Evening star., 1935-11-04
MRS. SMITH FACES
JURY IN DEATH
Widow of Former State Po.
Iicemah on Trial on Mur-
der Charge.
BY WILLIAM ii. SHIPPEN. JR.,
stafY Correspondent of The Star.


UPPER MARLBORO, Md. Novem-
Der 4.-How Mrs. Dorothy Dodd Smith
shot her husband and then left him
lying on the floor of their cottage in
Laurel for several hours. without
medical attention. was related to a
jury today in the prosecutions open
ing statement as the slender, blond
widow and mother went on trial here
for the murder OF Wade LIE Roy
Smith. 26.
The defense contended before the
jury. however, that Mrs. Smith knew
her husband had been killed almost
instantly and that she did not at once
report the matter to her doctors or
police because she knew he was be-
yond the need OF assistance and she
wished to confer with members of her
family before surrendering.
The jury. which is to try the comelv
26-year-old widow, was selected in a
little more than an hour after 81
men had been examined, most of
whom were excused when they an
nounced in no uncertain terms tha.
they opposed capital punishment. The
jury included one colored man.
Shot Through Heart.
Smith, a former Maryland State
policeman, presumably died almost
instantly when a bullet pierced his
heart and passed entirely through
his body, lodging in bed room wall
Attorney Frank M. Hall. who was
appointed to assist States Attorney
Alan Bowie in the prosecution, said
the evidence would show that the
murder occurred before 2 am. July
%. and Mrs. Smith did not report 70
police until almost o'clock that
morning
Hall told the jury it could find a
number OF verdicts, including guilty
Of murder in the first degree, with or
without capital punishment, guilty of
murder in the second degree. or guilty
of manslaughter.
Mrs. Smith was confined in jail for
only a brief period after the shooting,
which climaxeda a bitter marital quar-
rel. She has been at liberty since on
bail and living with her father, A. S.
Dodd. an employe of the Laurel race
track, at the latters home in Laural
Mrs. Smith is the mother Of a 5-year-
old son by previous marriage, Vincent
Greco.
Smartly turned out in a dark tai
lored Fall dress and a iaunty little
hat. the accused widow entered the
court room on the arm of her father
She was pale as she was ordered to
rise before the crowded court room
and hear the reading of the indict-
ment. She trembled slightly, bit her
lip, but held her head high as the
clerk read the accusation.
The jury was composed of M. L.
Ball. William Holland, Bruce Gordon,
John B. Alsop. Richard Wills, COL
ored; Howard Proctor. Norris Hart
man. George C.. Stellner. Richard
Berry. w. H. Blandford, Alton Duley
and N. E. Hungerford.
Defense counsel j. Wilson Ryon told
the jury Mrs. Smith later would take
the stand to give her version of the
fatal quarrel. The attorney outlined
the story as his client gave it to him.
Loving Pair at Party.
Ryon told how Mr.. and Mrs. Smith
went to a firemen's carnival on the
Saturday night preceding the death of
the husband. 1T was a lovely party -
Ryon declared, land husband and wife
were loving pair.
With friends they danced. played
games and had photographs taken.
Mr.. and Mrs. Smith sat upon a barrel
See JURY. Page 81