San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-16
" Jess" Smith, Whose Sui
eide Remains Mystery in
Washington, Must Be
Turning Over in His
Grave at Accusations
Made Against Man He
Worshipped as an Idol.
By ROBERT 7. SMALL.

INopyrlSnt by The san Antonio Light.
Washington, d. C., March 15.-
That the dead "Jess" Smith through
the lips of his divorced widow should
turn the first tongues of official ac-
cusation against Harry Daugherty the
man he worshipped shows what a
| topsy-turvy capital Washington has
become. 1t was often said of "Jess"
Smith that he would gladly lay down
his life for his friend, so what greater
love hath any man?
Jess Smiths suicide at the threshold
OF the attorney generals apartment
has never been explained. 1t was
said he was suffering from i'll health
and dependency. Washington saw no
evidence of the i'll health, but the
dependency unquestionably was
there. 1t always has been said that
"Jess" left a letter for someone, but
il he did, the letter never has seen
the light of day.
OF all the interesting figures which
came TO Washington III connection
with the new administration on March
4, 1921, none was more mysterious
in a way than "Jess" Smith. 1t was
known that, according to small town
| standards, Smith was a wealthy man.
His former wife has told the Senate
committee he was worth probably
$4,000. 1t also was known that
he had been a lifelong friend of
Harry Daugherty. As time went on
and jess Smith took no official posi-
ton with the government, but oc-
rupied a desk near that of the at
tOrney general, it was supposed that
he had made up his mind TO spend
all of his fortune if necessary to
have a gay life in Washington so long
I as the Harding administration was in
power and so long as his friend needed
him. "Jess" Smith knew the enemies
of Harry Daugherty, and he further
knew he was the one man in whom
the attorney general corifided.
known As main Street"
"Jess" soon became known IN
| Washington as "Main Street" Life
was giving him his great adventure.
Taken from the aisles and offices of
his little department store Mt WASH,
ington Courthouse Ohio, he had been
suddenly transplanted to the very up
per circles of Washington, j.. c.. and
had greater access to and freedom
of the White House than most of the
cabinet officers. jess" Smith often
said that he was nearer To the
"thrOne" than Charley" Hughes or
Herbert Hoover or number of other
men that the nation called great.
Instead Of a small town merchant,
SJess" Smith became n man of al
fairs. a club man, man about town.
Up to the time of his advent in Wash
ington, Ray Baker of Reno. had been
known as the most "ultra SWELL
dresser in official circles. Ray was
director bf the mint and his clothes
looked like a million dollars. There
were diamonds on his watch charm.
diamonds on his long cigarette holder
and diamonds on his garter buckles.
Worshipped Harry Daugherty.
BIT Ray faded when "Jess" Smith
started to blossom out. He went to
| the best tailors that the state of
that while Washington Courthouse
might be a small town, it was no
HickviIle Center by a long shot. One
day during the first summer of the
Harding administration "Jess" Smith
electrified all the other callers at
the White House offices by appear
ing there in shantung silk creation.
The suit was the natural pongee
shade. The shirt was purple. There
was a purple handkerchief in the
breast pocket. There were purple
socks and n panama hat with purple
band. sMain Street" was never more
respondent than then. :.
As much as Jess" Smith thought
Of President HarIling-and through
Harry Daugherty he had met the
President-to-be long before he ever
dreamed of the White House-he
would have preferred to follow Harry
Daugherty to the uttermost oblivion
rather than to continue TO bask in
the White House smiles without his
friend. It was not Damon and
Pythias affair. this friendship. "Jess >
Smith did not place himself on the
same plane with Harry Daugherty
To "Jess" there was no one on that
] nlane. Harry DnughertY stood above