Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-07
JEALOUS HUSBAND
SHOOTS YOUNG WIFE
Joseph Eldridge Smoot Then At
tcmpts in Vain to Com
NIT Suicide.
GIRLS MOTHER HEARS SHOTS
Holds Telephone Receiver Dur
ing Altercation-Mrs. Smoot's
Condition Is Critical.

m urea OF II all. mother. ana m
going TO kill Lear and me. too; hold the
phone a minute"
With these words Joseph F.ldridge
Smoot. n husband for four months.
turned from the telephone in his room
at 1907 West Main street about 7:35
o'clock last night with a revolver
lcveled at his wife She half-turned
her head, and the bullet the young
husband fired a second later entered
her head just at the base of the brain.
Tho man fred a second time at his
wife. and this bullet entered the body
just below the lef. arm and passed in
side toward the lungs. Mrs Smoots
condition is regarded as critical
Smoot turned the .cc-caliber weapon
toward his own head and fred. The
bullet missed it's mark So also did
second shot The third struck him in
the center of the forehead. however,
and glanced off. Smoot was I'm the act
OF firing again when his brother rushed
into the room and graprled with him.
The men fought across tho half-reclin-
Ing body of the injured wife. out
through the door to the front porch,
where John II. Smoot brother Of the
intended wife murderer and suicide.
wrcstled away the weapon Smoot is
expected to recover. He is twenty-one
years old. and is employed as line
man by the Virginia Railway and Power
Company.
GIRLS MOTHER HEARS
In her room at 2o14 West Cary Street
the aged mother, Mrs. r. l.. Smoot, had
sat terrified as she listened to the
sound of her sons voice. She heard
the shots. the screams of the injured
wife and the terrific noise made by the
fighting brothers. Then she dimIy real
lied what 1t all meant. Mysteries was
the result in a few minutes. and up to
an early hour this morning grave fears
were felt for her.
Meanwhile, in room at Virginia
Hospital the husband who attempted
to kill his four-months' bride lies under
the watchful eye OF Policeman Taylor
His condition is not thought to be Sc
rious. for the bullet failed to enter the
brain. 1t cut deep frrrow in the
skin of the brow. but did not cause
the man to lose consciousness. Detec-
tive SerGeants Willy and Atkinson, with
Policeman KruS, swore out a warrant
for Smoot, charging him with assault
ing Mrs. Lear Inez Smoot. with intent
TO MAIN. disable and kill her" and
served 1t on him in the hospital.
CONDITION OF YOUNG WIFE
Is MOST CRITICAL
Mrs. smoot. the girl-wfe of nineteen.
in II ~,
man who sought to take her life Her
condition is critical. and surgeons at
the hospital entertained slight hope for
her recovery early this morning 1t has
been impossible to ascertain il the bull
let which entered her body penetrated
the lungs. but. even though 1t did not,
the surgeons say she is in a, critical
condition. The wound in her head ts
of serious nature, and combined they
impose conditions which will tax the
ability OF surgeons to overcome, 1t Is
said.
Unlike her husband. Mrs. Smoot feels
no anlmosity. She wishes to live, but
no word OF reproach for her intended
murderer has passed her lips. Smoot,
on the other hand. at first spoke Sc
verely of his wife. especially to mem
bers OF his own family. At the hos
pital. though, he expressed the desire
to he left alone and allowed TO die
He begged surgeons to leave him and
TO look to the woman he had ATTEMPTED
to kill.
The house in which the shooting oc-
cured lies almost within the afternoon
shadow OF the gospel tent at Allen
Avenue and Main Streets. John Smoot
and his family have been living there
70
ago his brother secured n room in the
house and brought his wife there To
live.
TROUBLE STARTED SOON
AFTER THEIR MARRIAGE
Trouble between the young married
couple is said to have started i,nuedi
ately after their marriage. four months
ago. in the home of Mrs. Susie McGrorv.
1412 West Cary Street, mother OF the
injured woman.
"1nsaneiy jealous Of Lear's beauty, he
was" said Mrs. McGrory between her
sobs last night. Lear has come to
me time after time" the woman CON
tinucd hrokenly, with stories of her
troubles; but kept hands off. thinking
it best to allow the young people TO
settle their difficulties between them
selves Many the time Eldridgc has
come here and made trouble He has
threatened to kill Lear and myself sew
eral times, but none OF us took him
seriously. treated him courteously
whenever he came here, but, knowing
he thought 7 was interfering, 7 kent
away from his home.
Yesterday afternoon Lear came to
me and told me of further trouble she
was having. She remained for supper
and helped me wash the dishes. Wei
had scarcely finished them when one of
my little daughters came in to say
that Eldridge was at the front door.
Lear went out to him. He grabbed her
by the wrist and dragged her into the
street and away with him. In doing
so he broke her bracelet watch. I did
CONTINUED on Second Page.)