Evening journal., 1913-07-01
SMITH HELD
FOR DEATH
OF WOMAN
Salisbury Inquest Charges Gas
COmpany'S Manager With
FelOniOuS Homicide
GETS LIBERTY
On $4,000 BAIL

SALISBURY. Md. July 1.-Harold /
W. Smith. general manager Of the
Home Gas Company. was held in
$4,000 sail yesterday on a charge Of
the felcnious homicide Of Miss Flor
enee Wainwright. who died ten days
ago as the result OF an operation per-
formed in the Gas company's Office.
After spending two hours In the
county jail. he was released on bonds
furnished 81 four Salisbury resi-
dents.
The apparent intention Ct a major
lty OF the coroner's jury TO smother
Its investigation n the popular girls
tragic death. was swiftly overturned
yesterday. Public opinion had been
aroused 70 serious proportions dur
ing the over-Sunday recess. Political
influences, which are said to have
stood in the way Of any earlier YER
dict, became unavaililg.
Four new witnesses we're brought
to the stand in the session which
began at II o'clock. As was the case
In the previous hearing. newspaper
men snL curiosity seekers we're alike
excluded. At 1906 in the afternoon,
the last OF the new witnesses left the
Court House, and exactly one hour
later the Jurors filed out Of the
buildin.. They brushed past the
throngs in the Court House park,
replying to all inquiries With the sim
Gle answer:
1--WE have reached a verdict, but we
promised % keep silent
One Man Blocks WhiteWash.
The news spread quickly and hun
dreds of people feared that a blanket
decision Lad been reached. They did
not know that there was one tales
man, William S Powell who had de-
clared ths he would never sign a
verdict that did not incriminate the
man he believed guilty. That declar-
att came at q time when Powell
alore II the twelve men stOo- for
holding Smith
At half past two o'clock, Sheriff
Roy E. Smith served a warrant of ar
rest on the Gas Company official Ap-
parently unmoved he walked calmly
TO Squire Covingtons 8 office. followed
by z crowd of men who we're gath
cred on the street The delay after
tn Jury rendered its verdict was
caused by a consultation between
States Attorney George w. Bell and
former States Attorney Joseph L..
Bailey. to insure due form of law in
presenting the charge. to prevent a
possible technical error. as'
The charge. as finally determined
permits a verdict in any degree Of
murder or manslaughter when the
grand jury meets in September There
is 2 feeling here that THE grand jury
may be reconvened soon 10 satisfy
popular demands for speedy trial, but
States Attorney Bell declared that
he did not fear violence If the case is
held over until the fall term.
I'VE have enough guns and revolv-
ers in the Court House 10 prevent
that he DECLARED.
Smith, the man accused Of 9silling
the Gas Compsny's bookkeeper
through the hungling performance Of
a surgical operation, has wife and
two children His daughter is ten
wears old and his son eight Tho
family lives on Camden avenue. As
manager Of the valuable gas COM
pany r-lperty and as the confidential
friend of social and financial leaders
of the town. he is one of the most
prominent men in Salisbury. He is q
member Of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, North.
Credit Given Newspapers.
Yesterdays hearing opened with o
urprise. with ten men in favor of a
hush verdict when the Salisbury scs-
ToJ -f~
Powell standing firmly for placing
the guilt, II war expected thnt there
would BE long drawn out ctruggie
in the Jury chamber. with a final dis
agreement. But public sentiment had
done its work. Many townspeople
say the credit for the change must be
given to the newspapers,
AIRS Harold s. Smith. Is standing
b. her husband When told that he
has been arrested she exclaimed:
why is II that an innocent person
has been arrested?"
Smith is al home TODAY Nothing
else is talked Of in Salisbury. Since
Friday week ago when the account
ant was found dead IN the Home Gas
Company Office gossip has mention
ed Smiths name. Tho coroners jur,
seemed against bringing in a charge
on the evidence in hand
Smith is connected with many pro
minent families on the Eastern
Shore. The case against him hangs
chiefly on the testimony OF William
W. White. a gas company inspector
who testified that he had seen srnitl
and Miss Wainwright in compromis
ing positions several times. He salt
he looked through a transom of th'
once. Dr. J. McFaddin Dick say
death occurred the same day that tn
operation was performed Il is ad
duced that the hookkeeper died be
fore Smith, who was seen al the of
fee that afternoon. loft the place.
- The girl evidently died on tho floor
The prosecutor will be compelled q
connect Smith with the fact that tn
body was found on a chair. Just a
Miss Wainwright sat when at work
although her clothing was disturbed
The body showed the terrible strug
Gle.
Testimony that there were peep
holes through the wall Of a clubhous
next door was brought out earlier Il
the inquiry. If the State is maxim
much OF this It is ketping quiet abou
H.
There is much comment over IN
fsc- that the jury was SO divided. Il
the sace Of Whites testimony tha
would show motive for the oper