New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-01
Harold w. Smith Accused OF
FeIoniouS Homicide in Case
of Salisbury Girl.
PLACED UNDER $1,000 BAIL
Wife Says She Has Faith IN
Him and Believes He Will
Be Able to Prove His
Innocence.

Salisbury. Md. June 3O-Harold W.
Smith, manager of the Home Gas Com
panv. was arrested by the local authori-
ties this afternoon, charged with felohi-
GUS homicide in connection with the
death of Miss Florence Wainwright,
twentv-four years cid, who was found
dead I'm the Office Of the gas company
where she was employed as bookkeeper
on the evening of June 20.
The verdict OF the coroner's jury was;
1--WE find that Florence Wainwright came
10 her death in or about the ofiice OF inc
Home Gas Company as result OF d
criminal operation performed and hold
Harold ". Smith accessory thereto potn
before and after the fact.
trpon this verdict the state issued a
warrant for Smiths arrest on the charge
NJ "felonious homicide and being Access
sorry thereto
smith was released on 5000 bail, his
bondsmen being Or. T.. W. Smith j. u
Williams. S. F. Woodcock and Carol H.
Brcvington.
With the arrest the veil Of mystery
which has been drawn over the clrcuih-
stances of a crime that shocked the en-
tire Eastern Shore has been partly lifted
Smith probably will have a speedy trial
The witnesses called this morning, VINO
supplied the evidence which resulted III
the apprehension of the office manager
were William p. Truitt. another employe
Of the company. and James 9. crouch a
policeman and night Waterman. ITult'
testified that Friday was the weekly pay
day Of the company, and that after ne
had finished his days work at the manu-
featuring plant he went half mile 10
the Office to get his pay envelope. Ac-
cordinc TO his testimony. the doors OF
the office were closed, and he made no
attempt to enter
Crouch testified that ne was employed
by the gas company TO light gas arc
lamp In front Of the office He said that
there was no particular hour at which
this had 10 be done. but that on this
night he performed his duty at about SD
O'Clock. He noticed at the time that the
doors were closed.
NJ. A. Humphreys. an official Of the
company. also testified this morning. but
his testimony was OF little value. as was
that Of Raymond *. Truitt, one OF the
directors Of the corporation.
It has already been established. ac-
cordng 10 the testimony Of VIII White
an inspector Of the company. that close
relationship existed between Smith and
Miss Wainwright. his testimony being TO
tho effect that he had seen the couple to-
gether in the office. The evidence of Or.
Dick. who performed the autopsy, coupled
with that Of White. is relied upon to
strengthen the case of the state.
The wave Of excitement which has held
this community at high tension since the
death Of the girl tonight gave way 10
feeling OF sympathy TO- tho family OF the
accused man.
At the Smith home or Camden avenue
this afternoon Mrs. Smith was too over
come with grief TO say much about the
case The Smith children-Alice, eleven
years old. and Thomas. seven years old
were playing about the yard
when asked II she suspected that her
husband would be held for the fate Of
Miss Wainwright. Mrs. Smith said:
NO, | never suspected such thing.
know nothing OF tho case except what
read i'm the newspapers. Harold and |
have never discussed the affair, and even
now have faith I'm him and believe ne
will he able 10 prove his innocence II Is
too bad that so often thing of this
nature should be blamed upon an nno-
cent man
Harold Smith. who is thirtysix years
old. was born in this city. He is con-
nected with some of Salsbury's most
prominent residents.