The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-08-02
WEEDS ON MONDAY
BECOMES A WIDOW
THREE DAYSLATER.
Romance of Robert d. Smith
and Miss Lillian West Has
Tragic Ending
SHOOTS HIMSELF
EXAMINING PISTON
Following House Party, Cou-
pie Elope to Elizabeth City.
Wedding Revealed
After Tragedy


With these words, the full meaning
of which was unknown to his brother,
to whom they were addressed, Robert
u. Smith. of 2003 West Main street,
passed into Inconsistencies early yes
terday morning and died at St
Luke's hospital last night at z
n'clock from the effects of a. bullet
wound, which had accidentally been
inflicted while he was cleaning a re-
volVer.
Having aroused the other menu
bers of the family and summoned DIR.
Wythe Davis, who ordered the wound
ed man to st. Luke's hospital. Aubrey
Smith, the brother, proceeded to send
a telegram addressed to Miss Lillian
Z. West at Hampton. Va. ana upon
the arrival of the young lady on the
Chesapeake and ohio train shortly
before noon it became known tina.
she is In reality Mrs Robert d. Smith
and that they married on Monday.
Maid, wife and widow within the
brief period of three days had been
the allotment of fate to the beautiful
young girl who on Monday had ac-
complished the most romantic OF all
ambitions--an elopement with the
man whom she had loved for years.
The elopement had been simply the
carryig out of the ideas of romance
OF the young couple, for there was
no objection on the part of the pa
rents of either.
Together mt House Party.
The affair had come, however, as
the elimination Of n house party ut
the home of Mrs. Zimmerman q mu-
tual friend, in Mathews county. For
week past the young couple with
several others had been the guests OF
the Zimmerma as and on Monday the
party broke up, all OF them coming
to Norfolk, where they dispersed to
their various homes.
It was given out that Miss West
and Mr.. Smith would go to Hampton,
where Miss West expected to be the
guest for the next two weeks of Mrs.
Peters. But coming across Mobjack
bay on the boat the couple had made
other plans and instead Of proceeding
to Hampton they went 10 the Nor
folk and Southern station and took
the train for Elizabeth City. North
Carolina. Arriving there they were
married and returned that after
noon TO Hampton, where Miss Vest
went 10 the home Of her friend, Mrs
Peters.
With the purpose OF breaking the
news to their respective parents,
on Tuesday, On Wednesday he adj
dressed an afrectionate letter to his
bride in Hampton, telling her that he
had not yet summoned the nerve"
TO tell their relatives but that he
would do SO on the following day,
which was yesterday.
Found by Brother.
Yesterday morning his brother, Au--
brey Smith, with whom he is engaged
tn hrrr as =.tv
awoke as usual shortly before o'clock
and went rs his brothers door TO Cali
him to get up. It was their custom
TO breakfast together and open up the
place of business together. Knocking
on the door. Aubrey Smith thought he
heard d reply, and, thinking that his
brother was awake, went back to his
room and continued dressing.
Having finished dressing, he went T.
his brothers room again and knocked.
and this time heard Il reply as though
his brother was in distress.
He forced the door and found his
brother. partially dressed, and lying on
the floor with wound just below HIN
heart. BY his side lay the pistol. Th~
alarm was given, and DIR. Davis sun-
moned- DR.. Davis recognized the sert-
BUSINESS of the young mans condition.
and ordered him sent to st. l.uke's hos.
pital. The young man was paralyzed
from his hips down. ard an examina-
ton showed that he was not In condi-
| ton to stand an operation. All that
was possible was done for him. but
he died last night shortly after Z
o'clock.
Bright Future Ahead.
The death OF young Mr.. Smith q
regarded by his friends and acquaint-
ances as one of the saddest that haa
occurred in Richmond TIE circum-
stances OF his marriage. his apparently
bright prospects in business and hin
outlook for a long and useful carsGr
gave him every reason to lock forward
with the JOY of life, 1t is pointed out.
He Is the son of Robert NJ. Smith.
one OF the best known business men
of the city. Young Smith was known
as young man of exemplary habits
and was well liked and respected ~
all with whom he came in contact. AeA
regained consciousness yesterday o.
ternoon late and was able to ten ~
part OF the circumstances TO his fath9rs
before he died. He assured his fath4e
that 1t had been an accident and thAf'
he had merely started to examine tn
revolver to see. II ii needed cleantu1N
when IL went or III his hands, the ban \
entering hts breast.
Bride Il Frustrated.
His young bride Is almost prostrat1A
at the home of her father. ], G. Wet
3401 Floyd avenue. Mr.. West ID COM
neefed with the Chesapeake and CHIT
railroad as advertising agent. SA1 ~ &
beautiful young woman and II wo41H
popular In the socisi set In which flGg
move. sI sS{SS85
The young couple had known e&1 "a
other since childhood, and had 49,
swesthearA for ysAsA 1hak SaM
sSIz3