Henry More Smith: The Mysterious StrangerBates, Walter
History
Henry More Smith: The Mysterious Stranger
Bates, Walter
Criminals -- Canada -- Biography; Smith, Henry More, active 1812-1836
On his perceiving the moon as she made her appearance between two
clouds, he observed that here was a relation of his that he was glad to
see; that he had not seen one of his name for a long time. On our
arrival at the prison in Saint John, he said he must have a hot supper
with tea, and then wished to be locked up in a strong room, where he
might have all his family out to take the air to-night, else they would
all die in that box before morning. However, we found all the rooms in
the prison occupied, or undergoing repairs, so that there was no place
to confine him. I directed the gaoler to provide him with his supper,
while I would call upon the sheriff to know what would be done with him
for the night, and how he would be disposed of in the morning. I
understood from the sheriff that there was no vessel to sail for the
States for some days, and therefore made up my mind that I should send
him to Nova Scotia. When I returned to the gaol I found Smith at his
supper; when he had finished his tea, he looked into his cup and
remarked that he must not disturb his family to-night; that he there saw
the vessel, then lying at the wharf, that would carry him to his
wife—and there would be crying. While in confinement, the following
letter was received from his wife:
DEAR HUSBAND—I received your letter of the 22nd Oct., 1815. You say
you have sent several letters—if you have, I have never received them.
You wish me to come and see you, which I would have done, if I had got
the letter in time; but I did not know whether you were in Kingston or
not. My dear, do not think hard of me that I do not come to see you—if
you write back to me I shall come immediately. My dear, as soon as you
receive this letter send me an answer, that I may know what to do; so
no more at present, but that I remain your loving and affectionate
wife.
H. F. M. S., Kingston. ELIZABETH P. M. S.
The gaoler, by direction of the sheriff, cleared out a small room above
stairs, with an iron-grated window where we confined him, with his
family, for the night. On the next morning, the 30th of August, finding
that there was no vessel bound for the States, I determined to send him
to Nova Scotia; and happening to meet with my friend, Mr. Daniel Scovil,
he informed me that he had a vessel then lying at the wharf, which would
sail for Windsor, Nova Scotia, in half an hour. I accordingly prevailed
on him to take Smith on board, which was done without loss of time, and
at high water the vessel hauled off from the wharf, to my great
satisfaction and relief.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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