New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-01
"BrideS in Bath" Case,
Near Close, StirS England
Old Bailey Jury Will Receive Charge To-day and
Decide Fate of George Joseph Smith, Accused
of Trio of Grewsome Murders.

! lectcd the sl2,sOO and gave his wife n
cheap funeral.
Whether in a desire TO shake the
dad luck" or for other reasons, Smith
changed his name 10 John Lloyd, before
he took as his fourth spouse Alice
Burnham. He met her at Southsea.
She was not an heiress, but the day be-
fore they were married she insured her
life for $4,000 in favor Of Smith.
The couple went to Blackpool for
their honeymoon and sought lodgings.
There were many Of these. but few with
bath attached, and Smith-now Lloyd
spent some time tramping the streets
before quarters could be found with
this requisite.
Thu next morning the husband,
whose devotion to the bath appears to
have been more ardent even than most
Englshmen's. filled the tub for his
wife. He was in the chamber below,
talking to his landlady. when water
began TO drip through the ceiling. -.
"My wife is in the bath" Lloyd
explained as the woman started up-
stairs 10 investigate. He hurried after
her, and was the first to enter the bath
her head under water.
Smith Collects $4,000.
The day after the second tragedy
Smith presented himself at the insur-
ance Office with n will made out by his
wife in his favor. He collected the
$4,000 ard gave his bride s31 flu
neral. When a child the second bath
tub victim had been afflicted with cpl
lepsy. To this her death was attrib-
uted.
The victim of bad luck met Margaret
Lofty at Bath-snother phenomenal
coincidence"-in December of 1914.
With great optimism he prepared for
a fifth wedding, still posing as John
/ Lloyd. Before this took place his
favor. They went to London on their
honeymoon and took rooms and bath
on Bismarck Road. Highgate.
The morning after their arrival Mrs.
Lloyd told her landlsdy, Mrs. Blatch,
that she was not feeling well, and
thought she would take bath.
The landlady testified that she filed
the tub and then left the room. Later,
sitting in an adjoining chamber, she
heard loud splashings, a long sigh and
then silence Presently some one be-
gan to play a melodion in the Lloyds's
apartment. After time the music
ceased, and a minute later she heard
the front door slam.
Scotland Yard Gets Clew.
After a time the door bell rang. Mrs.
Blatch went downstairs and let Smith
in.
Owe brought some tomatoes for
her." he said. as she downstairs yet -
He went upstairs to his rooms, and
a second later screamed. MY God!
She's dead in the tub! Help me-"
Mrs. Batch ran for a physician.
When she returned with him they
found Smith holding his wife's head
above water. She had been dead for
half an hour. In one hand she clutched
a piece of soap tightly. Her husband
Of twenty-four hours buried her in the
Potter's Field and collected the $4,000.
The coroner's jury found a verdict of
accidental death, but in February
Scotland Yard discovered that "Lloyd's"
real name WAS Smith and that wife
bearing that name had died as both
her successors had.
During the trial Smith preserved in
the main an air Of calm detachment.
On one or two occasions, however, when
witnesses were giving testimony dam
aging to his case, he completely lost
control of himself and raved and yelled
like q madman. There has been no
doubt thrown upon his sanity during
the whole course Of the proceedings.