Hello and welcome back readers!
In today’s installment of the Smith Conspiracy, we are looking at the September 4, 1931 edition of the Perry Chief. The headline for this issue reads “Smith Before Alienists Again”, as well as smaller titles, such as “Smith Talks Willingly but Tells Questioners Nothing”!
Despite the headlines, action in the Smith case was moving slower than expected on September 4th. This is because John Smith’s appearance before the grand jury was delayed, in order to have alienists examine him a second time. An alienist, for those who do not know (like me), is an old term for a psychiatrist. The point of this examination, the second in three months, was to determine if he had recovered from his mental ailment. The examination was very long, as it was reportedly started at noon and still in progress three hours later. The continuation of the case rests on the report of the alienists.
In addition, Smith appeared to be talking willingly to questioners, but he was not revealing any new details that could apply to the case. For example, Smith had a conversation with a Chief representative, but while he at times gave the impression that he was about to disclose vital information, he never did. This behavior is not exclusive to just reporters from the Chief. Spying G. E. Whitehead while at the statehouse, Smith asked to talk to him. Their conversation included Smith complaining that he had no friends who would help him, and that he did not know what to do. Whitehead pressured Smith to confess, but Smith only said that he had confessed about the girl, and then complained of pain in his head and left the conversation. Other conversations with Smith have gone in a similar direction, and because of this evasiveness, authorities are doubtful that Smith will talk in front of the grand jury.
Mrs. Smith also made a brief appearance in the September 4 paper. Due to her believed connection to the crime, she was being held in the Des Moines jail. Two men attempted to release her from the jail, presenting a writ of habeas corpus and demanding her release. The writ, however, was found to be issued in another county and therefore was not binding. Later it was learned that she was removed from the jail, but remained in the custody of authorities.
For a final twist from September 4’s paper, it was reported that a search of the Smith home had been conducted. In the home at least one letter was found and been turned over to officials to use in the present inquiry. While the exact contents of the letter were not known, it purportedly was a communication from an unknown person attempting to clear Smith of any suspicion.
Will the letter prove enough to clear Mr. Smith of suspicion? While Smith ever appear in front of the grand jury in Adel? Find out next week as the Smith Conspiracy continues!
In today’s installment of the Smith Conspiracy, we are looking at the September 4, 1931 edition of the Perry Chief. The headline for this issue reads “Smith Before Alienists Again”, as well as smaller titles, such as “Smith Talks Willingly but Tells Questioners Nothing”!
Despite the headlines, action in the Smith case was moving slower than expected on September 4th. This is because John Smith’s appearance before the grand jury was delayed, in order to have alienists examine him a second time. An alienist, for those who do not know (like me), is an old term for a psychiatrist. The point of this examination, the second in three months, was to determine if he had recovered from his mental ailment. The examination was very long, as it was reportedly started at noon and still in progress three hours later. The continuation of the case rests on the report of the alienists.
In addition, Smith appeared to be talking willingly to questioners, but he was not revealing any new details that could apply to the case. For example, Smith had a conversation with a Chief representative, but while he at times gave the impression that he was about to disclose vital information, he never did. This behavior is not exclusive to just reporters from the Chief. Spying G. E. Whitehead while at the statehouse, Smith asked to talk to him. Their conversation included Smith complaining that he had no friends who would help him, and that he did not know what to do. Whitehead pressured Smith to confess, but Smith only said that he had confessed about the girl, and then complained of pain in his head and left the conversation. Other conversations with Smith have gone in a similar direction, and because of this evasiveness, authorities are doubtful that Smith will talk in front of the grand jury.
Mrs. Smith also made a brief appearance in the September 4 paper. Due to her believed connection to the crime, she was being held in the Des Moines jail. Two men attempted to release her from the jail, presenting a writ of habeas corpus and demanding her release. The writ, however, was found to be issued in another county and therefore was not binding. Later it was learned that she was removed from the jail, but remained in the custody of authorities.
For a final twist from September 4’s paper, it was reported that a search of the Smith home had been conducted. In the home at least one letter was found and been turned over to officials to use in the present inquiry. While the exact contents of the letter were not known, it purportedly was a communication from an unknown person attempting to clear Smith of any suspicion.
Will the letter prove enough to clear Mr. Smith of suspicion? While Smith ever appear in front of the grand jury in Adel? Find out next week as the Smith Conspiracy continues!
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