SMITH, WIFE-MURDERER.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 78, 31 July 1915, Page 5

SMITH, WIFE-MURDERER.

STORY OF REMARKABLE LIFE. 3AD CHARACTER FROM BOYHOOD. United Press Association. (Received noon.) Loudon. July 30. The Evening News publishes a' remarkable life story of Smith, the wile-murderer. Smith was horn in S7’i. and was a bad character from my hood. Bis mother often said ho would die in hoots. He was sent to i reformatory for stealing when sixteen years oi age, and was sentenced jin six months' hard labour in 1891. I Niter, lie posed as a music-hall songwriter. Smith preyed upon women for twenty years, first living with a series of women whom he employed to help him in stealing. He usually got Jiem into domestic service by means ,f pis own false recommendation as i late employer. He and the woman then absconded with the plunder. Smith constantly changed his name U i<l address. The police found clues .<) his crimes in lorty towns. Oijee ,|. twice the women were caught and in prisoned hut Smith usually escaped, luce lie was imprisoned for two years for robbery at Hastings. The arrest was due to Beatrice Thornhill, whom , c married under the name of l-ove •t Leicester, avenging her desertion , v giving him into custody as he was ■.. anted by the police. It was then round that Smith had prompted a mgns servant to rob a clergyman s liouse Hastings. Smith' married seven women, lour of whom had known him less than a j month, and murdered live "omen. I ;a« h of whom had money.