The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1909-08-12
6M|TH DIES ON
WAY TO REUNION
itWife and Daughter Wait for "Father"
In Vain.
LIBERTY TOO LONG DELAYED
= Former, Davenport Mayor Victim Of
Fate-Pardoned by Governor he
Succumbs While Rushing
to Faithful Wife.


/ els Smith, former mayor of Daven-
port, and son of the man VINO wrote
America died yesterday in hos
pital at Toronto, Canada, where he
was taken after becoming Ill on the
train which was bearing MIN to New
ton Center. Mass, where his wife and
) daughter awaited his coming after five
years separation. Mr.. Smith was re-
leased on Thursday of last week from
the state reformatory at Anamosa on
orders from Governor Carroll, who
suspended his sentence because OF
old age. Convicted of embezzling
trust funds in Davenport five years
ago, he served part of his eleven
years sentence when the suspension
Of sentence was granted.
In the brief message that reached
Des Moines last night, little or moth
ing was told except the fact OF the
mans death. His sudden illness while
on the train necessitated his removal
to hospital at Toronto and his death
followed before his relatives could
reach his side. He was 70 years OF
age. ... .,.. 80 ,a
giH Was a Brilliant Man.
Six years ago, Samuel Francis
Smith was one of the most highly re-
spected citizens of Iowa. A former
mayor of Davenport, brilliant law,
yer, banker, pillar in church
work, he was pointed out to ambitious
boys as a man whose life was worthy
Of emulation. He had many friends
and admirers; enemies were unknown,
Son and namesake of the man whose
pen phrased the words of America s
national hymn, he was an honored
member of the Sons of the American
Revolution. Sprung from proud New
England stock Mr.. Smith and his wife
were among the most prominent peo-
pie of Davenport. Their palatial
home was the scene of many social
events, there it was that this man
spent much of his time, delving into
the splendid library with which his
home was equipped.
r. They had one child, an invalid
daughter, and upon this girl the par,
ents lavished wealth of tender love
and sympathy. The daughter returned
their devotion, and the family of three
might have been pointed out as the
happiest family in Davenport. .'..
4 Suddenly a cloud fell over their
lives. Whispers began to spread from
lip to lip in Davenport business cir.
cles, whispers that carried disnOnor
to the name of Samuel Smith. when
the whispers became murmurs and the
murmurs open charges, Mr.. Smith
was placed under arrest for embez-
cling trust funds.
E Admits His Guilt.
An examination of his books showed
that he was defaulter to the extent
, of 100000 or more. Money which
had been entrusted to him for invest
ment in safe places and stewardship
as the representative of various es
tates had found its way into the vara.
cious NAV of the speculation monster.
Samuel Francis Smith admitted his
guilt, admitted that he was a default
or, thief, an embeZzler. He asked
to expiate his crime.
The beautiful family home was the
property of Mrs. Smith, but this fact
did not for moment cause her to
hesitate in her efforts to make up to
the people who had trusted her hus'
band the money tney had lost by that
trustfulness. The nome and all II
contained were sold and the money
was turned over to the court officials
who were Strengthening out the tan
gled affairs of Samuel Francis Smith.
Finally, when they had become pen
niless and had done everything in
their power to right the wrong
wrought by the man they loved all the
more because society had cast him
out, the broken-hearted woman with
her daughter returned to the little
eastern town where her forebears had
lived and died. At pretty Newton Cen
ter, Mass, with its shady streets and
air OF quiet security, they found a
haven.
Waiting For Reunion.
Here IL was that Mrs. Smith chose
TO wait for the release of her husband
from his prison. The old friends wei
coined her and her daughter. They
had heard the sad story of the fam
ilys dishonor, but every word of 1t
only served to cement the ties OF
friendship that had outlived the years
and the separation and the disgrace.
Mrs. Smith opened a boarding house
at Newton Center, and her patrons
were allowed to pay only what the &C.
Commodations furnished them we're
worth. The hands that had known
TO harder task than selecting costly
dress patterns in the happy days in
Iowa, turned readily to the mental
work of the boarding house mistress.
She managed to provide living for
herself and her devoted daughter, and
.sogether they waited patiently for the
k'ad day when father" would be free
II join them.
4 Their plans went no further than
the reunion. What did they care for
the future except that 1t held the re.
turn of the man who was wearing his |
tir. aura,, In, tho Anap,nga prfcAy,