Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-02-05
BRANDYW|NE SPRINGS
SUICIDES LIFE WAS
SHROUDED IN MYSTERY
Gave Name of Charles Smith,
Said He Came From Kansas,
But Told Little Else.
BODY WAS BURIED TODAY

marriage that didn't turn out as
happy marriages should was revealed
when the body of the man found dead
at Brandywine Springs last week was
identified yesterday afternoon by Mrs.
Charles Smith of The Cedars as that
of her husband. For one week the
body had been In the morgue, un-
identified. coroner's jury gave a
verdict of death by suicide. Arrange
ments were made to bury the man in
Potters Field next Monday. when Mrs.
Smith, prompted by curiosity. she said,
stopped at the morgue yesterday. She
instantly recognized the body as that
of her husband. as announced in Every
Evening yesterday. She refused 10
claim the body, however.
Mrs Smith is about 56 years old ana
has lived at The Cedars since the
death of her first husband. about II
years ago. In January. 1920, she be
came acquainted with Smith. through
an advertisement, il was stated today,
and in May he came here from Boston.
He told the motorman of the car on
which he went to The Cedars at that
time that he wanted TO find Mrs.
Ellen Mandi1, a widow, explaining that
he had Just come from Boston and was
a stranger. The marriage followed, II
is understood Smith never paid nuch
attention to his neighhors, II Is said
and last July disappeared suddenly.
Had s4O0 when He Lett
Mrs smith said, when talking TO
Den, " Coroner Nichols. that her hus-
band took with him sf0o. which he had
saved while working at Farnhurst as a
mason. one evening In September he
suddenly reappeared and asked his
wife 10 allow him to come back again
but she refused the request. she mas
NOT seen him since that time. she stated
and had no knowledge that he was N
The Cedars on "Wednesday and Thurs
day before the body was found. though
John Connel, trolley motorman, tes-
tilted before the coroner's jury that the
man had gone out on his car
The trouble between the Smiths arose
over some property. according 70 re-
port. Smith, il is believed, married tht
woman under the impression that shf
was wealthy.
She explained 10 the coroner that ~
the time Of their marriage he SAID snt
was his third wife and that his nome
was in Coffeeville Kansas Letters q
inquiry, which she wrote 70 that place
remained unanswered. The initials q
*
hat do not correspond with the mans
he gave. and that may not have beer
his name
The gold watch which the trolley
crew said he carried Non THURSDAY
afternoon. it is believed. was pawneC
and with the money ne may have nur'
chased the revolver.
AT the morgue yesterday Mrs snli'i
said she would not bury her HUSBAND
DEPUTY Coroner Nichols inferred II II
the county cemetery this morning IT
auirv at the home Of Mrs Smith, 70
dav. brought out the fact that she va
not home. but was in the city on busi
ness. as usual on Saturday morning
The blinds on the little gray bungaloN
. in the Cedars were drawn and al IN
+ doors locked. when q reporter
( Every Evening called. Neighbors wh
were seen spoke very highly OF ner' bu
! they couldn't tell much about smith
He is said TO have represented hirnsei
as a contractor in the West. but her
/ he worked as a stone mason.