The Sentinel=record., 1915-01-06
VERDICT TODAY in
SMITH MURDER CASE
ALL or THE EVIDENCE is BE.
FORE JURY AND ARGUMENTS
TO CONCLUDE TO-DAY
Defendant Takes Stand ard Testties
That Valentine Cursed Him and He
Feared Would Use His Pistol to
Kill

me last word OF evidence IN the
case wherein James A. Smith, in the
circuit court, is on charge of first
degree murder for the killing of AL
bert Valentine in this city last Au-
gust, was heard yesterday afternoon
Tne arguments in the case will be
concluded this morning, and it is an
t:cipated that verdict will be reach.
ed today.
The state yesterday presented but
four witnesses to sustain its case.
they we're Dr. Randolph, county cor
oner; DR.. Wade, who had been called
t. Valentine after he was shot, to
prove the killing; and Andrew Will
lams and Henry Vaughan, negro pOr
tiers in the saloon at the time of the
killing, and eye witnesses, TO prove
the manner and method of the kill
ing,
The negroes testified in substance
the same. They told of how early that
morning when both were busy in the
rear of the saloon, the doors swung
open and Smith entered. Smith
said to Valentine, who was behind
the bar, Good morning, Al" and
then stepping up closer, pulled a pis-
tol and fired four shots. The negroes
testified that Valentine was hand
ling cigars or something at the front
of the bar, that he turned and bent
low to try to avoid further INJURY
after the first shots We're fired. and
that the defendant reached over tie
bar and shot him again. They did not
see Valentine make any suspicious
move, and he seemed only to be try
ing to get away from the man attack
ing him with the pistol
The defense for the most part relies
on the story told on the stand by
James Smith himself, together with a
| volume of evidence as to his charae,
ter for peace a2d quietude previous
to this tragedy. Smiths story had
| some corToboration on the direct eX-
animation of Chester Sheridan, who
was with him the evening before the
| tragedy, but on a cross-examination
] by Mr. Martin, the evidence of Sher,
| idaa did not fare so we'll Sheridan
had testified before the grand jury,
and taking this evidence as a guide,
| Mr. Martin caused the witness to
| lose much of the little probability his
| former evidence, under most unusual
| circumstances, might have carried
, with the jury Sheridan was doubt,
| full as to points that were material,
and on being recalled, it developed
that the morning of the tragedy he
himself had gone into Valentines for
drink just a little while before
Smith went in and the tragedy fol-
| lowed.
The court room was crowded
throughout the day, the attendance
for the most part being that of ne
groes who either We're close friends
of the deceased or who were drawn
from idle curiosity to the scene.
Defendant on the Stand.
James A. Smith. the defendant,
took the stand and occupied it for
/ less than an hour. His demeanor was
very calm, and his voice so low that
|
| counsel to speak louder else the jurors
might not hear what was said. His
| answers were not of the most en-
| phatic kind, and even on cross eXam'
| nation, conducted by so vigorous an
examiner as w. II. Martin, the witness
| found opportunity at times for an I'M
staged twinkle OF the eye that prov
ed anything but severe strain.
He stated that his name was James
| A. Smith, and that he was A years
of age He was born in Georgia, had
been married, and was the father OF
two children. Attorney Hogue, for
the defense, was about to lead the
witness through a closely detailed
history of his life, but Oh objection
from Mr. Martin as to the irrevelency
of the evidence, Judge Wood ruled it
out The witness testified he had
engaged in the commissary business
first, later in a stand and restaurant
| business, and then about eight years
ago made his first trip to Hot Springs
He was afflicted then with lheumar
tism, and treated with DIR. Hinton,
He had been here at different times
since and the last time came about
two years before the tragedy.
He had owned a small restaurant
and later worked for McGraw at the
Silver Moon as chef. where he earn
ed $40 to $l2 per week. About seven
or eight days before the shooting he
took a vacation fro mhis work. He
said his health was bad, and that part
of the time he walked with crutcAes
but more recently with the aid of q
cane.
II met Valentine the first time
some day last spring" said tine wit
\ ness. 81 was employed at the res
tamaat next door. and went there
first to use the phone. Later l got
acquainted with Valentine, and fire
ouently would drink there. On the
night before the shooting | was feel
inc bad and slept most Of the day.
went down to the McGraw restaurant
talked awhile with lMcGraw, then latel
talked awhile with his wife, and ther