The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-10-29
as He
Pleads His
Innocence
"h The Sight Of God, | Am
Not Guilty." He Cries
Out on Stand
LOVED WIFE, HE SAYS

"1n the sight Of God. I'm
not guilty. II ! was guilty.
the fiercest punishment
would be none too good for
me. Nothing would be too
bad for me il I killed the wo-
man / loved - my wife,"
sobbcd James M. Smith, ~.
Canadian veteran, on the wit
ness stand today in his trial
for wife murder in Superior
Judge John s.. Jurey's court
Wednesday. He Is accused Of
shooting his wife Helen, 20.
at the home of her mother.
Mrs. Thomas Mcmahon. 1884
Hudson ST.. February 3.
Smiths defense ~ that he sur
fer.d from ''sheii shock" insanity at
the time of tho tragedy.
Smith was severely cross-exarn-
ined by Deputy Prosecutor John d.
Carrnody. and related what he did
February !. right up 20 tho time Of
the shooting. After the first shot
was fired. he said he could not re-
member n thing. He shot his wife.
her mother and himself.
Had Funny Feeling
Il was depressed and out of
work when I went 20 the house. ="
Smith testified. u wen; there TO
get my uniform. because thought
that would help me TO get n Job
There was funny feeling in my
heart as walked into the house
that day. From then on do not
remember n thing
Il have just IA vague remembrance
Of the first shot I fired Then all IL
blank. when came TO. was lying
on the floor. I couldn't speak and
was suffering awful pain. There
was a haze in my mind. until some
thing between my head and my heart
cracked, and then all was clear.
My God. what have I doner I
thought TO myself. ! didn't want to
die. and just prayed would live.
Then heard some one say my wife
was dead"
Mother Leaves Room
Smith faltercd and sobbed. There
was general clearing of throats
thruout tho courtroom as Mcmahon,
the father Of the dead girl. led his
wife. sobbing. from the room.
when found myself in the hos.
pitai," Smith continued, Il prayed
and prayed I would live. so that I
might repent"
Carmody took over the witness for
crossexamination.
He produced Smiths army pay
book, showing an allotment TO a wifi.
in England. inimating he married
Helen while he had another wife liv-
ing.
II wns engaged 10 this girl. and DID
this to get extra money from the
government" Smith explained.
BY confusing Smith in his dates.
Carmody tried to prove Smith never
was within rs miles OF the front line
trenches.
fVb nrFNf NaN hHy "''
didn't you tell Mrs. Mcmahon you
were never gasscd or shell shocked?"
Carmody asked. Smith replied In the
negative.
Despite the fact you say you
were shell shocked you went TO
work In a powder factory In British
Columbia when you returned. didn't
your" the prosecutor questioned.
WAS the only work could get"
Smith answered.
You were never treated for
mental disorder or shell shock. while
you were in the army. were your"
No"
Evades Answer
why did you write the letter to
Helen's father. saying you were go
ing to kill Helen and yourself, II
you did not plan this murder"
Smith evaded the answer. In an
swer to Carmody he gave a detailed
description of the room.
"And yet you don't remember the
shooting? When did your memory
stop working2" Carmody continued.
"All remember is the first shot"
the witness answered.
Before crowded court room,
tcoNT'D ON PAoEt 49,.