THE SHOOTING
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Smith, who possessed the courage of a lion, sprang upon him just in time to receive a shot from the revolver. Not withstanding his wound he bore the thief to the ground, and then fell over exhausted.” |
The research into the circumstances surrounding the shooting of Deputy Charles E. Smith resulted in locating two detailed newspaper accounts of the reported facts that lead up the shooting, how it came about, and what took place during the apprehension of the assailant. The Manchester Union (Leader) of May 7, 1891 carried the most detailed story written by a reporter they had dispatched to the scene and the Rochester Courier printed a similar story on May 8, 1891. On May 15, 1891,The Dover Inquirer also brought to light additional details and specifics of the shooting. In an effort to expose all of the known circumstances from these three sources to the readers of this article, we have reprinted these three newspaper stories. They provide insight into the bravery Deputy Smith exhibited and, despite the lack of formal law enforcement training like we undergo today, he demonstrated professional concern for his assailant, once subdued, and interceded by protecting him from the members of the posse he had brought with him to the scene.
Thursday Morning
May 7, 1891, The Manchester Union
MAY END IN MURDER
Encounter With Horse Thief in Strafford Woods
Deputy Sheriff Smith Shot by the Villain.
Sheriff's Aids Quickly Secure the Would-be Murderer.
Thief First Wounded in Pursuit by Charge from Shotgun
examination show sheriff's wounds to be of a serious nature.
Rochester, May 6. Once more is Strafford County the scene of a dastardly crime, for which it is becoming widely famous. The latest sensation, though not quite as serious as those in the past, is one which calls forth a great amount of excitement in the immediate vicinity.
The place where the crime was committed was at Strafford, about seven miles from this city, and may result in the murder of Deputy Charles H. Smith of Barrington, who was shot by a notorious horse thief while effecting his capture in the woods at 1:30 p.m. today.
The news of the shooting arrived here at about 22 o'clock, and a UNION reporter immediately left for the scene, and gained the following knowledge of the affair:
A young well -dressed man, about 25 years of age, called at the tavern at Barrington Depot,
kept by Josiah R. Calef,
last Saturday night and procured a night's lodging, representing
himself to be a medical examiner for a New York
life insurance company, giving his name as MacDonald,
and while there his actions were very suspicious, but he
left with his team the next morning. Last night, about 12
o'clock, Mrs. Calef thought she heard a noise at the stable
but did not think anything was the matter; but when Mr.
Calef arose and went to the stable, he found a very fine pair
of light bay horses missing, which belonged to the B. J
Kendall Spavin Cure Company, who had been stopping
there for a few days with an advertising wagon. Mr. Calef
and the young man who had charge of the horses at once
started in pursuit, but evidently went in the wrong direction.
About 8 o'clock A. W. Lyman , a stove peddler stopping
at Calef's, accompanied by James W. Foss, started out to
track the thief and finally found that he had made a circuit,
and was coming back in the same direction, and while riding
along an accidental glance into the woods showed them
a carriage partially concealed by a barn. Mr. Foss secreted
himself in the bushes and as neither were armed, Lyman
drove to Barrington post office and notified Sheriff Smith,
who with a posse of a dozen men, went at once to Sleeper's
woods, in Strafford, where the thief was concealed.
They advanced upon him in a body, and saw that it was the
same man that called himself MacDonald.
Upon seeing them advance the thief pulled his revolver
and took to his heels with several of the party in hot pursuit.
He turned and fired several times, but his aim was
wild and did not take effect. He was shot in the back once
with with a charge from a shotgun held by Mr. Lyman.
He was finally surrounded and Sheriff Smith went forward
to arrest him, but was confronted by the revolver of
the thief who threatened to shoot if he advanced, but Mr.
Smith, who possessed the courage of a lion, sprang upon him
just in time to receive a shot from the revolver. Not minding his
wound that he bore the thief to the ground, and then fell over
exhausted.
The prisoner was handcuffed by the men, and loud talk
was made to lynch him, which undoubtedly they would
have done had not the Sheriff interposed while laying full upon
his back, shot perhaps fatally by the man for whose blood they
thirsted, but the wishes of the Sheriff were respected.
The wounded man was carried to his home and Drs.
Whitehouse of Barrington and Stokes of Rochester were
summoned. The wound was examined and pronounced
very dangerous, although possibly not fatal. The bullet
entered in the left hip, passed through the rectum, and is
supposed to have lodged in the right hip, but at present has
not been found.
The victim suffered great pain, but talked freely of the
affair, and ordered Isaac Cater and Daniel Waterhouse to carry
his prisoner to jail.
Mr. Smith is a highly respected man, and has held
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