Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-22
MURDER AND ROBBERY
Horrible Tragedy Enacted
Yesterday Near Manassas.
LONE WOMAN THE VICTIM
Miss Ella Smith Slain and Body
Burned in Home.
NEGROES UNDER SUSPICION
One of Them Arrested and War
rants Issued for Two Others.
Coroner's Inquiry.
Special From a Staff Correspondent.

Special From a Staff Correspondent.
MANASSAS, Va, November %
Ono of the most brutal crimes ever
committed in this section occurred
early yesterday morning. when Miss
Ella Smith was murdered in her home
on Bull Run battlefield. To conceal
the crime the murderer set fire to
her home and escaped. 1t is thought the
motive was robbery. The body of the
woman. burned to a crisp. was found
by searchers yesterday morning as soon
as the ruins had cooled sufficiently to
permit close inspection of the ashes.
Three negroes are under suspicion and
one Of them has already been placed in
Jail at this place. Warrants were issued
for the others. A jury was sworn yes
terday by DR.. ]. C. Meredith, the coroner,
and after the collection of considerable
evidence the case was adjourned over
until tomorrow morning, when the sus-
poets will be given preliminary hearing.
The charred remains were brought to this
place by the coroner.
House Quickly Destroyed.
Z According to Information secured from
relatives and close neigrbors of Miss
Smith by a Star reporter a few hours
after the crime was committed, the fire
started between l and O'Clock yester-
day morning. j. II. Steele and Robert
L. Wheeler, whose farms adjoin that of
Miss Smith, discovered the flames and
after summoning assistance endeavored
to extinguish the fire. The flames had
gained considerable Roadway, however.
and within short space of time the
house was in ruins. Nothing remains
but the chimney and blackened walls of
the foundation.
Efforts were at once started to locate
Miss Smith. of whom no trace could be
found while the building was burning.
The telephone was resorted to, and in
auiry made at every household for miles
around. an impression prevailing that
she might have gone on a visit to friends
to spend the evening. She was not To-
Gated, however, and as soon as it was
possible to enter the ruins search for
her remains was commenced. The
searchers were rewarded by finding the
remains in the center of the sitting room
of the house. which was also used as
bedroom. Only portion of the skull
and the upper part of the body were
found. These were carefully removed
from the ruins and placed near the en-
trance of the house to await the arrival
of the coroner.
Dog Her Protector.
Miss Smith, it is said, never retired, as
a general rule, until about 1 or o'clock
in the morning She was accustomed
to reading up to the time she retired.
The reason given was that she was
afraid and preferred to remain awake.
Her large shepherd dog was always
cit CHI yhnr,
she locked up her home for the night
he would make himself comfortable at
her feet An incident which occurred
Saturday night was recalled by those
gathered at the site of the burned home
yesterday morning. About 10 O'Clock
the previous evening the dog was seen
running down the road in the direction
of Manassas. While no particular at
tention was paid to it at the time, it is
now the belief that the dog had been
driven from the house by the murderers
of his mistress.
While the motive for the crime is not
positively known. circumstances point to
robbery, as stated. Miss Smith earned
her livelihood by raising turkeys for the
Washington markets. She closed a deal
Saturday for the sale of seventy-tive
fine, large turkeys. To bind the bargain
the purchaser maue a deposit of SO. The
balance of the money was to be paid
yesterday morning, when the turkeys
u.
petrator of the crime believed she had
received large sum of money, and laid
his plans to secure 1t. The turkeys were
still on the farm yesterday morning.
Coroner Begins INJURY.
Commonwealth Attorney H. T. Davies
arrived on the scene early yesterday
morning and Immediately communicated
with the other county officials. DIR. j. c.
informing Sheriff F. c. Rorabaugh of the
crime. summoned jury to view the re-
mains. In speaking of the affair yester-
day he said there was no evidence that
the skull had been crushed in or frac-
tured. Before making a careful examina-
ton he stated. further. that the evidence
was circumstantfal No evidence of fou
play could be found anywhere.
Miss Smith was always known to carry
.3S-caliber Smith & WesOn revolver In
her belt. 1t was seldom she ever@wen,
without 1t No trace of the pistol. how
ever, has been found. A large rifle
which she had in her home. was found In
the ruins in the sitting room. 1t had been
discharged. 1t Is said that on a previous
occasion she had some slight trouble with
marauder. since which time she always
went armed. Some of her neighbors re-
marked that they would never go to her
house after dark, fearing they would be
shot.
Location Of the Home.
The scene Of yesterdays tragedy Is
about four miles from this place and
about one and a half miles from Stone
house. The house occupied commanding
position on the knoll Of hill about Ia
feet from the roadside. During the civil
war ii was the battle-ground Of many Sc
we're conflicts, being part OF the famous
Bull Run battlefield. Miss Smith wa.