New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-02
Jury Finds Smith Guilty
After % Minutes
DeliberatiOn
SLAYER DISPLAYS
LITTLE EMOTION
Walks Firmly to His Cell
Judge Calls Repentance
Plea Useless.
[BY Cahle % Tho Tribune.l

London, July 1.-George Joseph
Smith, charged with drowning three
Of his wives, was convicted to-day Of
murder. The jury IN the brides in
bath" case brougn, in o verdict af;er
twenty-five minutes dcliberation
Justice Scrutton Immediately sem
fenced the prisoner to death. Unless
his appeal is successful. he will be
hanged in Maidstone Jail on July 81.
The Judge said he agreed entirely
with the verdict and would address
no words to the prisoner regarding re-
pentance, because it was useless to
do so.
The public fought to gain admission
to court to hear the judges charge,
which occupied three and half hours.
Many persons were elected. while an
enormous crowd waited on the street
to hear the verdict.
"You will hang me before you're
done, my iord.' was Smi:na excited
outburst while Justice Scrutton was
summing up the case. The prisoner
quickly followed this with:
"You cannot hang ne for murder;
I've done no murder. This is a dis
grace to e. Christian country"
Smiths first explosion voiced the
general impression in the crowded
courtroom as Justice Scruttor pre-
sented the courts estimate of facts
for and against the prisoner. The
Judge told the jury that, while there
was no direct evidence connecting
Smith with the murder of Beatrice
Mundy, one of the three wires, the
crime Of which he was specifically
charged. there was seldom anything
but circumstantial evidence in cases
Of cold blooded, calculated MURDER.
Jury Might Infer Motive.
The Jury. continued the court must
consider if Smith had opportunity and
motive. There was no doubt that he
had opportunity. and if he gained by
J the woman's death the jury could see
I the motive. Even then, continued the
/ justice, the jury might not be sure
whether the deaths were accidental or
! designed, but if il were found that
an accident which benefited the pris-
/ oner happened several times they
could draw a strong inference that
so many accidents could not happen
unless by design.
When the verdict had been found
/ Smith was asked if he had anything
TO say before sentence was passed.
Z The prisoner, who seemed dazed by
/ the verdict, took full minute before
/ showing that he realized the purport
/ of the question.
81 can only say | am not guilty"
he finally said He stared b,aukly at
the Judge as he assumed the black
cap, but he bore the ordeal OF the
( Judges brief address and subsequent
announcement of sentence grimly.
/ Before he was removed to the cells
he thanked Counsel Hall for what he
had done. adding: al still have great
confidence in you, and l shall bear
up" He then walked firmly TO the
cells.
Would Not Urge Repentance.
Addressing the prisoner before pro
nouncing sentence the judge remarked
that he entirely concurrred N the
verdict He did not purpose, ne said
to follow the practice CT some Judges
Of warning the public against the
repetition of such crimes or in exhort-
ing the prisoner to repentance.
IL don't believe there is another
man in England" the judge said,
"who needs to be warned against the
commission of such crime. and TO
exhort you to repentance would be
waste of time"
After passing sentence on Smith the
Judge remarked that perhaps the jury
would be interested TO know, as show
ing that their verdict was right, that
there was evidence which had not
been presented in court TO the effect
that the prisoner had gone through
the ceremony of marriage with two
other women, both Of whom he had
robbed of considerable sums of money