New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-15
WOUNDS HIS WIFE,
THEN KILLS SELF
Reconciliation Refused,
Edw. DEF. Smith Shoots
Her and Himself.
LEFT HER HUSBAND
WHEN RIVAL CAME
Man. Once Prosperous as Realty
Dealer. Dies Instantly-Wom+
an Seriously Injured.

Reconciliation efforts failure, Ed
ward De Forest Smith. formerly a
prosperous real estate promoter, trled
"a Kill his wife Elizabeth yesterday
afternoon in the apartments OF her
mother. at 1913 West l2sth St, and then
with two bullets ended his own lie
Mrs. Smith was taken to Harlem
Hospital with a bullet in her breast
and another in the thigh, inflicted rs
she tried to escape from her infurlated
husband. She demanded private
room, and as none was available she
was taken to the Polytechnic Hospital
where her condition was so serious last
night that the physicians feared 70
operate.
Edward Smith, ir. eight years DID,
the elder child Of the couple, was IN
the street in front of the house about
4 o'clock when lis father came along.
The kissed and the latter started up
stairs. As the boy followed his father
abruptly ordered him 20 stay where ne
was.
Shot Wife Twice.
The rest of the story of the shooting
is told by Mrs. Ellen Ryder, mother
of Mrs. Smith. She heard her son-ln-
lav cntor the apartment. A few low
spoken words followed which she could
not understand and then, in frightened
tones. the wife said:
81 don't like the look in your eye,
Eddie. Do you mean to do me harm
Mrs. Ryder rushed in as she heard
a shot. and saw her daughter flee into
the hall. with her husband in pursuit.
There was another shot, and Mrs. Ry-
der reached the hallway in time to see
the fugitive drop in front Of an apart
inent on the same floor.
She ran to the side of the PROSTATE
woman as Patrolman Ballard came
pounding up the stairs. As Smith saw
the patrolman he turned his revolver
on himself, fired two shots IN quick
succession and pitched forward. He
WAS dead when Ballard reached ms
side.
Mrs. RYDER said the couple had sepa-
rated a wear ago after year OF strife
which eliminated in her son-ln-iaw
Introducing another woman IN his
home and saying she had come to stay.
Mrs Smith, who had suspected her
husbands relations with rival, ieft
their home with their two children the
boy and six-year-Old Amy.
Threatened Her Before.
The little girl was placed in a board
ing school and the boy has spent some
time in the home OF his father. slo FOX
=, The Bronx. where bis grandmother
and aunt Mrs. Emily TorringtOn' also
live. Mrs. Smith eventually went 10
New Haven. Three months ago, 1t IS
said she and her husband met by accl-
dent and at that time he threatened ner
nth a revolver. demanding that she re-
turn 10 live with him, or at least nego-
tiate a settlement OF his alleged claims
on property he had decided to her be-
fore the break came.
This property. estimated as worth
5000 600. was accumulated oy smith
seven or eight years ago, when promo
tions in Long Island real estate were
profitsble. Since the slump IN real
estate he had been practically insoiv-
ent c..L
bad warned her against her husband,
whose threats he apparently took Sc
riously. Ryder had evidently been
trustee of some Of his nlece's prop,
erty. for il was learned that he had
transferred property valued at SlOo,OOO
10 her within day or two.
AT the Fox st. address all informs-
tion was refused last night by the fam
ily. II was learned that Mrs. Torring-
ton had recently had great sorrow IN
the death of her husband, a moving
picture actor, who was killed on the 1
Pacific Coast by an sutomobile that ran |
wild while a scene was being made for
the screen.