The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-07-26
HUSBAND KILL
HIS GIRL BRIDE
After Shooting IVY car-Old Vile
Attempts to End His
Own Life.
DOES NOT TRY TO ESCAPE
Surrcnders to Officers and Is
Lodged in Jail at
Gloucester.
Especial to The Times-Dispa,ch.l

Speclal 10 Inc Times -DiSpatch.l
Gloucester Va. July 95.-Joseph
Smith. a shipbuilder by trade. muir
dcred his seventeen-yc ar-old wife. Il
bride of three months in cold blood
before witnesses on the public
highway within 200 yards of Mayrus's
store In this county last night as
they were returning from an excursion
trip TO Norfolk lie then attempted
to end his own life
The decd was apparently premedi-
ated for Smith purchased the pistol
with which the fatal shot was hrcd
while in Norfolk yesterday.
After making su-c that his aim had
been correct and that his wife WAS
dead. smith walked about fifteen feet
away from her dead body and fired
bullet into his head. The wound IS
not serious. and DR. Healey. the at
tending physician. states that smith
Will recover.
Mr. ana Mrs smith were members
of an excursion party returning from
Norfolk They. with others got OH
the boat at Severn Wharf and were 20.
ing home IN buggy smith. it is
said. was dissatisfied with the con-
duct OF his VIC while on the steam
eF, and when they had Reached pom,
within few hundred yards OF their
ONE near Mayruss Store. smith asked
MS wife II she was going to their
nome. Her reply evidently did NOT
please him, and with the rofnark.
This thing has been going on long
enough he pulled the revolver our
OF his pocket and fred Mrs. Smith
fell out or the two-scatcd CONVEYANCE
and before medical assistance comb
be rendered she had breathed her last,
No statement was secured from nor
before She died The bullet pcnetrst-
ed the back Of her head and lodged IN
her brain.
The wife-murderer made no effor,
TO escape and was arrested "a, b,s
home this morning by Devutv sbo,,ss
'oodall Minor Smith was givcn u
preliminary hearing before Il rnacls-
'ratc and was brought 10 Gloncast.r
ana lodged I'm jail this evening 10
await grand jury proceedings.
y" Direct Motive.
NO direct motive for the crime mas
been ascertained. except the rumors
mat Smith was displeased with MS
Wlie's conduct with other men wh!lo
on the excursion steamer.
Those who witnessed the shooting
could not be communicated w!tn TO-
day as they live IN 4 remote part OF
Gloucester county. known as Guinea.
several people who saw Smith on
the excursion yesterday state tina, n,
mad not been drinking. while others
state he had imblbed somewhat
When brought TO town this evening
smith said lie had been on an excm :
sion yesterday and was not feeling
very well to-day. He asked for car
OF coffee and was permitted TO 80 intu
= nearby restaurant. When asGed ~
= correspondent OF The Times Dis
patch II he had any statement TO make
he replied Not this evening. maybe
later Smith sent word 10 an attorney
TO come and sec him. after which lie
WAS placed behind the bars.
Smith IS suffering considerably
from the sel,-inf-Iciod wound IN his
head. and he appears to be under a
heavy mental strain. lie was appar-
emily composed when tho deputy
sheriff arrived on the scene this morn
ing. at which time Smith made the
remark that he would have gone to
the sheriff had he bcen requested TO DC
So Some OF the acquaintances OF
Smith declare he Is unbalanced.
Smiths crime is the third one re-
suiting in death committed in Glou-
ccster county during the pas: four
teen months.
The murdered is about forty
nve years OF age. lie has ben mar
red twice His hrst wife died abou,
two years ago leaving sovcn ch;lrren.