village.
 Before going away with the Mid. dlebury authorities Smith went through the Bertillon system of measurements and weight. In his stockinged feet he looked to be a powerful fellow. He is not entirely black, and his age seemed to be about 35 or 40 years. He is charged with assault with intent to kill, as- sault with intent to rob, robbery and disturbing the peace. The officers said his trial may begin at 6 o'clock this evening in the Town hall.