New Britain herald., 1928-01-16
MANY CLUES FOUND IN SMITH MYSTERY Missing College Girl Reported in
 Portland Saturday
 SUICIDE THEORY STRONG
Peculiar Odor in Room Strength ens Possibility Of P0is0u-Gir1 Also Reported in Boston During Christmas Holidays.

Christmas Holidays.
 Northampton, Mass, Jan. 16. R- The possibility of suicide as a solu- tion of the disappearance of Miss Frances St. John Smith, Smith tol- lege freshman, who has been mis-. sing since last Friday. loomed a lit- tie larger today when it was learned that those who first visited the girls room in Dewey House in search of her noticed 8 peculiar penetrating chemical odor, Among those who noticed it was the girls mother, Mrs. St. John Smith of New York City. It is said that sufficient signi- ficance is being attached to this fac tor so that it IS contemplated cal | ling in chemist in an effort to [ identify the odor.
 State Detective Joseph V. Daly directed his efforts today to the Connecticut river and had force of men gagged in searching for Miss Smith there. Newspapermen l from various points ran down clues that took them to Westhampton and Amherst but these came to nothing. The college authorities have broad4 { cast an appeal to the students ask ing that those who have even a re- 1 mote connection with Miss Smith come forward and given any infor- nation concerning her that they may possess. Latest information in- dicates that Miss Smith dropped ou, of sight about noon Friday. Discovers Disappearance Miss Smiths disappearance was discovered by her closest friend among the students, Miss Joy Kim ball of Newton Mass. The girls i were classmates and both attended the same preparatory school in New ton. On Friday Miss Kimball wrote a note to Miss Smith asking the latter to meet her in one of the col 1 lege buildings and left the note in Miss Smiths room. Saturday she
 went to the room and found the note still unopened. She then re- l ported to the college authorities The missing girl. although low in ! some of her subjects, was considered studious and mingled more with the girls of the student type than with others. She was particularly inter- csted in music, which she was study ! ing, and was an accomplished plan 1 ist.
 Hatfield, Mass, Jan. 16 R1A girl whom Mrs. Roswell Billings of
 Hatfield today positively identified 1 as Miss Francis St. John Smith. mis- sing college student stopped at ths
 Billings home shortly before 6 o'clock Saturday evening, Mrs. Bil- lings said today.
 The girl, who wore a tight fitting hat and brown coat with fur trimmed collar, similar to that worn by Miss Smith, knocked at the door and inquired of Miss Billings where l the Sophia Smith Homestead was ! located. This house, the homstead of the Smith College founder. is now q tea room much frequented during the summer by college students. I Mrs. Billings said it was unusual
 for the girls to go there at this time
 of year. She pointed out the house
 to the visitor who then started off | in the direction of the place. The i girl, Mrs. Billings said spoke in
 q well-modulated voice and appear
 ed entirely composed.
 i Mrs. Lillian Olzerdam, who lives
 at the homestead, declared the girl
 did not appear there and that she
 had not seen her.
 The Sophia Smith home is about
 four miles from the college and can
 be reached on foot or by automo-
 bile. No automobile was seen in the
 vicinity Saturday afternoon or eve
 ming.