The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-10-29
Continued From Page One

Smith began testimony late Tuesday
afternoon. telling the story OF his life.
lie described HIS nine months stay
In the trenches. and then told how
he had first met Helen In Victoria
the fail Of 1910.
The recalling OF that first meeting
seemed 10 flood Smiths mind with
memories, and several times he was
on the verge OF breaking down. lie
managed To regain self possession
after long pausoa. during which he
wiped his Redeemed eyes with a hand.
kerchlcf.
Did Deed. hut Not Murder
II did the deed, but God knows I
didn't murder her." smith said. after
court adjourned Tuesday.
Testimony OF alienlsta preceded
that Of smith. They told OF tho 81.
fccts OF shell shock. Jake Kalina,
counsel for Smith. claims smith was
suffering from insanity due 10 shell
shock when he killed his wife.
wounded his mother In law and
turned the gun on himself. The
state maintains Smith deliberately
planned death for his wife and him
self.
Helen was n dear. lovely woman"
Smith testified, and Johnnie
think tho world OF that boy
'T'woyear old Johnnie IL tho only
child OF the marriage. lie IL In the
custody OF tho grandparents, Mr.. and
Mrs. Thomas McMRhon.
Speaking In n seni-nervous man.
ner. Smith started his testimony by
telling how h. came West from East.
ern Canada at tho arc OF II. He
continued. uninterrupted by qucs.
lions. and told how b. was success.
lively timekceper. grocery clerk. sur
vey man and timber cruiser. Then
the war broke out.
II took on "a a gunner and ven,
overseas with tho first contingent
from Victoria" he aaid. AFTER short
training on Salisbury plains we were
rushed 90 France. We arrived there
February :. 1915. and four days later
were In tho thick Of H.
Describes Gas Attacks
-on April We shifted 10 Yprea
and there faced heavy shell fire. We
replaced Moroccana. who fled when
Jerry sprayed raH on them. They
thought tho gas was som. evii spirit
we were under heavy fire night
and day. The strain was narrowing.
Many lads didn't last. The Germans
sent gaa over in clouds and she'll. We
were short 5000 after YproA
For ~ days ! didn't &c, a rest.
while tho Germans bomharded us
continuously
lie then traced his whole war his
tory. telling how he finally broke
down. and was compelled 10 retire
10 a hospital In the rear.
How long were you In the
trcnchcH7' asked kaiina.
About nine month"; the witness
answered. and AZ the eiosr the gas
got me. when I began TO cough
blood ! was s-nt behind the Inca"
What effect did continuous shell.
fire have on tho mcnT" continued
Kniina
They never wanted 70 70 back. ="
was his tcrpe answer.
when ! went 10 tho rear. tho doc
tors said I had appendicitis" Smith
said. hut the hoHptais were flooded
with wounded. 40 | was sent 10 Eng
land. Ny appendix broke JUS, before
they operated. They thought was
done for. but I wanted 10 live. and
did.
The poison from my appendix
pcrm-atcd my system and settled in
my lex. could hardly walk. 40 they
sen, me back 10 Canada"
Living Was Costly
Il met my wife In Victoria In Al.
gust. 1915. and married her In Sep
tembcr"
Smith stopped and apparently
cried. but hts eyes were dry. tho red.
He blew his nose. wiped his eyes
with n handkerchief held in n trem.
bling hand. and continued;
"Johnnl. WINS born here Angus; 30.
1917. and Helen stayed here with her
mother" he testified. We had pro.
viourly made our homo in Victoria.
when shc wouldn't come home I
wrote her a bad letter. which after.
wards regretted After Christmas
she came back. But was only max
ing fs5 month. and living was
costly.
Il went on a fishing trip. but that
failed She came home TO her mother
when ! started on this trip. went
10 work IN a powder plant on James
island. near Victoria. when I re-
turned"
Many hills were only slightly offset
by his small wage. and II was one