Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-10-26
GOES TO 6RO1HER'S
HOME TO END LIFE
Widow Receives Letter In Which
Dead Husband Had Written That
He Would Reform II Allowed 70
Come Back-Inquest Deemed IN
necessary.

Desperate because his wife refused
TO live with him again. William VIII
bur Smith. aged 3G years. who was
n filter employed at the shlpyard'
committed suicide yesterday after
rocn by drinking an ounce OF laudl-
mum and two ounces of carbolic acid'
He prcbably took the laudanum on or
near Jefferson avenue and swallowed
the carbolic acid at the home of MS
brother. A. L. Smith. 1898 twenty
third street, where he died at
o'clock.
Smith is said to have been a heavy
drinlsr at times and il was ON that
account that his wife, who was MISS
wiley left him about two weeks ago.
she and her two daughters. one
6 wears old and the ether ~ months
old, now live with her parents at III
Forty-second stree Smith went TO
the Wiley home Monday to see his
wife and beg her to live with ann
again tbs said that she refused 10
have anything further 10 do with MIN.
Helped Along by Negro.
Yesterday afternoon Smith went TO
to store OF the Hopkins Drug Com
pany. en- jefferson avenue. and pur-
chased the laadanum and carbonc
acide. He evidently drank the laIda-
mum soon after leaving the drug store.
for when he reached his brothers
home he was almost helpless from
the effects of the poison ana was be-
ing helped alcng the street by an un-
known negro man.
Upon his arrival NJ the house.
Smith asked his sister-in-law II ne
could lie down at her home for
short while and she took him to
room en- he second floor and allowed
him t. lie across the bed. She re-
turned TO her work On the first fioor
and in few minutes Smith called
her and told her that he had drunk
some carbolic acid. she hurrtadly
summoned Dr. w. j. Knight. but when
the physician reached the house the
man was beyond aid and death fol-
lowed n few minutes later.
Both Bottle in Room.
Both bottles which had conta ned
the poison were found in the room
where Smith breathed his last. The
attending physician believes that the
man drank lagdanum some time be-
fore reaching his brothers home and
put the bottle in his pocket The lau-
danum probably worked too slowly for
him and after reaching the house he
decided to make gu Co end to him
self by drinking the carbolic acid.
When he reached his brothers
home. Smith gave his sister-in-law a
letter with strict Instructions TO hand
1t to his brother when he came home
from work yesterday evening. The
letter was addressed to the dead
mans wife. In il he promised TO
quit drinking and turn over a new
leaf If she would live with him again.
and said that he would kill himself
II she wouldn't let him come back.
No inquest Held.
After Smith breathed his last. Or.
W. ]. Knight notified DIR. b. r. Gary.
the coroner. and DR.. Gary went 10 the
house. After viewing the body the
coroner decided hat an inquest was
unnecessary and gave a certificate of
death by poison taken with suicidal
intent ~
The funeral will he held this after
noon at the East End Christian
church. Rev. Mrrdock W. Butler. the
pastor. and Rev. n. II. Butler. OF SUI
folk. vii! conduct the services and
he body will be laid to rest in Green
lawn cemetery beside that Of the dead
mans little child. who died fonr years
ago
Smith had lived In this city for the
past eight OF more years and had
been employed IN the fitting depart
ment Of the shipysrd during hat time