New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-26
PICKED LODGINGS
TO FAVOR CRIME
Smith, Charged with
Drowning Brides, Insist
ed on Bathrooms.
SECOND WIFE'S WILL
LEFT HIM HER ALL
Alice Burnham Took Out S5,0OO
Insurance Policy Day Before
Marrying Defendant.

London. June % Sensational teStl-
mon featured to-day's session OF the
trial of George Joseph Smith, indicted
on the charge Of having murdered MS
three wives BIZ drowning them IN
bathtub. How Smith made inquiries
for lodgings in Blackpool and refused
ia take rooms without bath; no"
he nrepared a bath for his bride, Alice
Rurnbam. after taking lodgings, and
how water was found to be leaking
through the ceiling soon atter"arG,
and. finally, how he told friend tnaC
his bride had died in the bath and by
her will had left him all her prop
erty-these facts were brought out IN
tho second stage of the popularity
known brides in bath" case.
Smith Sold Wife's Estate.
previou, 10 the beginning Of the
Alice Burnham story, the evidence re-
lating 20 the death of Beatrice Muhuy'
ono Of the three victims, was COM
pletcd. The last witness N TINS con,
roction was a Portsmouth banker, VINO
testified that the prisoner had opened
an account in the name of Smith with
money which the judge pointed out 10
the Jury was obtained by the defend,
ant under the name Of Williams,
from the sale Of Beatrice Mundys eS-
tate, according to testimony
The first witness in the second phase
of the case was Southsea insurance
agent The testimony showed that II
was in that place that Smith was IN
troduced to Miss Burnham, VINO
promptly took out $4,000 worth OF ire
Insurance. which she said was for the
LonoGt of her mother.
Miss Burnham Left Him All.
On the next day, according to the
witness. Smith married Miss Burnham'
and six weeks later wrote TO the WIZ
ress announcing THAT his wife had
died in her bath. Smith subsequently
visited him and produced his wife'sS
will. whereupon the witness expressed
SUNRISE. because Smith had told HIM
few days previously that. he would
mot allow his wife to make a VIII.
Smith told him that he also was sur
prised when ne found the Will after
her death. The will, said the witness
lef, everything 70 Smith.
The next witness was DR.. Burrows,
Of the army medical corps, who arrived
from the fghting line to TESTIFY that
he had examined Miss Burnham Tor IN
surarce and that he had iound het "
be a first class risk.
Mrs. Burnham, the mother OF Ailce'
testified that her daughter when young
had suffered from an illness oelleved
TO be epilepsy, but she never had had a
ft since.
Refused Rooms without Bath.
Lodqing-house keepers Of Blackpool
testified TO the inquiries made by the
Smiths for lodgings, and referred 70
the refusal of the prisoner to tahe
rooms in one house because they han
no hath. The couple finally TOOK
apartments in the house of Mrs. cross
Lev. This woman went on the stand
and said that the night following tne
arrival of Mr.. and Mrs. Smith oath
had been prepared for Mrs. Smith
subsequently, water leaked through
the ceiling into the Sitchen, thing
which never had happened before
Later Mr.. Smith entered the Nttcheh
from the street. He seemed agitatedd,
Mrs Crossley testified. As he lett
the kitchen he called upstairs: Alice
nut the light OUT" Then followed the
discovery of the woman's oody IN hef
bath.
For the first time during the hear
ing Smith interrupted the proceedings
by shouting, "This woman is luna
tic."