The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-07-07
Then Turns Revolver Upon
Himself. But Aim Being
Poor, Is Little Hurt
MRS. SMOOT MAY BE
FATALLY WOUNDED
One Bullet Strikes But Does
Not Penetrate Skull. While
Second Enters Body Under
Arm

Mrs. Leah Eldridge Smoot. pretty
brunette, wife of Joseph Eldridge
Smoot, of 1907 West Main Street. this
morning lies at the point of death in
the Virginia Hospital as a result of two
bullets fred at her by her husband
In their home last night shortly after
1850 o'clock. Her husband was last
night lodged In the city jail with a
bullet in his skull, he having turned
his revolver upon himself after his
murderous attack upon his young wife
Early this morning little hope was
entertainer BY the doctors at the yir-
ginia Hospital for the recovery of Mrs
Smoot. One Of the bullets, which were
OF 20 caisbre. entered directly at the
base OF her skull but did not pepetrate
II. The other entered her left side
directly under the arm pit. If the bull
let has passed through the left side
into the lung or around the heart she
liz in a critical condition. No. operation
will be performed by the city surgeons
because of the seriousness of the
wound.
Details Of shooting.
The shooting affair occurred in tho
residence OF w L. Srnoot who liz a
brother of the husband The brother,
speaking OF the tragedy shortly af-
ter IL had happened. said his brother
accused hts wife OF receiving the at
tention OF other men and objected
strongly TO IT, On previous occasions.
he said, his brother had warned her.
Whether or not he had ever made a
threat against her he could not say.
Mrs. Smoct, who Is but eighteen
years >of age, and attractive. spent
the whole of yesterday at the home Of
her mother Mrs, susie McGrorey, at
f4i2 West Cary Street Yesterday
evening about seven o'clock smoot
went 10 the home OF the ssrfs mother
where che and a friend VAS seated on
the porch. Srnoot shouted 70 her %
ccme with him Upon her refusal he
took hold of her wrist and brought
her 10 his apartments few blocks
away There the tragedy took piare.
Snreot jerked his wife To him and
pressed the trigger against her skull.
After firing the FIRST shot he aimed
at her heart. Smoot then aimed III
his own temple. but in his excitement
shot himself above his right eye. The
bullet did not penetrate his skull,
Another shot he fired at himself missed
It's mark
The excitement caused by the fray
aroused neighbors. who 'phoned for
the city ambulance and police AM
buiance Surgeon r. A. Doggett an
seriousness OF the shooting. immedi-
ately rushed the couple to the hos
Ipitai. DIR. Doggett experienced much
trouble in handling the man and wife
on his way to the hospital. CUISINES
Iof blood from both wounds needed
handagipg and he was forced to at
tend To both parties at the same time
Detective Sergeanfs Wiley swore
out the warrant last night for the ar
rest of Smoot, while Sergeant John
son and Detective Atkinson kept
guard over the man in the hospital.
Smoot will be examined in Police
Court this morning. II his condition
permits.
Smooth is well known in Richmond.
He was a street car conductor for "A
long while. but was recently employ
ed as lineman by the Virginia Rail
way and Power Company. He had
been in the employ of the company
for q considers hle time. He is twenty
two years of age.
From neighbors It was learned that