Tanana leader., 1909-12-23

the residence of the late Charles J. Smith, last Thursday afternoon, Lieu tenant Dr. Chase testified as to the cause of death; Mrs. Smith told of the knocking at the door, of its being opened by her husband, and of the shooting which followed; and w. c. Brown explained what he knew of the tragedy. Mr. Brown slept in back room. He nearly always heard Smith come home at night. On the night oI the tragedy he was awakened by Mrs. Smith opening his door and screaming. He is slightly deaf. He heard Mrs. Smith say there was shooting in front of the house. The children were screaming and he did not catch all Mrs. Smith said. Dressing quickly, he went out and found some one lying in front of the door. Believing Smith had not come home, he ran to the sa- loon to tell him there was trouble.
 Jury In Session on Friday
 The coroner's jury reassembled at A. B. hall and the taking of evidence began at 10:30 o'clock Friday forenoon. w. A. Strangman was present as ste nographer and took down all the evil dence in shorthand.
 LIEUTENANT DIR. CHASE. of the Fort Gibbon military post, (recalled)- Told of the post mortem examination which he made the previous afternoon. Other than the gunshot wounds, the only external mark or bruise found on Smiths body, he said, was slight abrasion on the bridge of the nose: only skin deep, which might have been caused by falling forward when the fatal shot was fired, or by light blow or scratch. Three gunshot wounds were in the back of the head-one be- ing three inches toward the medial line from the left ear and the others two or three inches nearer the medial line, on the same side of the head. The bullet entering nearest the ear ranged forward and caused death; the holes nearer the medial line were con- nected, and merely went beneath the skin-they did not erode the bone and would hardly have knocked Smith down but might have dazed him; they would not have caused him to lose consciousness or have prevented him from making an outcry. When the hair was shaved away grains of powder were sticking around these wounds, showing that the weapon was very near when fired; while the skin around the fatal wound was clean. The head was opened at the top. The bullet which entered nearest the ear was found just back of the cavity of the left eye. The bullet was exhibited to the jury. It appeared to be .32-caliber long. It had been weighed and was not thought to have lost any apprecia- ble amount by erosion from contact with the bone. Fragments of bone were noticeable along tho bullets entire course. =@.. -:.-
 R. J. STARK-Was in Smiths sa- loon the evening of Dec. 15. Smith was behind the bar. Barney quarreled with Smith and used threatening lan- guage; said he would put him out of business and out of commission. Smith all the time protested that he desired no trouble and would not quarrel with Barney. Witness left and went around town. At 12:3o in company with Tom O'Leary witness left George Carl's and went back to Smiths saloon. When they passed Chanquist's the place was lighted up, but they did not enter. They went into the Gibbon bar, where Proprietor Jack Cavanaugh was in the act of closing up. They drank and then went out in order that the place might be closed. On emerging wit ness saw Barney come out of Campbell avenue and cautioned O'Leary. Barney came up and wanted to make friends with O'Leary. Witness and O'Leary entered the Tower house, but soon wont into Smiths place and began eat ing dried fish which the barkeeper set out. Presently w. c. Brown came in and asked, "Where is Smith?' Gone home," answered Oscar Lundine, the barkeeper. He is not there," said Brown; ''but there is an Indian in front of the house lying on the ground nearly dead" Then Lundine said, ''There is something wrong up there, boys; must close. up." Then witness and several others went to the house and found Smith in his night clothes lying face down in front of the door. They chafed his feet, but he was dead. Witness believes Smith was shot pre-