The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1927-10-13
WIDOW AND GUEST BEING
HELD In M'KENZIE DEATH
Former Garrett COuntian, Who
Was Found Slain, Buried Near
FrOstburg Last Wednesday.

Charged with the murder of her
husband, Thomas Mckenzie, 81, a for
mer Garrett county farmer, whose
body was found hanging from a laurel
bush at their Upper Glenn CIV. Va.)
home one day last week, Mrs. Annie
Mckenzie is held without bail with
Seymour Smith, youthful railroad
worker, for the action of the January
court at Webster Springs, West Va.
Mrs. Mckenzie, who is the mother
of nine children, and Smith were re-
manded to Jail following hearing at
Webster Springs. Smith is reported
to be engaged to Miss Ruby McKen-
zie, eldest daughter of the dead man.
Smith at House For Week End.
Both Mrs. Mckenzie and Smith de-
MED all knowledge of the crime at the
hearing before Magistrate w. S.
Hamrick. Miss Ruby Mckenzie sat
next to Smith during the hearing.
Smith was arrested after blood
hounds had led officers from the spot
where the body was found, to his bed
side in the Mckenzie home. He was
spending a weekend at the house.
McKenzie's body was found by one
of his children on the night of Octo-
Der 1. The authorities believe he
was slain the day before. An axe,
believed to have been used in the MUIR
der, was found nearby. There were
four wounds in the dead mans head,
any one of which might have been
fatal, according to the testimony Of
physicians who were examined at the
States direction.
A laboratory examination is being
made of fnger-prints found on the
handle of the axe. Scouting suicide
theory which was advanced, officials
point to a leaf, stained with what is
believed to be blood, which was found
half way between the Mckenzie home
and the laurel bush as evidence that
Mckenzie had been murdered at his
home and his body carried to the bush.
Couple Quarreled, Police Say.
The body was found hanging from
the laurel bush by the chin with both
hands tightly clasping a branch.
Bloodhounds soon picked up trail
which led the investigators into the
Mckenzie home to the bed where
Smith was sleeping. One of the
hounds aroused Smith by licking him
on the face, officers stated.
No motive has been assigned for the
killing by the authorities, although
they claim evidence that the McKen-
zies had quarreled frequently had been
obtained. w. H. Wysong, Webster
Springs attorney, who represented
Mrs. Mckenzie and Smith at the hear
ing, did not present any evidence in
his clients defense.
10 Years Younger Than Husband.
The McKenzies were married
twenty-seven years ago, Mrs. McKen-
zie having been II at the time, ten
years younger than her husband. Both
were from near Frostburg and resi-
dents on farms near the National
Highway in Garrett county. Mckenzie
was at times both lumberman and
farmer. For a number of years he
conducted lumberman's camp in the
Blackwater woods, near Davis, West
Va.
! After taking up his residence near
Webster Springs, Mckenzie was a
timber cutter in addition to working
his small farm. He left Garrett coun-
ty about thirty-five years ago.
The body of the dead man was
taken to his farmer home west Of
Frostburg for burial last Wednesday.
Mr.. Mckenzie is survived by 6 broth
ers-Frank, of Texas, and John, ia
cob, Joseph, James and Samuel, all Of
the vicinity of Frostburg, and five sis
ters-Miss Mary Mckenzie, Mrs. AL
len Baker, Mrs. Emma Younkin, Mrs.
Bruce Robinson and Mrs. Grover
Varey. all of Garrett county,