Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1914-07-08
COMMANDED BY GOD TO
MURDER SAYS MUSKo-
GEE DEFENDANT
DIDN'T MENTION The S4OO
Admitted God Said Nothing
About Demanding $500 OF
Murdered Woman

MUSKOGEE, July i.-Syl NJ smith, |
once "A prominent wholesale m,ichaHl I
here faced jury today charged 7
with numbering Mrs, Bessie Brown .
on II crowded downtown street s'N-
ernl months ago. lie shot her IN lhe
back. II Is alleged followed her down
the street as she ran screaming away I
and oycrtaking her, dubbed her with
his revolver.
She ruined my life; hope she
dies he cried, according 10 VII
ncsses today. ..,.,
Smith was his own witness. 60
told me to XIII her" he said lle
kept telling me ] did right
lie declared the woman had fascin-
ntcd him. tore him from his family
and squandered his fortune. lie ad-
mittcd that at one time he had
rhoked her attempting to make her
repay a loan of S4O0, all he had leit
"DId God tell you to demand that
5000" he was asked,
Smith stammercd and then Salu'
'God didn't say anything ABOUT '"o
money"
smith plead emotional insanity as
his defense.
Woman star Witness.
Her features tyiching with emotion
"a Attorney NJ. l. Williams for the
defense tried to bring out tacts lou'H-
ing her private life, Miss Blanche
Na,lor. daughter of Frank Naylor'
chaplain of the McAlester penitehtary,
proved the star witness at the open
inc Of the trial. Miss MAYORS father
is now a candidate for the Demo
cratic nomination for state commls-
sioner of charities and corrections 10
succeed Kate Barnard and Is wen
known throughout the state.
Have you ever had - -
II object" shouted County Attorney
Disney as he interrupted MI. Will
lloms This girls character ana
reputation are not on trial mere
District judge Fred Branson not
only sustained the objection but IN
structed the jury to disregard lhe
insinuatiOn.
Time and again, Attorney Williams
soucht to secure an admission from
the witness. either directly OF lhul-
rectlv. but each time his admission
was ruled out following an ohJection
by the prosecution. MISS Nayiol
smarting under the searching IRE
WAS finally excused and lelt the couI l.
room with a sarcastic smile ON hei
face.
En- Route to Tulsa.
Smith formerly . popular and pros
nerous Muskogee baker, shot and Ia'
br,, wounded Mrs Brown on SoutI
second street in the presence o|
scores of people. At the time on th'
shooting Miss Nayor was. with th'
victim Of the tragedy, the women De
in, on their way to the Midland Nal
ln, deDot where they expected l'
board a train for Tulsa. .l
The Brown woman, VINO Shll'i
claims wrecked his home anu de
sarted him after he had laNlshe'
money and diamonds on her, died
rnu, day., following the shooting. Sh
and Miss Navlor had been friends TO
some time. smith. who has WI
and two small children, was at'3s''
ppd taken TO the county Jam Wher
re has never expressed the ShRhI'S
recret for his act His wifc's mother
Mrs Betty Edmonds, was the ON
member of his family IN court
A E. sharp, proprietor "l ine Fl
hotel on West Okmulsee, was 'he ll'f
witness called by the state. MT. 9Hn,
testified that late in December Sini'
had come to the hotel and asked 10
Mrs Brown. He went to her ruol
and later Sndl y ''.'''
flushing to the room, the witness Sai
no found smith choking the W"ha
a, the bed Mrs. Brown was dress'
only in her bathrobe. Smith theh l'
for Okmulgee, whore he rename
uptiI after day of the shooting IL
lad been in Texas for several mohtI
prior to the trouble.
Tony Miller, the second wi'h's
testified that ne had sold smith a re
waiver. but refused to swear on III
stand that the weapon exhibited wa
The same one he had sold. lie wa
followed by Miss Naylor, who told II
story of the shooting up to the TN
she tainted away. -.
-Four hours were consumed IN
morning in securing a jury, a lart
number OF the Veniremcn declatlI
they we're opposed to capital puhisi
mont while others stated they ha
already made up their minds as
the guilt and innocence of the defen'
ant. Each side used eight pereiilI
tory challenges, the maximum nulnD
allowed being nine. Attorneys W
unms and B. c. Trice for smith stat'
thev would plead emotional nSahlt