Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-26
GIRL FOUND DEAD;
FATHER, sought, TO
! GIVE HIMSELF Up
Body of Bessie L. Smith, 19,
Discovered in Apartment.
Parent Said to Admit Act.
NO SIGNS OF VIOLENCE
ARE FOUND By CORONER
Friend Says Franklin Smith Hur-
ried Away From House on
{ Telling of Death.

, Bessie L. Smith. 10 years old, of 1151
, New jersey cvcnue, v-as found deed oil
o beI in her fsrniiy's 2Haztire1t there
at 1890 todev. and two hours i-ter,
while police were searching for her
father. Franklin Smith. OH q report
that he had admitted killing her, Smith
, called I'D his wife at home ard an
nounccd that he wc5 coming to give
himself up.
When the girls body was found there
was no marks to indicate violence and
no signs of struggle, in the opinion OF
Coroner Nevitt, who had been imme-
diately summoned. He said, however,
that there was bruise on her collar
bone, and ordered an autopsy.
Pillow Over Face.
The girl lay, fully clothed, with a
pillow over her face. Her hat ana
gloves were on the bed beside her.
The girls death was reported by
john c. Steele, who occupies an apart
ment in the same building at the New
Jersey avenue address. Steele. who
said he had known the girl for six
years, had Just moved there FRIDAY,
he told police.
Reporting the case to the second
precinct police. Steele said he left me
house at 6 o'clock this morning anc
returned about II O'Clock. He found
the door to the Smith apartment
lcckod and his knock was answered by
Mr.. Smith, Steele SAID.
Police Break Door Open.
ais Bessie in?" he said, he asked.
"Yas. she's in, but she's dead the
father is said to have replied. There
uron he emerged from the door, locked
81 and left the building hurriedly,
steele said. The girls acquaintance
followed the father for a short distance
anu then decided to telephone the
mother, Mrs. Franklin Smith, who is
employed at the Treasury Department.
After relating this story to the mother
he went to the second precinct and told
of stlaa4conversation he had with Smith.
Police rushed to the house, broke open
the door and found the girl dead.
While police were working on tte
case the homicide squad at headquar-
ters was informed that Smith at noon
called up the Metropolitan National
Bank, where he is employed as
watchrlan. and had told an offlcial
there that he had just killed MS
daughter.
Wife Receives Call.
A city-wide search was at once in
stituted for the father. and while
policeman was on duty at the home a
short while later, pending the removal
of the girls body to the morgue, a
phone call was received by the girls
mother, an employe of the Treasury
Department, who found Smith on TIE
other end of the line.
He told her that he intended to give
himself ND, but she advised him to come
home first. and police were waiting at
the apartment early this afternoon for
him to appear.
The girls mother. Frustrated by the
tragedy, refused to discuss the case, ana
police were without any knowledge OF
what was behind 1t.
Smith is between so and 55 years OF
age, is feet 9 or 10 inches in height
and weighs about $50 pounds. He is
clean shaven. has sharp features and is
of slender build. He has dark hair and
is nearsigbted in one eye. He wears
glasses part of the time. When lest
seen he wore blue suit and light
felt hat.