Person Page - 290

(From Monday's Tribune)

Clyde W. Smith, of Danville, Ill., age 32, and Dorothy Woods, age 27, of this city, were found dead on the bed in Mrs. Woods' room at the James King rooming house on West Jackson street in this city about 9 o'clock this morning by Mr. King.

Mrs. Woods was long distance operator at the local telephone exchange. When she did not appear for work Monday morning the central office called Mr. King to find out why Mrs. Woods had not reported for work. Mr. King went to the house from his restaurant and seeing a light burning in Mrs. Woods' room knocked on the door and called to her but received no response. Upon receiving no answer to his repeated knocking he opened the door and discovered the bodies of the two young people lying on the bed fully clothed.

A doctor was called immediately and he pronounced them dead. Coroner C. C. Crumley, of Covington, was notified and came to Attica at once to take charge of the case.

The following note in Mr. Smith's hand writing was found in the room:

"To Whom It May Concern:
Dort had an awful headache, I gave her some capsules. They are making her very sick. Think they must be poison.

I think too much of Dorothy to go on without her, so this is the only way out. I have only one request to make and that is that "we," Dort and I, be buried together, side by side in the lot with mother.

See that Dort's mother and father get all of her things and her money.

I have no regrets and I hope that everyone will be satisfied."

The note was not signed but the writing was identified as that of Smith. The hand that wrote the note was very steady and showed no indication of emotional stress or nervousness.

A thorough search of Mr. Smith's clothing and the room disclosed no evidence of the poison used. The position of the bodies indicated that they had died peacefully and without a struggle.

Coroner Crumley stated that the condition of the bodies would indicate that they had died about 5 o'clock Monday morning.

Mrs. Woods and Mr. Smith were in the King restaurant about 10 o'clock Saturday evening at which time Mrs. Woods called the central office and made arrangements to be off duty Sunday. The last time Mrs. Woods is known to have been seen alive was at 10 o'clock Sunday morning, when she came out of her room as Mr. King was leaving the house and spoke to him. She seemed to be in good spirits at that time.

Mrs. Woods is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ed Haniford of Newtown, and married Lester Woods, of that place several years ago. They came to Attica about five years ago, where Mr. Woods took employment with the Attica Top and Body Company and Mrs. Woods became long distance operator at the local telephone exchange, she formerly having been connected with the exchange at Newtown. The young couple had been separated for some time and divorce action, filed by Mrs. Woods was pending at the time of the tragedy.

Mr. Smith is a son of William D. Smith, of near Catlin, Ill., and was born and raised in Cain township, near Hillsboro, the family having recently moved to their present home. Clyde Smith and his wife came to Attica last January, Mr. Smith buying an interest in the Attica Top and Body Company. Mr. Smith sold his interest in the company in September and returned to his father's home, near Catlin. Mrs. Smith remains in Attica, where she is employed in a local factory, the couple having separated about five months ago.

It probably never will be known whether the tragedy was a suicide pact or if Mrs. Woods was given the poison without her knowledge and if Smith then committed suicide.

The body of Mrs. Woods was removed from the King home to the Coffing and Robinson funeral parlors Monday afternoon, where it was prepared for burial. The body was taken to the home of the parents at Newtown Tuesday and her funeral held Wednesday afternoon.

The body of Smith was removed to the Crumley undertaking parlors at Covington Monday afternoon. An autopsy, to determine the poison used was performed by a Danville, Ill. surgeon Monday evening and the body taken to the home of Smith's father near Catlin, Ill., where the funeral was held Wednesday afternoon.

Both of the young people were well known in this community and the tragedy was a great shock to their many friends and relatives.

Two white tablets were found on Smith and these with his stomach and contents were sent to an Indianapolis chemist for analysis to determine the nature of the poison.¹

The Covington Republican, Covington, Indiana, Friday, December 11, 1931

Bodies of Dorothy Woods and Clyde Smith Found in King Rooming House Monday.¹