Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-12-01
WOMAN TELLS
OF TRAGEDIES
WIFE OF ALLEGED MURDERER
CARRIES THEIR BABY TO
COURT.

centervilIe, Nov. cs.-The de-
PENDANT Frank Smith was<on the
stand in his own defense this
morning following his wife whose
cross examination was concluded
early today.
The defendant told Of the Incl.
dents taking place the day Of the
killing Of Alice Geriach and re.
lated what his dead father told
him on that day.
He stated that his dead father
said, III you don't kill Alice Ger
ZACH. she will. kill you and your
whole family"
Continuing he said. a don't re-
member shooting her or anything
else until found myself in jail.
When ! found out what had done,
was 40 sorry az any man could
be-"
Smith seemed somewhat dazed
when Me took the stand and was
unable to understand the ques.
tions Of the attorneys having them
to, repeat many questions but later
! frightened up and said, ~ recall
haying met Alice Gerlaeh that day
and having received q letter from
her. asked her why she wrote
me that letter and she said, I'lI
fix YOU She then made for the
back Of the buggy and put in her
hand and thought she was reach
ing for a gun. Il made me mad
and caused that explosion in my
head like had had before, the
first time was when my boy En-
cry was killed. have heard It
many times since"
The jury was dismissed while
the counsel argued point Of law
regarding the admission Of certain
answers.
Centerville, Nov. 29.-onlyv few
lays before Frank Smith shot Mrs
Alice Gerlach the latter drove past the
Smith home and reaching under the
eat of her buggy pulled out revolver
md with an oath shot at Mrs. Smith
wife of the man on trial. This was
he testimony Of Mrs. Smith in lone
,rdeal she. went through on the stand
the middle of Tuesday after
loon and extending well into today
hrs. Smith said she heard the bullet
20 whistling past her ear and was
Greatly alarmed over the occurrence
few weeks before, she said, she had
similar experience when Mrs. Ger
ach drove by, tainted her and shot
Ter revolver The witness said she
lad told Frank about this. which great
Y agitated him and made them both
fraid of the, woman.
Mrs. Smith said that the tro"h'e be.
ween her husband and Mrs. 'ach
lated from about the time of t" I'm
ng of the school houses at Poker hill
hough there had been some feeling be-
ween them from the time Walter
smith, brother of Mrs. Gerlach, was
ent to the penitentiary for arson on
Ter testimony. Mrs. Smith is 4 little
voman Weighing not more than 100
'ounds and carried her few weeks old
abe. born since her husband.was put
n Jail for the murder. in her arms as
he testified. It has been in evidence
hat Mrs. Gerlach weighed about 22O
POUNDS.
A dramatic part OF her testimony
vas when she told Of the accidental
filing Of their Oldest son Emery a
ear ago this month. That seemed to
e the beginning of their troubles. his
cath being followed by the tragic
cath OF Sampson Smith. father of her
husband. as he stood beside the bed of
heir dying child few months old last
Then came the shooting OF
Irs. Gerlach bv her husband. and now
lis trial and his alleged insanity
"The doy Emery was killed." she
aid. II heard the phone ring three
ines right together and ran to it.
;ome one said Emery had heen killed
nd just dropned it and ran out of
he house and down the road to the
'amp Smith home, never told my hus.
and or anything. reached the Samp
'mith home and saw nobody there. so
an on into the woods and they
rought out my boy with shot gun
wound. dying. He only lived Ave min.
ties after I got to him."
Soon after. Frank arrived. she said,
nd he saw the ugly wound on their
oys body and was greatly affected by
/. m
Thatsnight as the body lay in the
ouse she said sthat she and Frank
we're out in the yard when a gun was
red. They saw the fash and heard
he report and thought it was fired to.
Yard them. They saw no form and
ould not tell who it was. This is the
un shot that the elder Mrs. Smith ties.
fled about as an omen that there
we're to be other deaths and tragedies
n the family.
Mrs. Smith identified the anonymous
etter sealed in blood as the one Frank
arried on the day of the shooting OF
frs. Gerlach.
The brother Of Mrs. Gerlach. Walter
'mith. now serving term at Ana
nosa for arson, was recalled to the
tand and testified that his sister was
iven to letter writing and was a good
enman, and liked to write anonymous
etters. II was her testimony that sent
i'm to the prison for burning a neigh.
or's house. He said she had told him
ho would send letters tn Frank NIT n