Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-06-20
HANDY IS
HELD WITHOUT BAIL
ON MURDER CHARGE
Accused of Administering Fatal
Drug to Joseph Smith on
Friday Night.
ROBBERY is ALSO ALLEGED

Through the quick work of Detec-
tives Riley and Gamble. a Negress
giving the name Of Eleanor Handy,
aged 20 years was arrested late Sat
urCiay afternoon on a charge of murder
in connection with the death OF Joseph
Smith, colored, aged 2S years. who
died az the Delaware Hospital Friday
night from the effects OF an overdose
Of cocaine. The woman was arraigned
in the City Court this morning, but
her case was continued to await the
action OF the coroner's jury. She was
held without bail. Margaret Johnson.
coIored. a witness in the case, was
held in 500 ban for her appearance
when wanted Coroner Bullock stated
today that he has not as yet fixed a
time for the inquest. He has sent
Smiths stomach 10 Newark for
chemical Analysis Ia determine the
contents. and until he has received a
report Of this examination he viii nor
hold the inquest. He expects report
tomorrow or Wednesday
Smith was taken from the house at
4f4 West Front street and died with
out regsining consciousness. as stated
in Every Evening on Saturday. He
is well known to the police. they
stated this morning. and they allege
he was addicted - the use Of drugs.
The city detectives working on the
case say they have developed the fact
that in a third story room at the above
address last Friday there was a snow
bird" party. that is, several Negro
men and women who use drugs had
gathered there for a celebration and
- - - a
quantity OF the drug having been pro-
cured by some of them for the oc-
casion.
Smith came ia under the influence
OF liquor. il is alleged The Handy wo-
man, the detectives have been told,
loaded a needle and shot Smith in
the arm. in othd dr words she gave him
an injection OF the cocaine in liquid
form. Witnesses whom the detectives
have under surveillance say they told
her not TO give Smith any OF the drug.
for they feared it might prove fatal
while he was under the influence OF
| liquor. AS soon az Smith had received
the shot" he collapsed and fell un-
conscious on the floor.
Say Smith Was Robbed.
he was carried out into the hall
why and while there the Handy wom-
an is said By the detectives 10 have
gons through his pockets and TO have
taken f1.75, ali the cash he had in his
f,esssssion. There will be no charge
of larceny against her. however. be-
cause Of the fact the state cannot
/ prsys the amount OF money Smith had
/ with him at the time as he Is dead
| IL WA not long after the police
startSd 10 work on the case that they
arrested the Handy woman. They
| found hor in II second story room of
the house at SOL Lafayette street. She
/ is said 10 have shown Indications OF
having used dope" earlier in the day
whsH she was taken into custody. She
dsnIss the charge against her. but sew
ernI witnesses the police have ali
claim they saw her "nhoot" the poison
/ into smithis arm, the detectives say.
| The use Of "dope" Of various kinds
| Is said 20 be on the increase in this
city and the police and detectives are
working on the cas, with a view to
putting n stop tC They are under
stood TO have y definite clue as
/ 10 the origin or p rec Of the drugs and
/ they are planning 10 make a clean up
within a short time. Smiths death
| has brought the situation to a climax
and wholesale arrests are anticipa ted
| Last s;aturday afternoon another
Negro giving the name Of William
| Davis was taken 10 the Delaware Hos
Bitai, suffering from what appeared
70 bs an overdose OF some kind OF
drug, JIG quickly revived after re-
eeiylhg treatment. Several Negro
weHsH we're questioned BY the police
ia connection win the ease. but nd
arrests haYe been tntde as yet. Snow
birds" is the name applied 20 known
users of dope" and they are said Il
be numerous,